How To Select Your Midwife

Whether you’re starting your first pregnancy, ready for your first well-woman visit as a teenager or just want a different healthcare experience, certified nurse-midwives excel at making patients feel comfortable, answering questions and forming relationships with patients that result in good health.

Contributed by: Amy L. Lowell, APRN-CNM | Obstetrics and Gynecology

MetroHealth has a new option for personalized women’s healthcare: certified nurse-midwives.

Certified nurse-midwives see patients for well-woman and low-risk pregnancy care.

From your first visit as a teenager, to pregnancy care and delivery, to women’s healthcare as you age, certified nurse-midwives are experienced providers who can offer a range of medical services.

“Midwives are welcoming and high touch, something they’ve spent centuries developing a reputation for,” says Dr. Donald “Chip” Wiper, MD, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Our goal is to give patients more options of types of providers, so they can develop a relationship that keeps them in control of their health—and stay up-to-date on important health screenings.”

According to Amy Lowell, CNM, APRN, the new director of the midwifery program, most women are low-risk enough to visit a certified nurse-midwife. And, while many people associate midwives with delivering babies, certified nurse-midwives also provide care for every age and stage of women’s health. That includes providing a welcoming environment for teenagers in their first appointment.

“I have a true passion for taking care of teens,” Lowell says. “Because women should visit their provider every year for well-woman care, I focus on helping teens not be afraid to go to their provider and address the misinformation around sexual health that is rampant on social media.”

Midwives: Not All Are Created Equal

The midwives you’ll see at MetroHealth are certified nurse-midwives, the highest level of training and expertise you’ll find among midwives. Unlike other types of midwives, certified nurse-midwives have clinical expertise from their years of experience as registered nurses. Plus, they have earned either a master’s degree or a doctorate in midwifery.

Another Option for Clinical Care

Think of a certified nurse-midwife as your main women’s healthcare provider. They’re who you’ll see for your annual well-woman appointment, and if you’re choosing a certified nurse-midwife during pregnancy, they’ll handle all of your prenatal care, deliver your baby and make sure you stay healthy post-partum.

At MetroHealth, certified nurse-midwives work collaboratively with obstetricians, gynecologists and MetroHealth’s renowned Maternal-Fetal Medicine program for high-risk pregnancies. Since your certified nurse-midwife knows your goals for care—especially during pregnancy and delivery—they can coordinate the advanced care you need while advocating for your medical goals. At the MetroHealth Birthing Center, advanced care is on call if you need it, and certified nurse-midwives know when to work with other specialists to help you achieve a healthier outcome.

Who Can See a Certified nurse-midwife

Certified nurse-midwives see women who are at low risk for complications in pregnancy or in other areas of women’s health. Rather than focusing on disease, they focus on each patient individually, spending time to answer questions and provide you with accurate medical information. Any woman who has a low-risk pregnancy can choose to see a midwife.