• Regional One Health is the only Memphis hospital where patients can give birth with the support of a Certified Nurse Midwife.
• That means families can enjoy the best of both worlds – the safety of delivering in a hospital and the personalized, supportive touch that is unique to the midwifery model of care.
• It is a great way for expectant parents to receive exceptional prenatal care and have their provider’s one-on-one support in achieving their ideal birth plan.

Pregnancy and childbirth should be special, momentous occasions – and that means choosing a health care provider who helps you achieve your goals is essential to a positive and empowering experience.
Regional One Health is the only hospital in Memphis where patients can give birth with the support of a certified nurse midwife. Our midwifery team provides evidence-based prenatal, labor & delivery, and postpartum care with a personalized, supportive touch. It is ideal for patients who are seeking the safety and comfort of giving birth in a hospital along with the personalized attention of a provider who focuses on empowering them to achieve their birth plan.

“We don’t see pregnancy and labor and delivery as an illness – we see it as a normal process,” said Meghan Madea, a certified nurse midwife at Regional One Health. “We really want the woman to have the experience she chooses to have – throughout her pregnancy and her labor.”

They do that by spending more time with their patients, listening to their goals, and then providing evidence-based care throughout pregnancy and childbirth.  As Certified Nurse Midwife Amanda Williams noted, the midwifery model of care is designed to provide one-on-one support throughout labor & delivery: “The nurse midwife is at your bedside – we are dedicated to the patient giving birth,” she said. “We’re physically present the whole time. It’s low-intervention, high-touch care.”

Here’s what patients can expect:

How often will I see my nurse midwife?

Our nurse midwives follow the same schedule as an OB/GYN for a routine pregnancy:

• Monthly for the first six months
• Twice a month from month six to eight
• Weekly from month eight until birth

“Obviously, our door is always open if you have any concerns,” Madea said. “We’re very lenient about walk-ins, and someone is always on call so we’re available after hours and on weekends.”

What will happen at my appointments?

Again, midwifery follows the standards of obstetric care when it comes to tests and lab work –  regular urine tests, fetal heartrate monitoring, gestational diabetes screening, ultrasounds, etc.

Nurse midwives typically have more time for each appointment, Williams said. They use it to get to know their patient and provide education and support.

Williams said she encourages patients to talk about their birth plan – both goals and concerns – so she can help them achieve it. Madea educates patients not only on pregnancy, but what happens after the baby is born – for example, she likes to introduce topics like breastfeeding and birth control early on when a patient isn’t overwhelmed with a newborn.

What if there’s a complication?

Often, our midwifery practice can manage pregnancy-related complications. However, for conditions outside the scope of their practice, they work closely with Regional One Health’s OB/GYNs – including high-risk and maternal fetal medicine experts. It’s another advantage of receiving care in a hospital setting.

“They are literally sitting right next to us, and they can help – but at the same time, you still have your midwife helping you be heard and be engaged,” Madea said.

They can also guide patients who need to see other specialists in the health care system.

Will I get to know everyone in your practice?

Absolutely, Williams said – that ensures a woman is comfortable with all of the nurse midwives by the time she delivers. “We don’t want someone new rolling up to your bedside when you’re at your most vulnerable,” she said. “Think of us as your pregnancy squad!”

She said the nurse midwives share a philosophy of giving women a voice and encouraging them to express their wishes. From there, they aim to support the patient in achieving her goals.

What will my nurse midwife offer during labor and delivery?

As the only hospital in Memphis where women can give birth with a certified nurse midwife, Regional One Health’s mission is to offer the best of both worlds – the supportive, patient-centered focus of a nurse midwife alongside all the technology and emergency medicine resources of a world-class hospital.

Most importantly, it’s care focused on the patient’s wishes.

Nurse midwives can coach women through delivery without medication or prescribe epidurals and other pain relief. As long as the labor is progressing safely, the nurse midwives strive to respect each woman’s wishes for the level of intervention she wants.

“We encourage physiological birth, where the woman finds the position that feels best for her. You can be lying in bed, but you don’t have to be. You can stand, you can be on your hands and knees, you can be on a birthing ball, you can dance,” Madea said.

They don’t do water births, but moms can shower or be in the tub during labor.

Patients can also have support from loved ones. Madea said she’s helped with births with several family members in the room, and she has led many dads to actively assist with the delivery.

“It’s not where you are, it’s who you’re with that matters,” she said.

How do I see a nurse midwife?

Our team sees patients at Hollywood Primary Care and Kirby Primary Care both for pregnancy and regular well-woman care. “We look forward to getting more women engaged in their own care,” Williams said. “It’s a great option for women in Memphis!”

For an appointment at Hollywood Primary Care, 2500 Peres Ave., call 901-515-5500. For an appointment at Kirby Primary Care, 2725 Kirby Rd., Suite 1, call 901-515-5350.