As women in the United States learn more about the normal, healthy processes of pregnancy and childbirth, they are realizing the benefits of receiving prenatal care from a certified nurse-midwife.

Sections:

• About Certified Nurse-Midwives
• A 75-Year Tradition
• The Fremont Center CNMs
• To Make an Appointment

About Certified Nurse-Midwives

A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is a health care professional who is part of the team that provides care for mothers and their babies during normal pregnancy. In addition to providing comprehensive care throughout pregnancy, certified nurse-midwives help expectant parents prepare for labor and delivery. Nurse-midwives also offer counseling in such areas as:

• Breastfeeding
  
• Maternal diet
  
• Newborn care
  
• Parenting
  
• Family planning
  
• Provide routine gynecologic care for women during their childbearing years.

All of the certified nurse-midwives at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation must be registered nurses who have graduated from an accredited midwifery program, and have met the requirements for certification by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).

The Fremont Center's Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology is proud to count our certified midwives as an integral part of our obstetrics and gynecological care team.


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A 75-Year Tradition

Nurse-midwives trace their beginning back to the Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky and the Maternity Center Association in New York City, where they provided care to women in rural and urban areas nearly a century ago.

Today, there are more than 6,000 certified nurse-midwives nationwide who provide a wide range of health care services to women and newborns.

Nurse-midwives work in many different settings, including clinics, private practices and hospitals.

Nurse midwives work collaboratively with physicians and other health care professionals. Although they work independently in many areas, consulting with physicians is an important aspect of a nurse-midwife's job. Because of their unique training and orientation, certified nurse-midwives are specially qualified to help make the experience of childbirth a safe and happy one for both mother and baby.


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The Fremont Center CNMs

The Fremont Center's Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology is privileged to have certified nurse midwives as part of our model of care. This model includes:

• Monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the expectant mother throughout her childbearing years;
  
  
• Providing expectant mothers with individualized education, counseling and prenatal care;
  
  
• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention;
  
  
• Diagnosing problems as they arise and referring patients to a physician when necessary.

Your first introduction to one of our CNMs will be during your New Obstetrics class. During this class, you will select one CNM and an obstetrics physician as your primary team of providers. Although you will see other CNMs and physicians from our shared practice throughout your pregnancy, your primary team will ensure a continuity of care.


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To Make an Appointment

Appointments can be made either in person within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology or by telephone at 510-490-1222 from 7 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please call 510-490-1222 at least 48 hours in advance.

The department is located on the 2nd floor of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's Fremont Center at 3200 Kearney Street, Fremont, CA 94538.

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