What is a midwife?
Midwives provide a variety of services to parents of all ages guiding them through important health decisions and life stages. A certified nurse midwife is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in nurse-midwifery education. Certified nurse midwives have passed a national qualifying exam and complete annual continuing education to maintain their licensing. They are licensed in both nursing and midwifery. Certified nurse midwives can practice in a variety of settings (home, birth center, hospital), providing care before, during and after childbirth.
What do midwives do before and during childbirth?
Certified nurse midwives deliver babies and provide hands-on support for people in labor. They collaborate with OB-GYN physicians to best manage care for higher risk patients. They can also prescribe pain medications and epidurals when needed.
What do midwives do after childbirth?
Your midwife’s care may extend beyond pregnancy and childbirth. Services include birth control, annual checkups, pap tests, breast exams, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, preconception care, abnormal bleeding evaluation and menopausal care.
Where to Find Care
MaineHealth certified nurse midwives work in hospital settings, providing individualized, evidenced-based medical care to women in all stages of life. Services are available at:
MaineHealth Family Birth Centers
MaineHealth family birth centers offer a nurturing, family-centered environment that supports safe labor, delivery and post-birth care. Our medical teams bring experience, compassion and highly-specialized expertise, when needed.