At South County Health’s Center for Women’s Health, Certified Nurse Midwives are among the providers caring for patients with clinical expertise and compassion, empowering women to make informed choices about their health.
When people hear the word midwife, they often think of childbirth. While midwives are experts in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care, their role also includes comprehensive gynecologic care throughout the reproductive years.
What Is a Certified Nurse Midwife?
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) are advanced practice registered nurses with graduate-level education and specialized training in women’s health and obstetrics. Their education and clinical focus center primarily on the childbearing years. Sarah West Allen is a Certified Nurse Midwife currently accepting new patients in our Newport office.
CNMs provide a broad range of services, including annual exams, contraceptive counseling, preconception planning, prenatal care, and labor and delivery support. They are also qualified to care for women beyond the reproductive years; however, management of menopause is typically outside the primary focus of midwifery practice and may be coordinated with or referred to other providers within the practice, depending on a patient’s needs.
Midwives collaborate closely with OB/GYN physicians and other specialists. For patients at South County Health, that means access to personalized care backed by the full strength of a trusted health system.
A Personalized Approach to Pregnancy and Birth
Midwifery care has been shown to support positive outcomes, including lower rates of unnecessary interventions for low-risk pregnancies, while maintaining the highest standards of safety. In a hospital setting like South County Hospital, patients benefit from the supportive philosophy of midwifery along with immediate access to advanced medical resources, including Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, if needed.
Care Focused on Prevention and Partnership
At the Center for Women’s Health, midwives provide routine gynecologic care and guide patients through the many health considerations of adolescence, family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery.
Preventive care is a cornerstone of midwifery. This includes conversations about nutrition, mental health, sexual health, and lifestyle habits that influence long-term well-being. By emphasizing education and early detection, midwives help women stay proactive about their health during their reproductive years.
A Relationship Built on Trust
What many patients value most about midwifery care is the relationship. Visits are designed to foster meaningful dialogue. Questions are encouraged, and care plans are developed collaboratively to reflect each patient’s goals and preferences.
At South County Health’s Center for Women’s Health, midwives are part of a collaborative team dedicated to providing safe, compassionate, and comprehensive care. Whether preparing to welcome a new baby or managing routine gynecologic needs, women have a trusted partner by their side.
Schedule an OB/GYN appointment in Newport >To learn more about South County Health’s Center for Women’s Health visit southcountyhealth.org/womens-health