What is a Certified Nurse midwife?


Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are unique, nurturing health care professionals specializing in safe, alternative approaches to your birthing experience beginning with preconception care and family planning service and including prenatal and postpartum care. CNM’s also provide an array of primary healthcare services to women including annual gynecological exam and menopausal management. OCWMG’s midwives will attend births in the comfort of The Fudge Family Suites at Hoag Hospital Irvine and Saddleback Women’s Hospital.

CNMs are trained in both nursing and midwifery and are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). To be certified, a CNM must be formally educated in midwifery through an accredited program affiliated with an institution of higher learning, demonstrate clinical competence, and pass a rigorous national certifying exam.

Midwives offer a different approach for women who want a more individualized, less routine approach to childbirth than many traditional obstetricians provide. They see every pregnancy as a unique event and encourage you to consider your options for labor and delivery and to personalize your own birth plan. Midwives focus on developing a trusting relationship with their patients helping them to lean about physical and emotional changes during pregnancy. They will consider you an active participant in all aspects of your care. Midwifery care is hands-on care before, during and the birth of your baby.

How does a CNM handle complications?

CNMs are trained to identify problems that may develop or occur during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. If a situation arises requiring intervention by medical doctor, OCWMG physicians will support/step in to access the problem.

Will my health insurance cover a midwife’s services?

Many US insurance plans cover CNM services. You will need to contact your insurance carrier for more information.

Choosing care with a midwife will offer:

  • One-on-one personalized care, attentive to the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother through the childbearing cycle.
  • Your childbirth can be as natural as possible with little medical intervention, such as an episiotomy, fetal monitoring, labor induction, etc.
  • An alternative approach to birth encouraging freedom of movement, use of warm water immersion, and other techniques for comfort.
  • Natural birthing care in the safety of The Fudge Family Suites at Hoag Hospital Irvine and Saddleback Women’s Hospital
  • Support by Board Certified OB/GYN physicians.
  • Immediately available emergency care if needed.

Make an appointment today to speak with our nurse midwife.

Dear Patient,

We are here for you. Due to COVID-19 and staff shortage, you may experience longer wait times on the phone and in the lobbies. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we try to service you as effectively as possible!

Your safety and our staff’s safety are important to us, we have made changes to accommodate and provide high-quality care.

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Thank you for understanding.

In Good Health,

OCWMG Physicians