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National Midwifery Week
October 10, 2009 |
Hear the term “midwife” and you may think of someone who helps in the delivery room.
But their jobs go far beyond that. “We do pap smears, take care of primary health
issues. We also have peri-menopausal and post-menopausal care,” says certified nurse-midwife,
Laurel Gammie McDonald.
Their knowledge is vast. According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, more
women are looking to the profession. Midwives are basically registered nurses who
have completed accredited midwifery programs.
McDonald says they can provide insight and help patients with basic questions. “You
want someone to spend time explaining to you what we’re doing and if you want to
be part of the decision making in your healthcare,” adds McDonald. More often than
not, midwives are called upon to help in family planning, gynecological exams, and
labor and delivery.
McDonald says they are only here to help. “We could never replace the OB-GYN. Nurse
midwife works in collaboration with the OB-GYN. We consult, we collaborate, and
refer high risk patients to them,” she explains.
Your family physician or OB-GYN can refer you to a midwife that may be best suited
for your individual needs. |
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