770.720.7733
VOTED Best OB/GYN * Best Surgeons * Top Docs * Mom-Approved OBs and Certified Nurse Midwives in Atlanta

Midwives

Midwife-attended births have doubled in the United States since 1990, and the numbers continue to rise every year. In fact, the demand for them is beginning to far outweigh their availability. We are proud that our staff of these professional caregivers is among the very best, and prouder still that they manage to find the time in their busy schedules to help ensure that their numbers continue to grow by mentoring, educating and indoctrinating future midwives to fill the fast growing gap of need.

READ MIDWIFE ARTICLES

What Exactly Do Midwives Do?

Our midwives have accumulated years of learning, experience and training in women’s health in order to receive their certification. As a certified nurse midwife (CNM), they hold the highest degree possible in their field. Their primary focus, however, is on providing care to women and their families during their pregnancy, delivery, and the following postpartum period. They are also qualified to:

  • Provide prenatal care
  • Dispense medication
  • Recognize any potential problems that may arise during pregnancy or delivery
  • Conduct annual women’s examinations
  • Administer birth control
  • Give pre-pregnancy counseling
  • Diagnose infections
  • Provide postnatal care to mothers and newborns
  • Advise on nutrition and diet
  • Arrange for all routine prenatal testing
  • Make limited medical decisions within their scope of training and expertise
  • Deliver routine pregnancy babies
  • Prepare women for delivery with relaxation and breathing techniques
  • Discuss breastfeeding and its options
  • Provide parenting education.

Why Would I Choose a Midwife?

Many women prefer to opt for natural childbirth in a more subdued, comfortable setting. Midwives approach childbirth as a holistic, rather than medicinal, experience. They concentrate on alternative drug-free methods to bring your child into the world, such as breathing and relaxation techniques, massage, comfortable positioning, and advice to help you cope with contractions as they become more intense.

Although our midwives encourage non-anesthesia delivery, you will not be refused medication if you should happen to change your mind during labor. In fact, if your midwife recognizes that you are in too much painful distress, she will urge you to accept relief so that the birthing process does not become a traumatic memory.

Our midwives also develop a more intimate bond with their patients, something physicians and surgeons are not always able to provide due to time constraints. Though all our doctors strive to answer all your questions and concerns, taking whatever time is necessary to put your mind at rest during your prenatal appointments, midwives offer more availability. Since they usually have less patients at one time than an OB/GYN, this allows them to concentrate more fully on each individual pregnancy.

By questioning and getting to know you better, our midwives will learn exactly what your preferences are during your natural birth process and will do their best to accommodate those wishes.

I’ve Already Had a Caesarean but Would Really Like to Give Birth Naturally This Time. Can I Still Ask for a Midwife or a Natural Birth?

In many cases, absolutely! You’ll have to be evaluated by one of our OB/GYNs to make sure there is no risk to you or your child, of course. Your health and safety, along with your baby’s, are our primary concern at all times, but once we’re confident that a natural vaginal birth is possible, one of our staff nurse-midwives can take over your prenatal care, and often your labor and delivery.

Should any problems arise at any given time, our midwives are trained to immediately notify a physician for help and support.

Midwives are our respected colleagues, and we rely heavily on their knowledge and sound medical training to alert us to step in at any time we are needed to assist if they encounter a problem outside their scope of expertise.

Childbirth is one of the most memorable experiences in a woman’s life. A midwife is proficient in extracting the inner strength and determination you may not even be aware you have to give birth naturally and still revel in the whole process.

For more information on midwifery, visit Northside Hospital Cherokee. To make an appointment with us, call us at 770.720.7733.

Midwife Education Articles

pregnant woman smiling down

Should You Use a Midwife?

Cherokee Women's Health offers our patients the choice of working with a certified nurse midwife or an obstetrician. It's a ...
pregnant-woman-with-birth-plan

What is the Difference Between an OB/GYN and a Midwife?

Many women who are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant wonder if they should see an OB/GYN, a midwife, or ...
baby-with-mom-hands-and-feet_114028879

Expert, Natural Birthing

The certified nurse midwives at Cherokee Women’s Health specialize in natural birthing methods. They are trained to recognize abnormal pregnancy ...
midwife and doula with baby

A Doula Gives Birth with the Help of a Midwife

A midwife helps a doula give birth. What's that like? Find out as Cherokee Women’s Health patient, Maddy, shares her ...
Ask the Midwife Tips for New Moms

Ask the Midwife Video Series

Get to know our certified nurse midwives in these short videos. In them, they answer the most commonly asked OB ...
OBs and Midwives with babies photo

Midwives and OBs – Working Together

Our team of OBs and Certified Nurse Midwives holding some of the babies they delivered. At Cherokee Women’s Health, our ...
Hospital Home Birth photo_235949027

Hospital “Home Birth”? Yes, You Can!

Can you have a "home birth" in a hospital? Yes, you can! As OB/GYNs, we help deliver a home birth ...
Dr. James Haley Delivering Baby

Home Birth – Is it Worth the Risk?

By James P. Haley, MD, FACOG, FPMRS As an OB/GYN for over 30 years now, I feel the need to ...
mom with baby girl_138678672

What is Natural Childbirth?

Natural childbirth is a labor and delivery that does not include the use of routine medical interventions, particularly anesthesia, the ...