Choosing a Nurse-Midwife
A woman’s choice of maternity care provider makes a vital difference in her pregnancy and childbirth experience. Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are one of those options available to the women of Connecticut. In fact, CNMs deliver approximately 10% of all of the babies born in Connecticut each year.
What is a CNM?
Certified Nurse-Midwives are skilled professionals whose goal is to provide
comprehensive, personalized care to women. While CNMs specialize
in the care of women throughout their pregnancy, labor and birth, and
into the postpartum period, CNMs may also provide care for adolescents,
women of childbearing age, and menopausal women. Nurse-midwifery care
includes annual well-woman care, family planning, menopausal management,
and primary care.
Why would I choose a CNM?
Nurse-midwifery care is known to have exceptional safety outcomes and
to be highly satisfying for the families who choose it. Pregnancy
and childbirth is a joyful and exciting time for most women and their
families – but
it can also have anxious or scary elements. CNMs are focused on the
specific needs of each woman, educating the women they care for and
creating a partnership with those women. This relationship allows women
and their families to actively participate in their pregnancy and childbirth
while also providing women with a greater sense of trust and safety.
If you have a serious complication of your pregnancy, CNMs work within
the healthcare team to provide for consultation, collaboration or
referral for specialized services as needed.
How do I choose the right CNM for me?
All CNMs are different – they are different individuals, and they
may practice in different types of settings. CNMs may attend births in
hospitals, birth centers or even at home. A woman should seek out not
just a CNM, but the right CNM for herself. When meeting with a CNM, you
should ask at least the following questions: