Intermountain Press Release

Provo, Utah—During the birth of each of her four daughters, Annadee Morgan held tight to what she calls her "security blanket."

It wasn't something soft and fluffy that had been in her family for generations. Instead, it was the gentle and steady hand of the certified nurse midwife who cared for the 32-year-old Payson mother through each pregnancy and delivery.

"I've always said why not go to a midwife, especially one who delivers at the hospital. With a [certified nurse] midwife, you get a wonderful middle ground where you get the support that you want, but you have the back-up of the hospital," said Morgan, who also has two adopted children.

A certified-nurse midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse who has completed additional education and is licensed by the state to practice midwifery. They have prescriptive privileges and provide a wide spectrum of healthcare services for women including premarital exams and counseling, birth control options, prenatal care, hospital deliveries and post-partum care as well as annual exams and physicals.

Across the country, CNMs conduct approximately 20 million patient visits per year. October 7 to 13 is National Midwifery Week, which honors the contributions CNMs have made to women's healthcare and celebrates their commitment to providing care to women throughout their lifetime.

Sue Schlegelmilch, a CNM with Intermountain's New Beginnings Certified Nurse Midwife Clinic in Orem, said she has one patient who is 9 years old and one who is in her early 60s. During her years in practice, she has had patients who refer their daughters as well as their mothers.

Women who are pregnant often choose a CNM for care because of the support offered throughout the entire labor process, Schlegelmilch said. "Patients say it means a lot to know were there the whole time as provider and an advocate and even a friend," she added.

Morgan said having her CNM in the room during labor was especially helpful during her first three deliveries, which she chose to do naturally.

"She [the CNM] was there through the rough spots and offered ideas on different ways to deal with the pain. She didn't push me to have a natural delivery or to have an epidural, but she was someone who looked out for the choice I had made," said Morgan.

Schlegelmilch encourages women who need a healthcare provider to schedule a consultation with the ones they're considering and then compare the differences. "We sit down with women and ask how they're doing and find out what's going on in their lives. We don't just rush in and rush out," said Schlegelmilch. New Beginnings Certified Nurse Midwife Clinic can be reached at 714-3388.