Midwifery Services

Every pregnancy is unique, and so is every birth experience. At Banner Health, our goal is to help you have a safe, positive and personalized pregnancy and delivery. 

For many women, that includes the support of a certified nurse midwife - a trusted partner who combines medical expertise with compassionate, whole-person care. 

What is a midwife? 

A midwife is a trained health care professional who specializes in supporting women through pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum care. 

Midwives help guide you through your pregnancy, monitor your health and your baby’s development, and provide personalized support during labor and delivery. 

They can deliver babies in hospitals, birthing centers or, in some cases, at home - depending on your health needs and preferences. 

At Banner Health, our certified nurse midwives (CNMs) provide care in a hospital setting, ensuring you have access to both the comfort of personalized support and the safety of hospital-based resources. 

Midwife vs. doula: what’s the difference? 

It’s common to wonder how midwives and doulas differ - and how they can work together. 

• Midwife: A licensed health professional who provides medical care throughout pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. Midwives can perform gynecological exams, order tests, prescribe medications and deliver babies. 
• Doula: A trained birth coach who focuses on emotional and physical support. Doulas offer guidance with relaxation, positioning and breathing but do not provide medical care or deliver babies. 

Many women choose to work with both a midwife and a doula. This combination provides clinical expertise from a midwife and continuous emotional support from a doula. 

Types of midwives 

There are several types of midwives with different levels of training and where they can practice: 

• Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs): 
  Registered nurses with advanced midwifery training. CNMs are licensed to practice in all 50 states and can deliver babies in hospitals, birth centers and home settings. 
  This is the type of midwife you’ll find at Banner Health. 
• Certified Midwives (CMs): 
  Health professionals with a background in a non-nursing field who have completed midwifery education and certification. CMs can only practice in certain states. 
• Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs): 
  Non-nurse midwives trained specifically in out-of-hospital birth settings such as homes and freestanding birth centers. 

At Banner Health, our certified nurse midwives collaborate closely with obstetricians, nurses and labor support teams to ensure a safe and supported birth experience. 

Benefits of midwifery care 

Choosing midwifery care can bring many benefits during pregnancy, labor and beyond, including: 

• A more personalized and continuous approach to care 
• Emotional and social support throughout pregnancy and birth 
• Guidance for natural childbirth, including pain management strategies 
• A focus on whole-person health - mind, body and family 
• Collaborative care with OB-GYNs and specialists when needed 

Our midwives emphasize informed decision-making, helping you understand your options and participate in your care every step of the way. 

Questions to ask your midwife 

Finding the right midwife is a personal decision. To help you choose someone who aligns with your preferences and philosophy, consider asking questions such as: 

• How long have you been practicing? 
• What is your birth philosophy? 
• How do you work with OB-GYNs and doulas? 
• What does prenatal care look like with your patients? 
• When do you become involved during labor? 
• What happens if complications arise during pregnancy or delivery? 
• What kind of postpartum support do you provide? 

Our Banner Health team can help you connect with a certified nurse midwife who meets your needs and provides the support you’re looking for. 

Why choose Banner Health for midwifery care 

At Banner Health, our midwifery program combines the personal attention of a midwife with the full resources of a hospital setting. 

That means you can have the birth experience you want - with the added reassurance that expert medical care is always close at hand if needed. 

You’ll benefit from: 

• Experienced certified nurse midwives 
• Collaborative care with OB-GYNs and nurses 
• Access to advanced maternal-fetal medicine for high-risk pregnancies 
• Comfortable birthing suites designed for safety and support 

We’re honored to be part of your journey to motherhood and are committed to helping you experience a healthy, confident birth. 

Find midwifery services near you 

If you’re interested in working with a certified nurse midwife or learning whether midwifery care is right for you, our Banner Health team is here to help. 

We’ll guide you through your options and connect you with compassionate experts who support your birth preferences.