Why More Patients Are Turning to Midwives for More Than Pregnancy
February 11, 2025
Midwives may be best known for delivering babies. But these nurses with specialized training care for patients through all of life’s milestones – from birth to puberty to menopause and beyond. Batsheva “Eva” Bane, certified nurse midwife (CNM) at Mountainside Medical Center, explains what a midwife does and why patients of all ages turn to them for compassionate care.
What Do Midwives Do?
“In midwifery, we can address both obstetric and gynecologic needs for our patients,” says Eva. Midwives help low-risk pregnant patients with:
- Care during pregnancy
- Labor and delivery
- Care after birth
Midwives also consult with and refer patients to physicians, as needed, for specialized care or high-risk pregnancies.
Beyond pregnancy, midwives provide primary gynecologic care for patients of all ages.
Some services they offer include:
- Family planning and pre-pregnancy care
- Pap smears
- Testing for sexually transmitted infections
- Prescribing birth control
- Ordering mammograms
- Menopause management
- Diagnosing and treating urinary tract infections
How Are Midwives Trained?
Certified nurse midwives like Eva and her colleague Sarah Wroclawski, CNM, hold a Master of Science in nursing. This means they have a bachelor’s degree plus additional education and training. Within their master’s program, they complete specialized training in topics like:
- Gynecology
- Newborn care
- Prenatal and postpartum care
- Women’s health
Pregnancy Care
In 2021, a midwife attended more than one out of 10 American births. More and more patients are choosing midwives to help bring their children into the world. One reason for this is the unhurried, personal attention midwives provide.
The holistic approach and close engagement pays off, Eva says. “Studies have shown that obstetric care provided by midwives will improve outcomes significantly. This whole-body, whole-person focus makes a difference.”
Research has found that low-risk patients of midwives’ have:
- Higher vaginal birth rates
- Better breastfeeding rates and satisfaction with birth
- Less postpartum depression
Why Choose a Midwife for General Care
Patients often choose midwives because they like their approach to health care.
Midwifery focuses on wellness and preventative health, Eva says. “We consider patients’ physical and emotional health and social relationships. And we work with them to optimize their health.”
Although there is some misunderstanding about what midwives do in the U.S., Eva says her patients seek midwifery because it aligns with their values. “Patients who want to empower themselves, educate themselves and optimize their health should consider midwifery care for their gynecologic and obstetric needs.”
Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our source: Batsheva “Eva” Bane, MSN, CNM, RNC, CBC
- Make an appointment with a certified nurse midwife near you or call 800-822-8905.
- Learn more about women’s health at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
