We love midwives. We believe, in most instances, that there's nothing that beats the combination of a midwife and a doula to support a family through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. But what is a midwife? Where do midwives attend births? And what are your options to have a midwife in our area?
What A Midwife Is:
In North Carolina, only Certified Nurse Midwives can practice with in the state legally with a license. So, for the purpose of this post, we will only be mentioning CNMs and not Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) because CPMs cannot have licensure to practice in the state of North Carolina. If you are interested in CPMs, some are licensed in Virginia and do attend home births in North Carolina. If this interests you, just message us and we can give you further information.
Certified Nurse Midwives are licensed healthcare professionals who have a master's degree in midwifery. They specialize in reproductive health and childbirth but also preform annual exams, give counseling, and write prescriptions. CNMs are different than doulas because they are healthcare providers while doulas are there for physical and emotional support. CNMs are similar to OBGYNs in that they can deliver babies and even care for higher risk pregnancies in many situations. Many CNMs even assist in c-sections with the doctors if a cesarean birth became necessary. CNMs are different than OBGYNs because most CNMs are able to spend more time with you during prenatal appointments and more time with you during your labor compared to an OBGYN.
Where Midwives Attend Births:
Some people think that midwives only do homebirths. In reality, over 90% of midwives practice in the hospital. In our area, Cone Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, and Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center all have midwives - but you must go to a practice that has midwives if you want a midwife to be present for your birth. Unfortunately, there are no birth centers in the Triad. Women's Birth And Wellness Center is in Chapel Hill - a one hour drive from Greensboro. Natural Beginnings Birth And Wellness Center is in Statesville - a 30 minute drive from Winston-Salem and 1 hour from Greensboro. There are a few CNMs who will attend homebirths in our area as well.
Midwives in Hospitals:
In the Triad, there are practices that have midwives who attend births at Cone, Wake, and Novant.
Wendover OBGYN: Attends births at Cone Health Women's and Children's Center in Greensboro
Wendover OBGYN is a practice that has midwives and doctors. Patients can decide if they would like to be a midwife patient or a doctor patient. There are three midwives at the practice and patients like being able to get to know the three midwives well and knowing that one of the three of them will be at their birth.
Attends VBACs: Yes
Accepts Medicaid: No
Labor in A Deep Tub As An Option: Yes
Water Birth: Yes
Nitrous Oxide Access: No (due to Covid)
Epidural Access: Yes
Center for Women's Healthcare: Attends births at Cone Health Women's and Children's Center in Greensboro
The Center for Women's Healthcare is a large practice that is made up of CNMs and OBGYNs. There are many different locations for this practice that are in and outside of Greensboro, so it is convenient for many families who live further away from Greensboro. Patients can request to be seen by midwives for their prenatal care and there is almost always a midwife available for birth in the hospital.
Attends VBACs: Yes
Accepts Medicaid: Yes
Labor in A Deep Tub As An Option: Yes
Water Birth: Yes
Nitrous Oxide Access: No (due to Covid)
Epidural Access: Yes
Novant Health Midwifery: Attends births at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem
Novant Health Midwifery is an all midwife practice. This is a small practice and the patients enjoy getting to know their midwives well and knowing that one of them will be with them in labor.
Attends VBACs: Yes
Accepts Medicaid: Yes
Labor in a Deep Tub: Yes
Water Birth: No
Nitrous Oxide Access: Yes
Epidural Access: Yes
Wake Forest Baptist Health - Clemmons Office: Attends births at Wake Forrest Baptist Medical Center
This is a large practice that, much like the Cone Health Center for Women's Healthcare, is made up of many midwives and OBGYNs. You can request to see a midwife for prenatal care at the Clemmons office. Most of the time there is a midwife available for deliveries at the hospital.
Attends VBACs: Yes
Accepts Medicaid: Yes
Labor in a Deep Tub: Yes
Water Birth: No
Nitrous Oxide Access: No
Epidural Access: Yes
Midwives in Birth Centers:
Unfortunately, there is not a birth center in Greensboro, High Point, or Winston-Salem. Thankfully, you can make a short drive to Chapel Hill or Statesville for birth center care. Birth Centers are not a part of the hospital. If a transfer to the hospital is needed, your midwife from the birth center joins you at the closest hospital.
Attends VBACs: No VBACs in the birth center, but if you had a prior c-section as a patient of this birth center, you can have a VBAC with these midwives at UNC Hospital
Accepts Medicaid: Yes
Labor in a Deep Tub: Yes
Water Birth: Yes
Nitrous Oxide Access: No
Epidural Access: No
Transfers to UNC if a hospital is needed
Attends VBACs: No VBACs in the birth center, but if you have been a patient of this birth center in the past, talk with them about your VBAC options with them
Accepts Medicaid: Yes
Labor in a Deep Tub: Yes
Water Birth: Yes
Nitrous Oxide Access: No
Epidural Access: No
Transfers to Davis Regional Medical Center if a hospital is needed
Midwives for Home Births:
Home births in NC are legal with CNMs. Reach out to the CNMs directly to see if they might be a good fit for you and to learn more about payment options. No CNMs in NC can do VBACs at home. Unfortunately, none of them have practicing privileges at hospitals. So, if you needed to transfer to a hospital for care (either in an emergent situation or planned), they can't continue your care as your care provider (however they may still be able to join you as support). Talk with these midwives directly about medical insurance reimbursement and medicaid. The CNMs who do home births locally are very experienced and have great outcomes.
Nancy Harmon - 919-548-0677
Tina Braimah - 919-299-3050
We hope that this helps you know your options! Just like when you decide on a doula - do your research and see which people are the right ones to put around you as you build your support team. If you have questions, let us know!
