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Motherhood Pregnancy Wellness

10 Questions to Ask a Midwife

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 Questions to ask a midwife

Are you pregnant or trying to become pregnant and thinking about your care team? Have you considered working with a midwife? Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) like those at Genesis are healthcare professionals who primarily work with pregnant women, providing prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postnatal care. There are many benefits to working with midwives:

  • Personalized Care: Midwives often provide individualized attention, taking the time to understand your unique needs, preferences, and birth plan.
  • Continuity of Care: You usually see the same midwife throughout your pregnancy, fostering a solid relationship and ensuring consistent care.
  • Lower Intervention Rates: Studies show that midwife-led labor and delivery often results in fewer interventions, such as cesarean sections, episiotomies, and the use of pain relief medications.
  • Support During Labor and Birth: Midwives provide continuous support during labor and birth, helping to create a calm and supportive environment.
  • Postpartum Care: They often offer extensive postpartum support, including breastfeeding assistance, newborn care, and emotional support as you transition into motherhood.

You may have questions if you have not previously worked with a midwife or are just starting your pregnancy care journey. We sat down with one of our midwives, Tamara Brower, CNM, who practices at Northwest OBGYN, to understand what questions you should ask when looking to work with a midwife.

Questions about midwifery: Education and background

Per Brower, who has been a midwife for XX years, there still needs to be some education about what a midwife does, how they work with ObGyns, the services they provide, etc. She says, “In some areas, people are unfamiliar with midwives–they don’t know that there are different types of midwives or that we’re certified.” Below are some standard questions about education, background and what a CNM does.

Question 1: What does a midwife do?

Nurse midwives, or CNMs, facilitate the safe delivery of babies in low-risk births. CNMs are nurses first, and then we return to school to be midwives. So, we specialize in supportive care through pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. We spend time educating and building relationships with our patients. We come together and have the patient choose their path.

Question 2: What training does a midwife have?

CNMs are licensed and board-certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), and we usually have a master’s or doctorate. In conjunction with the CNM certification, some midwives will also choose to become women’s health nurse practitioners, though that is not required. 

Question 3: Are midwives safe? 

Yes, midwives are trained and board-certified to provide the best care for every patient. There is a lot of research on low intervention birth rates and increasing good outcomes when working with CNMs. “Midwifery” means to be with the woman–that means we build a relationship of mutual respect so that they [patients] feel safe, well-cared for and heard.

Midwife questions: Prenatal, delivery and postnatal care

One of the primary ways midwives work with patients is the prenatal, labor and delivery and postpartum time period. You may have questions about what midwives do leading up to the birth, how much time they spend with you in labor and delivery, etc. The following questions provide additional insight into the journey you’ll most likely take when working with a CNM.

Question 4: Do Midwives do Ultrasounds?

Yes, midwives provide ongoing prenatal care, and when you work with a midwife, we will meet during your check-ups. We can and do administer ultrasounds. We work with our patients to decide the best schedule for ultrasounds and recommend they have at least one between 18 and 22 weeks.

Question 5: Can midwives deliver in hospitals?

CNMs are affiliated with the hospital our practice chooses to deliver at. In about 95-98% of board-certified midwives practice in-hospital births. 

Question 6: Can a midwife give epidurals?

It varies from state to state, but in Arizona, midwives can prescribe epidurals, and you can have a midwife-led birth and have an epidural. 

Question 7: Can midwives perform c-sections? 

No. If compilations arise, we always work with the ObGyns to discuss options and next steps. If we make the decision [to perform a c-section], CNMs often accompany the patient to the operating room, but the ObGyn performs the surgery. Many do not know that some midwives have additional training to be [surgical] first assistants, which means we assist the ObGyn in the OR. 

Question 8: How do CNMs handle complications during labor and delivery?

We specialize in low-risk birth; however, if the need arises, we co-manage pregnancy complications with ObGyns. We always work closely with an ObGyn on staff to co-manage or transfer if the labor is complicated or becomes too high-risk. 

Question 9: Can midwives perform episiotomies? How do they handle perineal tears?

We do not perform routine episiotomies. My goal is to help guide pushing at the largest part of the baby’s head to minimize any potential tears. However, sometimes it happens–there are many variables behind tearing. It could be nutrition, the baby’s presentation, or a quick delivery.  

Question 10: Do CNMs also provide postnatal care?

CNMs spend more time educating and building relationships and educating our patients, including postpartum care. 

Accessible, exceptional midwife care in Tucson

Working with a midwife can lead to a more positive, empowering pregnancy and birth experience centered around your needs and preferences. We have several experienced CNMs on staff and would be delighted to be part of your pregnancy journey. Contact us to request an appointment today.
Tamara Brower, CNM, is a certified nurse midwife practicing at Northwest ObGyn in Tucson, Oro Valley and Sahuarita. She completed her nursing degree in 2006 and worked as a labor and delivery nurse for 12 years. Bower earned her Nurse Midwife certification from Frontier Nursing University in 2018. She is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).