Your midwife will support you throughout your pregnancy as a comforting hand to hold during the joyous and difficult moments and as a resource for any questions.
NICKIAH: With a midwife, I was looking for someone
to listen to me, be patient with all my first-time mom
questions, and just assure me that any concern that I had
wasn't too big or too small.
KATRINA: My midwife quite literally
held my hand when my birth plan went off track and supported us
with kindness and empathy throughout.
KYLA: My midwife helped me to feel empowered
when I made my decisions, as well
as the time after my baby was born
and immediate steps that we wanted to take for her care.
Working with her was like working with a friend.
PARIS MALOOF-BURY: One of the great things
about being at Sutter is that patients have choices.
At many locations throughout the network,
you can choose to see a certified nurse
midwife for pregnancy, childbirth, family planning,
women's health care, whatever you need.
PARIS MALOOF-BURY: Midwives at Sutter
are all certified nurse midwives.
We are registered nurses with advanced practice degrees.
MARTINA CHWASCINSKA-SZAREK: We provide
at gynecological care from puberty
through beyond menopause.
I love talking to my patients about
their reproductive health, whether it's
choosing birth control or how to move
through different transitions in life.
PARIS MALOOF-BURY: You are going to have a little bit
more time with your clinician.
MARTINA CHWASCINSKA-SZAREK: You can
expect it to get a lot of education
in terms of what normal looks like,
how to monitor your own body, what you should expect to feel.
We can deliver personalized care because of the extra time
that we have to spend with them over the course
of their pregnancy.
PARIS MALOOF-BURY: Patients can have whatever kind
of pain management they want.
We've got epidurals, we've got all the IV
meds, all the injectables, we've got nitrous oxide,
the gas that you breathe in.
We're also happy to help you with non-pharmacologic
strategies if that's what your birth plan includes.
SHELLEY MCDONALD SAMM: Our physicians
and our midwives work hand in hand
together in all aspects of care, not only in outpatient centers
where they collaborate very closely, but here
in the hospital setting as well.
PARIS MALOOF-BURY: Our OBGYNs an d midwives meet regularly
to go over our high risk patients.
DR. PAVITHRA VENKAT: I think are midwives are awesome.
Their energy is so positive.
They come in with so much training and experience.
You can come into this knowing that you have a team.
It's very collaborative.
PARIS MALOOF-BURY: My job is to listen.
My job is to provide you with options, with resources.
KASSANDRA DONNELS: We really respect a person's beliefs
and we incorporate that into the care plan every step
of the way.
BRITTANY KENDRICK: The essence of midwifery
is to be with women and we come to women
at whatever phase in life you are in.
JENNA SHAW-BATTISTA: I love working with patients.
PARIS MALOOF-BURY: I love the moment of birth.
I love when we hear the heartbeat for the first time.
That's always wonderful.
I love dad's eyes.
That is always awesome.
KASSANDRA DONNELS: That first moment
when the parents are seeing their baby, even now
I'm getting a little bit teary eyed.
MARTINA CHWASCINSKA-SZAREK: When the person who just gave birth
really comes into their power and realizes
what they've just accomplished, it's such a special experience.
And I feel really honored to be a part of it.
