Finding a Labor & Delivery Midwife

A midwife provides health services to women, usually during pregnancy, labor, and birth. A certified nurse midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse who has completed a midwifery program and passed a national certification exam.

Services commonly provided by midwives include:

It’s important to us that you have a safe, healthy birth experience that matches your birth plan. Find a Doctor at one of our birth centers to learn more about having a midwife in the Bay Area as part of your birthing team.

Why Work with a Midwife?

Midwives provide highly personalized pregnancy, birth care, and family planning services, and they treat many women’s health concerns. According to research, women who use midwives for pregnancy care are less likely to need pain medication, more likely to move around during labor, and less likely to have a C-section.

When it comes to pregnancy care, midwives primarily provide care for uncomplicated vaginal births. Like doctors, midwives attend births in hospitals and birth centers. Midwives are trained to respond to medical emergencies, but they cannot perform C-sections.

What to Expect from Midwifery Services

At Dignity Health, our certified nurse midwives offer an individualized approach, focusing on your specific needs and desires. We view every pregnancy or health condition in the context of the patient’s life.

Our midwives aim to educate and empower you. They will explain your options and teach you more about your body. During pregnancy, our midwives will teach you how to work with your body during labor and birth.

Midwifery care is a safe, effective choice for pregnancy, birth, and gynecologic care. Talk with your Dignity Health doctor and consider working a with a midwife in Santa Cruz.

Dignity Health offers a full range of labor and delivery services, including midwifery services in Santa Cruz.