Midwives provide professional care with a personal touch.

A growing number of women are opting for the special benefits and support that midwives provide. Today’s certified midwives have extensive formal training and education in nursing and midwifery, with a broad scope of practice.

“Midwifery isn’t limited to childbirth,” says Cynthia Cover, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital. “Our specialty gives us the ability to care for a woman’s needs during all phases of life.”

Midwives provide quality medical care with a personal touch. In addition to assisting mothers in childbirth and throughout pregnancy, today’s midwives care for female patients in their teens through menopause, providing contraceptive advice, annual exams, fertility counseling and assistance, and care for a variety of gynecologic issues.

Professional care

Midwives remain best known for their expert care of women during the birthing process. “A midwife is by your side, as a friend and educator, throughout childbirth. We support expectant mothers and help them make informed decisions,” explains Ms. Cover.

Midwives know that giving birth is a family event. Care plans can be made to accommodate a woman’s individual desires and the needs of her family.

At Hillcrest Hospital, patients are offered a variety of pain relief options – including relaxation techniques, epidurals or IV medications – should they be required or desired. Hillcrest also offers hydrotherapy for labor and birthing. Your midwife will guide you through the choices available before delivery or if any changes to your birth plan become necessary.

Prepared for the unplanned

In most cases, the pregnancy and birth process are normal and uncomplicated. Should a medical complication arise, midwives work alongside boardcertified obstetricians/gynecologists and other providers specializing in high-risk medical complications and surgery.

“Whatever the birth plan, we want mothers to feel at ease giving birth at Hillcrest, knowing that they have the expert care of physicians and midwives right by their side,” says Ms. Cover.