Services Provided by Certified Nurse-Midwives
You may have heard the term “certified nurse-midwives” before in relation to care for a woman who’s expecting a child. While maternity care and pregnancy support represent one aspect of the services provided by nurse-midwives, it doesn’t represent the entire spectrum of care.
In fact, certified nurse-midwives receive specialty training through one of a number of programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. This training prepares them to provide the full scope of women’s health services, including everything from well-woman checkups to lactation support to menopause services.
Certified nurse-midwives can offer the entire spectrum of care, including diagnosis and treatment, and may prescribe medications, as needed. Conveniently located in the Eugene/Springfield area.
Midwifery Services
This is the category of care that probably primarily comes to mind when it relates to certified nurse-midwives. Pregnancy care and education are encompassed within this category, but so are a number of services unrelated to pregnancy.
Certified nurse-midwives provide preconception counseling, birth plans, pregnancy care, and labor and delivery support. But their overall mission is to provide women and families with holistic care, so services also include those related to women’s health outside of pregnancy, such as well-woman checkups, contraception counseling and basic gynecologic care for women of all ages.
Labor and delivery services are provided at the Birthing Center at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, offering patients the expertise of a midwife combined with access to advanced care and technology if needed.
Lactation Services
Support from certified nurse-midwives doesn’t end after delivery. McKenzie Midwives also provides lactation services to new moms and their babies. This care begins before birth, with educational guidance to help prepare moms for successful breastfeeding.
Once a child is born, support continues — certified nurse-midwives help with establishing and maintaining breastfeeding (including the initial latch), evaluating infant feeding patterns, diagnosing and providing suggested solutions for problems related to feeding, and providing care for breast issues such as mastitis.
Menopause Services
Care provided by certified nurse-midwives covers more than just childbearing support. Women who are going through perimenopause or have passed menopause can seek care to help them navigate the challenges.
Every woman’s experience going through changes before and after menopause is unique, so care during that time is individualized.
A nurse-midwife can talk through your individual situation and symptoms and provide a suggested treatment plan to help you find relief. This may include both hormonal and holistic management of menopause-related symptoms.