Frequently Asked Questions

Midwives take a holistic approach to patient care, including:

• A focus on woman/patient/family centered care

• A focus on illness prevention and education

• Providing competent and compassionate care

• Ensuring informed consent and evidenced-based practice

ObGyn physicians and midwives both provide evidence-based care for pregnancy, labor, birth, and women's health. The key difference lies in approach: midwives prioritize a holistic view, seeing pregnancy and birth as natural processes that don’t require intervention unless complications arise. They emphasize building relationships, education, prevention, and shared decision-making. During labor, midwives offer continuous support, often using non-pharmacologic pain relief methods like massage and hydrotherapy, while respecting choices for pain medication. They’re also trained to recognize complications and will consult with ObGyns as needed.

You will give birth in the setting of your choice – hospital, out-of-hospital birth center, or home depending on the midwife or midwifery group you have chosen.  Most midwives in Colorado provide care only in the setting in which they are insured to do so.  This is typically either in a hospital setting or in an out-of-hospital birth center.  However, there are some CNMs and CMs in Colorado who are licensed and insured to attend births in the home setting.​​​​

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Absolutely.  Midwives believe in woman-centered care and support women in having the experience of labor and birth that they choose.  This may be through unmedicated childbirth or pain medicine such as an epidural.

Yes!  Midwives support women in their decision to have a vaginal birth after a cesarean section and are trained in the rare complications that could arise.

Absolutely. Midwifery care with a Certified Nurse Midwife is covered by most, if not all, insurance types in the State of Colorado.  Contact your specific health insurance to determine if they cover a specific midwifery practice or care with midwives at the hospital of your choice.​

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Doulas are individuals selected by a woman and her family to provide uninterrupted support to her and her family through labor and birth.  They are an exceptional addition to your support team and are trained to support a laboring woman and her family emotionally, physically, and spiritually through this amazing experience.  Many doulas are also trained to support women through pregnancy and postpartum care. Midwives support women in all the same ways as a doula but with the addition of being responsible for the medical management of her pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum care.​

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Midwives provide many levels of care and can diagnose and manage many complications.  Depending on the complication and the severity of your case, a midwife can continue to manage your care, share management of your care with an ObGyn physician, or refer you to a physician for more specialized care.  Midwives are trained to manage complications during labor as well.  If the complication requires further intervention, a physician will be called to your birth in a hospital setting or you will be transferred emergently to the nearest hospital if you are in an out-of-hospital birth center or your home.  Most complications in birth are detected early and there is time for transfer.

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Since Midwives are not trained as surgeons, an OB/GYN physician will perform your C-Section, but your CNM/CM can usually stay with you throughout the process. Midwives often are able to assist during C-Sections and they can also provide post-operative care.