Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife?
A Certified-Nurse Midwife (CNM) is an independent, advance practice nurse with a masters degree, trained in the disciplines of nursing and midwifery. CNMs are held to the same standards of care as our MD partners, able to write prescriptions, and are covered by insurance companies. We believe pregnancy is a normal, healthy event and practice according to the midwife philosophy.
What is the midwife philosophy?
This is well defined by the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) who state:
"We honor the normalcy of women's lifecycle events. We believe in watchful waiting and non-intervention in normal processes, appropriate use of interventions and technology for current or potential health problems; consultation, collaboration and referral with other members of the health care team as needed to provide optimal health care".
How do I know if I can be cared for by your clinic?
Our CNMs provide a variety of health care services. We care for some high risk pregnancies like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and depression. If you are unsure if your health care concerns are appropriate for our clinic, please contact our clinic to talk with one of our CNMs.
What is a birth like with your clinic?
During your pregnancy, the CNM will work with a woman and her family to understand the normalcy of pregnancy/birth and answer any questions or concerns. When labor starts, we ask you to call the CNM who will talk with you every hour to provide support, tips and reassurance. When it is time to go to the hospital, the CNM will meet you there. We encourage you to wear your own clothing, move around, eat and drink as your body allows. We labor with women outside if desired, weather permitting. The CNM stays with you during labor and birth, to support you and your family.
After birth, we assist with feeding the baby, encourage you to take a bath and have something to eat. We visit each day until you are discharged home. At 4 weeks we see you in the office to talk about the physical and emotional challenges of motherhood and provide any support you may need. We love to see the babies! We have three CNMs at our clinic, one working with families in labor, one in the clinic and one "sleeping".
What happens if there is a complication?
Our CNMs are skilled at understanding the pathophysiology of labor and birth. We are able to identify complications early and intervene only when needed, understanding that certain interventions lead to a cascade of other interventions. By being present and watching a mother in labor, the CNM is able to provide the appropriate level of care in a thoughtful manner. We work in collaboration with a MD group, have the support of an in-house OB doctor and Neonatal support team, if needed. Abbott Northwestern Hospital has a level III NICU. The nurses are highly skilled and very supportive of the midwife model of care.
When did the clinic open?
The North Metro Midwives clinic opened on June 14, 2004. We attended our first birth at North Memorial on June 18, 2004 with a patient who transfered from Hennepin County. We began attending births at Maple Grove Hospital, August 2010. On December 31, 2011, we transfered our hospital services to Abbott Northwestern hospital. Our management structure allows us to provide health care using the midwifery model of care. We are proud to provide evidence-based care, tailored to the individual needs of each woman. On August 22, 2016 we joined Allina Health to better provide care for our women and their families.
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