Midwives play a unique role in maternity care and delivery. Women around the world experience their invaluable contributions, patient connections and compassionate care. Here at St. Elizabeth Physicians Women’s Health, our certified midwives are integral to our women’s healthcare team. We sat down with St. Elizabeth Physicians patient Zoey Turner to learn about her experience with the midwifery team during her prenatal care and the delivery of her first baby in January 2023
Choosing Midwives for Care
When she was around 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Zoey made the switch to midwifery care at St. Elizabeth Physicians. “I was looking for more hands-on care for my pregnancy and delivery, and learned about the midwives at St. Elizabeth,” she explains. “I called the office, asked about the midwives, and everything sounded awesome.”
Zoey’s first appointment was with midwife Lisa Downton. “I walked out of my first appointment feeling super supported, like I had not felt before,” explains Zoey. Throughout her pregnancy, Zoey had appointments with all five midwives at the practice and each was supportive and kind and understood her birthing goals. “I shared my hopes and desires, and they wanted what I wanted for my birth. All the midwives were open and supportive,” says Zoey.
Labor and Delivery with a Midwife
Zoey’s midwifery care experience came full circle when it happened that the first midwife Zoey met in the office – Lisa – was on-call when her labor began. “I connected with Lisa and was thrilled she was the one that birthed my daughter.”
Zoey’s water broke at home, and she called the midwife hotline. Lisa answered the call and told Zoey to come into the hospital. Zoey arrived at the hospital and checked in, and Lisa met her there.
Lisa was with Zoey throughout the entire labor process – from the time of triage and when Zoey went into a labor suite. Before delivery even took place, a birthing plan was established. “Lisa explained the whole process and gave me options on how I can labor – such as in the room or the shower,” Zoey says. “Lisa oriented me to my room and checked on me throughout the labor process.
“The entire labor and delivery experience was wonderful,” says Zoey. “When I first considered using a midwife, I hadn’t made the decision on whether I wanted a natural childbirth. But Lisa was patient, calm and supportive regardless of my decision.”
The Midwifery Difference
Zoey says she’ll continue to see midwives from St. Elizabeth Physicians for her well-woman care. “There’s a bit of a misunderstanding around who midwives are, what they do and the role they play in women’s health,” she says. “Some people think they only practice homeopathic medicine with home births, or all-natural, or no hospitals. That’s not the case. Midwives are open to discussing and exploring options of your birth goals.
Zoey stresses that midwives are licensed professionals. They make her feel supported and informed in her healthcare decisions. Midwives educate, support and care for women and newborns before and throughout pregnancy, during labor and delivery and after birth. They provide a range of women’s health care, including primary care, preconception and prenatal care and birth and postpartum care.
Midwifery at St. Elizabeth Physician
Midwives are certified professionals who provide care and support for women’s health at every age. Midwives provide prenatal care, labor and delivery support and well-woman care. They also support patients in their birthing decisions, including how they want to labor and whether to receive pain medication.
St. Elizabeth Physicians midwives deliver babies in the hospital, allowing moms and babies to receive ongoing support and quick access to more intensive levels of care if needed. “As midwives, we support our patients throughout their labor and birth and beyond,” explains St. Elizabeth Physicians midwife Lisa Downton. The midwife approach is hands-on and supportive throughout the entire journey.”
Schedule an Appointment
To learn more about whether a midwife may be right for your prenatal or well-woman healthcare, make an appointment with a St. Elizabeth Physicians midwife.
