Nurse Midwife

Pat Jones has been a midwife for over 23 years and a Certified Nurse Midwife for over 15 years.

Midwives are trained to care for low risk women who desire non-interventive care and attention. There are two types of midwives, a Certified Nurse-Midwife and a lay empirical midwife.

A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) has been educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery and is certified according to the regulations of the American College of Certified-Nurse Midwives. Many have master's degrees in nursing. Certified Nurse-Midwives practice in hospitals, birth centers and at home and always have a back-up physician to call in the event of an emergency or as a referral when a problem appears. A Certified-Nurse Midwife can provide independent management and care for "normal" women and babies during pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period and through family-planning and "well-woman" gynecology services.

A nurse midwife is NOT a doctor. She does not want to control your body or "save" you from childbirth. A nurse midwife wants to offer support, an experienced eye to pick up on anything out of the ordinary, a shoulder to lean on, knowledge that will assist you to make good decisions and give birth effectively and beautifully, and a friendly ear to listen as you share your feelings and wishes.

A nurse midwife cannot handle some of the problems that may occur during pregnancy, labor and birth. There will be times when a nurse midwife will suggest you see a physician or seek hospital care. Between 5 to 10 women out of 100 (5%-10%) will need some sort of service which a nurse midwife cannot supply. You must know and be comfortable with her limitations, listen carefully to her advice and be willing to take the responsibility for making your own birthing and healthcare decisions.

There are many reasons why a mature couple might want a homebirth with a certified nurse midwife. However, there is only one reason which should be the deciding factor. That is the ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT TO NATURAL BIRTH. YOU SHOULD TRULY FEEL THAT HOMEBIRTH IS THE SUPERIOR WAY TO GIVE BIRTH TO YOUR BABY. Other factors such as finances, a fear of hospitals and/or physicians, wanting to be like others who have done it, or doing it because your partner or other family member wants you to may be considered, but should not be the deciding factor in your choice to have a homebirth.

As a birthing couple, you discuss your innermost thoughts with each other and come to decisions which will affect your immediate as well as future lives together. This is a growth process and one in which no one can tell you what choices are best for you and your baby.

At Women's Health and Birth Care, we want your baby to have the best possible introduction to life that we and you can offer.

The midwife must be a healer as well as a facilitator. I am a Certified Nurse Midwife. I see myself as a very non-interventive and spiritual midwife. I pride myself in bringing the best of two worlds - medical experience, knowledge and equipment plus the heart of a nurse midwife to serve the woman and her family as they transition into a family through the miracle of the birthing process

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