Frequently Asked Questions
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FAQs
- What kind of care can I expect from a nurse-midwife?
- If I choose to have a nurse-midwife attend my birth, will I have to have my baby at home?
- What happens if I want pain medications during my labor?
- Is it not safer to have an obstetrician care for me during labor? What if there is an emergency?
- What other services can a nurse-midwife offer?
What kind of care can I expect from a nurse-midwife?
Nurse-midwives offer women special skills and an understanding of their unique physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Nurse-midwifery care focuses on maintaining health and encouraging women to make informed choices about their care. Nurse-midwives welcome your questions and have time to listen to you and talk with you about your care.
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If I choose to have a nurse-midwife attend my birth, will I have to have my baby at home?
The nurse-midwives at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation attend deliveries at both Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center and Dominican Hospital. You will give birth in a spacious private room where both your partner and other loved ones are welcome. In these settings, you will enjoy many of the comforts of home with the safety and full access to advanced care that a hospital can provide.
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What happens if I want pain medications during my labor?
Nurse-midwives support women in fulfilling their desires for labor; whether this is for an unmedicated natural childbirth or for the use of intravenous (IV) pain medications or epidural analgesia. You can expect your nurse-midwife to listen to your needs and involve you fully in making decisions about your care during your birth. Your nurse-midwife helps you to have your baby your way.
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Is it not safer to have an obstetrician care for me during labor? What if there is an emergency?
Nurse-midwives are trained to handle emergency situations calmly and skillfully and to request the immediate assistance of the on-call physician if needed. Because nurse-midwives are at their patient's side during much of the labor they are typically able to detect problems early before an emergency situation develops. Numerous studies have found that women who are cared for by a nurse-midwife can expect the same level of safety as they can from a physician.
In the event that a cesarean section is required to deliver the baby, the nurse-midwife can assist the obstetrician with the surgery and will continue to provide care in the postpartum period by offering breastfeeding assistance, emotional support and education about being a new mother.
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What other services can a nurse-midwife offer?
Most nurse-midwives are also ob/gyn nurse practitioners who can provide routine health care to women of all ages. They offer preconception counseling, family planning services, gynecological care, annual pelvic and breast exams, Pap tests, and screening and treatment for infections. They also care for older women and can provide hormone replacement therapy during menopause.
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