A certified nurse midwife is a highly trained healthcare professional who specializes in women’s health, pregnancy, and childbirth. They're registered nurses with graduate-level education from an accredited midwifery program. They must also pass a national certification exam to practice.

The certified nurse midwives at Carilion:

• Focus on your personal choices, preferences, and values
• Offer person-focused, low-intervention hospital births at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
• Offer services such as annual exams, family planning, and menopausal care
• Work with a supportive group of OB/GYNs and maternal-fetal medicine experts in case of complications
• Help you with breastfeeding and basic infant care

There are many similarities between certified nurse midwives and OB/GYNs. Both are highly trained health experts. Both offer quality care. The choice often comes down to personal preference.

Here are some differences between a certified nurse midwife and an OB/GYN:

• Training: OB/GYNs complete 4 years of medical school and 4 years of residency. A certified nurse midwife must first become a nurse and then complete a graduate program in midwifery. They must pass a national certification program.
• Approach to care: Certified nurse midwives focus on listening, guiding, and supporting you throughout pregnancy and birth. They provide personalized care and support a full range of birth preferences, from natural, low-intervention births to those using pain management.
• Scope of care: OB/GYNs have specialized training to handle high-risk situations and perform surgery if needed, at high-risk or with complications. Midwives cannot perform surgery (C-sections or episiotomies).  
   

If you have a low-risk pregnancy, a certified nurse midwife can be a wonderful choice. Some people feel more comfortable and relaxed working with a midwife for their birth. Others feel more comfortable working with a doctor.

If you’re carrying multiples, have a high-risk pregnancy, or need a planned C-section, you’ll need to see an OB/GYN.

Deciding what kind of care you want for your pregnancy and your baby’s birth is a highly personal decision.

Seeing a midwife for annual exams

You don’t have to be pregnant or planning to be pregnant to see a midwife. Our certified nurse midwives provide reproductive wellness care for people of all ages. Our goal is to keep you healthy and catch any problems early.

In most ways, seeing a certified nurse midwife for routine care is similar to seeing an OB/GYN. A certified nurse midwife can diagnose common problems, order lab tests, and prescribe medicine. However, if you have a complex medical problem or need gynecologic surgery, our midwives will refer you to an OB/GYN or other specialist. 

Our certified nurse midwives offer:

• Prenatal care
• Labor and delivery management
• Annual gynecologic checkups
• Pap smears
• Birth control counseling
• Management of conditions like painful periods and polycystic ovary syndrome
• Menopause management
• Lifestyle advice, including information on fitness, diet, and stress management
• Treatment for common health issues like urinary tract or vaginal infections

Here are some things you can expect when you choose a midwife for prenatal care.

Before

You should call your health insurance company to make sure your policy covers midwife care. 

You can meet with one of our certified nurse midwives for a prenatal consultation and see if it’s a good fit. You’ll spend a lot of time with the midwife during your pregnancy. They'll get to know you, your family, and your preferences in the coming months.

During

In many ways, prenatal visits with a midwife will be like visits with an OB/GYN. Both types of visits include checking your baby’s heartbeat, taking your blood pressure, and getting a urine sample. 

Both a midwife and an OB/GYN will answer your questions and ask what kind of birth experience you prefer. Typically, a midwife will spend more time with you at each visit than an OB/GYN.

For uncomplicated pregnancies, deliveries with a midwife typically involve fewer interventions. You can choose a fully unmedicated birth. This option isn’t limited to midwives—you can do it with your OB/GYN too. Your midwife will stay by your side through most of labor, offering continuous support.

Labor and delivery options with a midwife include an upright birth, hydrotherapy, and delayed cord clamping. These may also be options with an uncomplicated OB/GYN delivery.

Both OB/GYNs and midwives encourage as much skin-to-skin contact with your baby as possible in the early hours and days after birth.

After

You'll see your midwife to check on your physical and mental health a few weeks after giving birth. Later, you can continue seeing the midwife for your annual exams and routine care.