During Nurse-Midwifery Week (Oct. 6-10) certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and their patients and families celebrate the increasing popularity of this birth choice. Reflecting upon how word has spread about choosing birth options, I find that my patients and their families are increasingly educating the public about their experience with a nurse midwife. “Oh, you’re going to have a home birth?” are often the first words they hear when they tell others that they’re seeing a nurse-midwife. “No,” they say, “I’ll be delivering at Eastern Maine Medical Center.” “Don’t you feel less safe without a physician doing the delivery?” “No, nurse-midwives are fully trained to deliver vaginal births and have immediate backup of a physician for emergencies.” (National statistics show CNM deliveries to have equal outcomes to that of physicians.)

“What do you like about having a CNM?” “Oh, they spend more time with me in visits; they really know me and my family by the time of birth. Debbie is on call full time for my delivery so I know I will have her for my birth. She comes in for my labor also, which immediately puts me at ease. I know that the special things that I want are things that CNMs are more attentive to” (music, dim lighting, massage, water, aromatherapy, birthing balls, hypotherapy while avoiding routine continuous monitoring, IVs, episiotomies and inductions). “Knowing these are important to her helps me focus on trusting my body to birth the way nature intended. I see her sharing one of life’s most special moments with an enthusiasm that is important to me.”

To all patients helping to spread the word, certified nurse midwives across

the country would like to say thank you. Patients and their extended families are the reason that others are educated to choose knowledgeably among the birthing options open to them.

An excerpt from “The Heart of Midwifery” (American College of Nurse Midwives, 1997) describes midwives as nurturing a woman’s progress with hands-on care rather than diagnose her problems from afar. They would rather listen than lecture, teach a health principle than treat an illness, empower a woman to join in decision-making than decide for her, support natural processes than employ technological interventions and instill a woman with trust in her body than demonstrate the midwife’s technical proficiency, although midwives will do all these things when necessary.

I have been in private practice in Bangor for 22 years. My back-up physician is Dr. Robert Grover and I practice out of his office at the new Webber III building next to the hospital. Until recently, I was the only certified nurse midwife with privileges to perform births at Eastern Maine Medical Center. In July, Karen Stewart, CNM, who trained with me, joined Dr. Grover’s practice. Unlike my independent practice, Karen and Dr. Grover have a team approach throughout pregnancy and birth. “I believe it is the best of both worlds, the perfect mix of midwifery and medicine,” is how Karen describes her association with Dr. Grover.

One of the misconceptions of midwifery is that midwives only care for women during pregnancy and childbirth. Certified nurse midwives are educated and trained in the care of well-women gynecology, family planning and lactation consultation. These are services offered by Karen and other certified nurse midwives in the Bangor area. The word midwife means “with woman” and that is exactly what midwives are.

Debbie Hill Hunter, CNM, has been in her own private practice in the Bangor area for more than 20 years.