Overview of Nurse-midwife Care

Moms-to-be who seek a relaxed approach to prenatal care and birth, as well as limited medical interventions, often choose midwife care. As Certified Nurse-Midwives, we support the natural birthing process, while maintaining a collaborative relationship with our physician colleagues should complications arise.

Prenatal Care

Throughout your pregnancy, we recommend the following standard tests:

• Routine blood work
• Diabetes screening
• Group B strep test

We also offer ultrasounds and genetic screening upon request.

Labor & Birth

We strive to make labor and delivery a soothing and beautiful experience for you and your baby. It starts in the Labor & Delivery Suite, where we create a calm environment through low lighting, peaceful music, aromatherapy and massage.

We’re by your side throughout labor, encouraging you to:

• Eat and drink
• Walk around and change positions
• Try hydrotherapy in either the tub or shower

We will also:

• Monitor your baby’s heart rate intermittently
• Encourage your partner and / or doula to support you while you labor
• Place your baby on your chest skin-to-skin immediately after birth
• Delay clamping the umbilical cord until it has stopped pulsing

We want you to have the labor and birth experience you hope for - and we’ll do everything we can to make it happen. But for the health and safety of you and your baby, we may recommend medical intervention if we observe the following:

• Bag of water breaks and there is no labor within 24 hours
• Meconium is present in the amniotic fluid
• Lack of progress in labor after many hours
• You are exhausted, dehydrated, continuously vomiting, or have a fever
• Your blood pressure is elevated
• Your baby’s heart rate is abnormal

If a complication arises during mom’s labor and we feel that a medical intervention is necessary, rest assured that this recommendation is based on a wealth of experience with normal birth. We feel very fortunate to have our VCU Health obstetricians standing by, should we need their assistance.