UofL Physicians – Midwives, part of UofL Health – OB/GYN & Women’s Health, is the first program of its kind in Metro Louisville. The practice, located in the Center for Women’s Health at UofL Health – Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, focuses on empowering women to be a greater part of the decision-making process when it comes to not only labor and delivery, but also their overall women’s health care needs.

Treatments and Services

UofL Physicians – Midwives focuses on encouraging women to become active participants in their health care, throughout pregnancy and for women’s health care needs. Services offered include:

  • Prenatal care
  • Labor and delivery care
  • Postpartum care
  • Family planning
  • Birth control counseling and management
  • Annual gynecologic exams
  • Pap smears
  • Breast exams
  • Preventative health screenings
  • Gender-affirming care
  • Hormone therapy
  • Infertility
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Perimenopause and menopause
  • STI testing

Offering a Full Spectrum of Gynecologic Services

In addition to “catching” babies, and providing prenatal and postpartum care for mothers, certified nurse-midwives also provide a full range of women’s health services. With our nurse-midwives, you will be empowered to take part in the decisions made surrounding your health care.

Gynecological services, including physical and breast exams, pap smears and preventative health screenings, are available through our midwives. CNMs are also equipped to provide family planning and birth control counseling and management.

Our midwives are able to prescribe medications, order lab tests and services to complement your care. With our CNMs, there is no doubt you are in good hands.

For Expectant Mothers

Our certified nurse-midwives partner with you in women’s health needs and stand by you in tailoring the birthing experience you want. From preconception to taking your sweet bundle home for the first time, our nurse-midwives give guidance throughout the entire process.

Certified nurse-midwives, known as “CNMs,” are highly skilled advanced practice nurses with specialized training in delivering babies and providing prenatal and postpartum care to women. They are closely involved with mothers during labor and delivery and will stay with the mother during the entire labor process.

Providers with UofL Physicians – Midwives build a personal relationship with the mother so she is more relaxed and less stressed on delivery day, which can help make for an easier birthing experience. CNMs encourage a natural birth for mothers with low-risk pregnancies. They also are trained to help mothers deliver their babies by trying different positions and other alternatives, such as tub labor, to ease their pain and help lessen stress on the baby during birth. Our midwives encourage mom to deliver the baby in a way that feels right for her, and we are there to “catch” when the bundle arrives.

CNMs can order pain medication if it becomes wanted or needed and will perform episiotomies only if necessary.

Mothers deliver at UofL Health – UofL Hospital – Center for Women & Infants where general obstetricians and high-risk specialists are immediately available, so you can rest assured that the full range of comprehensive obstetrical services is right at hand if needed.

COMING SOON: The Birthing Place at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital: A brand new labor and delivery project is underway at UofL Health – Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. The facility will bring labor and delivery services back to South Louisville for the first time in nearly 50 years. It is expected to open sometime in 2025.

What is a Midwife?

A certified nurse-midwife is a registered nurse who has graduated from a nurse-midwifery program accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives and passed a national certification exam. Known as a CNM, she is educated in both nursing and midwifery and can practice anywhere in the U.S. A CNM is not a direct-entry midwife, also called lay, licensed or professional midwife, because she has the additional education and training to earn her registered nurse designation as well as certification in nurse-midwifery.

A CNM is an advanced practice nurse with additional training in delivering babies and providing prenatal and postpartum care to women. A CNM is very involved in labor and delivery, sometimes never leaving the mother during the entire labor process and will consult with a physician who may become involved in the delivery if needed.

If I’m Expecting, What is the Benefit of Seeing a Midwife?

The term midwife reflects a philosophy of care – one that is directed toward women and their individual reproductive needs. From gynecological services to postpartum care, our nurse-midwives remain focused on what is best for you.

One of the main reasons women choose a midwife is to experience childbirth as naturally as possible. Our certified nurse-midwives offer expectant mothers a variety of options that reflect the belief that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes as illustrated by the Midwives Model of Care:

  • Monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
  • Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery and postpartum support
  • Minimizing technological intervention
  • Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

Research has shown that the choice of selecting a certified nurse-midwife can result in:

  • Lower intervention rates, meaning fewer medical procedures for mother and baby
  • Fewer recovery complications
  • More opportunity for mothers to be fully present and in touch with giving birth
  • Lower rates of infant morbidity and mortality
  • Lower maternity care costs

Our nurse-midwives are also available to provide a full spectrum of gynecological services to women hoping to take a more active role in their health care. Every woman is different and deserves to have their individual women’s health care needs met, reflecting the midwife philosophy of care.

Certified Nurse Midwife Program Locations

Certified Nurse Midwife Program Providers

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