Midwifery is an ancient art that has been recorded since the earliest biblical times. Before OB/GYNs, labor and delivery wards and ultrasounds, there were midwives. The term "midwife" is translated in English to mean "with women". Traditionally midwives have played, and continue to play, an essential role in the birth practices of women internationally. In the United States traditional midwifery had been virtually eliminated from widespread use by 1940. This occurred for a variety of reasons, but primarily as birth moved from the home to hospital environments, midwives were blocked from practicing. Lack of formal training and professional organization also contributed to the near eradiation of the traditional midwife in this country. Through the vision of one woman from Kentucky, Mary Breckenridge, midwifery was revived in the United States. She studied the English model of the nurse midwife and founded the Frontier Nursing Service in 1925 based on that model. Through careful documentation she was able to show the safe and effective care offered by the nurse midwives. Other organizations followed suit and enhanced and promoted nurse midwifery through education, focusing on largely disadvantaged women in both rural and urban settings. These experiences provided clear evidence that nurse midwifery could significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality, especially in under serviced areas.

Nurse Midwives are educated and licensed as both registered nurses and midwives. All nurse midwives are educated at the graduate level and many have masters degrees. In addition, all certified nurse-midwives have passed a national certification examination. Nurse Midwives practice within the health care system in collaboration and consultation with other health care professionals, as necessary, providing gynecological, family planning and maternity care to women. Nurse Midwives offer women the best of both worlds, holistic, health promoting care, with established access to physician care in the unusual event of complications. Research has confirmed the high level of safety and client satisfaction provided by nurse midwives. Numerous studies have demonstrated that women cared for by a Nurse Midwife can expect the same level of safety as they can from a physician. In 1995, the Public Citizenís Health Research Group reported that births attended by Nurse Midwives were half likely to result in a cesarean section as those attended by physicians. In 1996, Nurse Midwives attended more than 200,000 births in the United States. The American College of Nurse Midwives is the national organization representing over 6,000 Nurse Midwives.

Although Nurse Midwives are trained in medicine, they approach pregnancy, labor and birth as a natural life-cycle process, emphasizing the strengths of the mother. Nurse Midwives specialize in the normal birth and have a holistic viewpoint. Prenatal care, monitoring the health of the women and the baby, and maintaining a healthy pregnancy are important focuses. Prenatal visits are designed to give plenty of time for questions and teaching. Family involvement is supported and encouraged. The addition of a new family member is considered an opportunity to bring families closer together.

Women attended in labor by Nurse Midwives are encouraged to change position or walk in labor. This usually improves comfort and speeds the labor. Other comfort measures such as hydrotherapy, massage, music and emotional support of loved ones are tailored to the individual woman. Nurse Midwives provide consistent support and evaluate progress throughout labor and birth, and are present to provide assistance if needed. In addition to nonpharmacologic comfort measures, pain medication and epidurals are also available is desired by the mother.

After the baby is born, the Nurse Midwife examines the baby and provides post partum care and teaching as the family adjusts to the new addition. Nurse Midwives also provide well women gynecological care, family planning services, annual breast and pelvic exams, Pap tests and screening and treatment of infections for women of all ages.

Family Nurse Midwives practice at Jeannette District Memorial Hospital and have been doing so since 1991.