Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are licensed healthcare practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery and are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. They hold both a bachelors in nursing and a masters degree in nursing specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. They provide primary healthcare to women of childbearing age including: prenatal care, labor and delivery care, care after birth, gynecological exams, newborn care, assistance with family planning decisions, preconception care, menopausal management and counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention. CNMs attend almost 8 percent of the births in the United States. 96 percent of these births are in hospitals.

Midwives view the patient as a unique individual, not just the presenting problem or pregnancy. They act as advocates for their patients and believe that providing education and options will allow the patient to make informed and empowered decisions. Midwives specialize in caring for low risk healthy women. They are able to identify if complications arise and then consult appropriately with physician specialists and refer if necessary. Pregnant moms have the same schedule of visits, same tests and ultrasounds that you would have at a physician’s office.

It is hard to list every condition, here are some examples: clotting disorders requiring anticoagulants daily, any chronic condition which requires medication daily and is not well controlled such as autoimmune disorders, multiple gestations (twins, triplets etc.).

No, we currently have 4 midwives who work as a team to provide care for our patients. We work on a rotating call schedule. This means we cannot makes promises that a specific midwife will be able to deliver you when you are in labor, we all take turns. That is why it is our goal to have you meet all of the midwives during your prenatal care.

We offer water birth in the Freestanding Birth Center. Clients electing out of hospital birth are screened during their pregnancy and are accepted for out of hospital birth once they reach 36 weeks gestation.

For our birth center patients no IV is required and we use intermittent monitoring with a doppler to listen to the fetal heart rate during labor. At the hospital having an IV and being monitored on a continuous basis is standard but, based on your wishes these can be declined. There are medical situations where having an IV and/or continuous monitoring will be required, your midwife can discuss this with you.

What is your cesarean section rate? 5% (This is a primary rate and does not include women choosing repeat cesarean section)

What is your birth center transfer rate? 9%

What is you episiotomy rate? 1%

What is your Induction Rate? 10%

 
Bay Area accepts transfers from other practices during a pregnancy. If you are transferring for a Birth Center Birth you must transfer to us by 32 weeks gestation if you have had full prenatal care throughout the pregnancy and bring a copy of your records with you. Hospital birth transfers can be accepted at any time. We strongly encourage you to transfer as early as possible so that we can get to know you and your individual needs.

No we do not because the risk to the baby is too high. When a breech position is identified at 36 weeks we will recommend certain exercises and tips to try to help the baby turn spontaneously. There is also the option of one of our backup physicians helping the baby turn using their hand on the outside of the abdomin, a procedure called an external cephalic version. If the patient declines this procedure or the procedure is not successful than a cesarean section will be necessary around the time of the due date.