Why should you choose a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) or certified midwife (CM)?

CNMs and CMs offer a variety of high quality healthcare services for women. Your CNM/CM will take a complete family and personal medical history, and give you a thorough and gentle examination. Birth control counseling, prescriptions and follow-up examinations are available. CNMs and CMs specialize in caring for women during pregnancy, labor and delivery, as well as after birth. Midwives can care for adolescents, women of childbearing age and women during menopausal years.

Your CNM/CM may advise vitamins, calcium supplements, or suggest diet, exercise or lifestyle changes. You will be encouraged to ask questions and be given plenty of time for answers. CNMs and CMs will teach you how to maintain good health habits and self-care practices that aid in disease prevention. Midwives can prescribe medications including methods of contraception and treatment for common infections.

Should you develop a medical condition that needs more specialized treatment, you will be referred to a gynecologist, or other specialist as needed. Years of experience and continued education enable CNMs and CMs to provide a compassionate approach to all aspects of women's healthcare.

Even the U. S. government's top scientific organization, the Institute of Medicine, has recommended "more reliance be placed on certified nurse-midwives" in delivering primary healthcare.