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.

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.

FAQs

What is a Nurse Midwife?

A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with a master’s or doctoral degree in midwifery. CNMs are accredited and board certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), the same board that certifies Certified Midwives (CMs).

CNMs provide care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, but their expertise goes beyond maternity care. They also provide gynecologic exams, family planning, menopausal care, and general women’s health services. Many patients view their CNM as their lifelong women’s health provider.

What’s the Difference Between the Types of Midwives?

It’s no surprise people get confused—midwife titles can be tricky! Here’s a breakdown:

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with a graduate degree in midwifery. CNMs are licensed to practice in all 50 states, can prescribe medications, and can deliver in hospitals, birth centers, or homes (depending on state laws). They hold the highest level of education in midwifery, blending the role of a nurse practitioner with specialized obstetric training.
Certified Midwife (CM): Similar to CNMs, CMs also earn a graduate degree in midwifery and are certified by the AMCB. The difference is that they do not have a nursing background. Currently, only a few states license CMs, and scope of practice may vary.
Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): Specializes in out-of-hospital birth (homes and birth centers). CPMs are not required to have a nursing degree, and licensure varies by state.
Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM): Trained through apprenticeship, independent study, or a midwifery program, but not necessarily nursing-based. They typically attend home births.
Doula (not a midwife): Provides physical, emotional, and educational support during pregnancy and birth, but does not deliver babies or provide medical care.

Quick takeaway: CNMs are the only type of midwife who are also APRNs, which allows them to practice in hospitals, prescribe medications, and offer a full range of women’s health care.

Do Nurse Midwives Only Attend Home Births?

No. This is a common misconception. Most CNMs in the U.S. work in hospitals and birth centers, offering safe, evidence-based care with access to modern medical resources. Home birth is an option for some, but it is not the most common setting for CNMs.

Can I Continue to See a Midwife After My Pregnancy?

Yes! Nurse midwives provide care well beyond pregnancy and childbirth. You can see a CNM for:

Annual gynecologic exams
Birth control and family planning
Menopause care
General wellness and women’s health

Can I Get an Epidural if I Have a Midwife?

Yes. Having a midwife does not limit your pain relief options. If you’re giving birth in a hospital, you can choose an epidural or other forms of pain management.

CNMs are specially trained in supporting unmedicated or “physiologic” birth (birth with minimal intervention), but they ultimately provide care that aligns with your preferences and best interests. Whether you want an unmedicated birth, IV medications, or an epidural, your CNM will support your plan.

Why Midwifery Care?

Research shows that families cared for by midwives often experience:

Lower cesarean section rates
Fewer operative vaginal deliveries
Lower rates of severe perineal tears (3rd and 4th degree)
Fewer NICU admissions
Higher satisfaction with birth experiences

CNMs promote overall maternal wellness and frequently collaborate with doulas, birth educators, lactation consultants, physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, OB/GYNs, and maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists when higher-risk complications arise.

Many midwives describe their role like this:
“Midwives are the experts in NORMAL. OBs are the experts in the ABNORMAL. If your pregnancy is low-risk and uncomplicated, midwifery care can offer the safest and most supportive outcomes.”