This year, Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak (Mich.) launched a new, hospital-based midwifery program. Since it opened, the program has helped the hospital empower women who want to determine the conditions of their birthing experience.
Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak officials decided to launch the program in response to a growing interest in natural childbirth and midwifery. According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the percentage of certified-midwife attended births has grown every year since 1989, up to 7.8 percent of all hospital births in 2013.
"By providing patients with more options and support, we help them reach their goal of a sense of empowerment and accomplishment, often with fewer medications and medical interventions," said Mark Redman, MD, section head of maternal fetal medicine and vice chief of obstetrics at the hospital.
Lauren Hernandez of Sterling Heights, Mich., is one of the local mothers who started seeing Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak hospital-based midwife, Emily Dove-Medows, MSN, during her pregnancy.
"I wanted to have my baby naturally, without drugs or medical intervention, and was happy to have a midwife advocating on my behalf," said Ms. Hernandez.
On Oct. 14, Ms. Hernandez gave birth to a boy weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces with the help of Ms. Dove-Medows.
"There was no time to go to the natural birth center at the hospital as we had planned," said Ms. Hernandez. "But with Emily's support, I was still able to deliver my baby my way."
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