About Certified Nurse Midwives
Certified Nurse Midwives (C.N.M.) are clinicians who have graduated from an advanced, educational program accredited by the
American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), and have passed a National Certification Examination that meets strict requirements set by state and national health agencies.
As part of our health team, they work within the boundaries of stringent guidelines and protocols which have been approved by the Executive Committee of El Camino Hospital. Certified nurse midwives can provide preconception counseling, care of normal, healthy women during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period, gynecological services which include Well Women Health Care and care of the peri and post-menopausal woman.
Certified Nurse Midwives at El Camino Hospital
Certified nurse midwives at both El Camino Hospitals in Mountain View and Los Gatos, are active members of the medical staff and either maintain independent practices or are members of a physician group.
El Camino Hospital encourages patients to take an active role in making the health care choices that are right for them and their family. When choosing the services of the midwives, you will find that we provide a supportive and collaborative environment for them to practice in, and during labor, you will still have the same choices in pain relief options and induction of labor if necessary as you would have under a physician. When in active labor, you will have the ongoing physical and emotional support of one of the Midwives throughout your labor and they will continue your care with postpartum visits while you are in the hospital.
As members of our Medical staff, the midwives maintain a close relationship with obstetricians, gynecologists and other medical specialists for immediate consultation or referral should a medical complication occur during pregnancy or childbirth.
The practice of nurse-midwifery encourages a continuum of care from family planning, pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period and our Midwives recognize the cultural variations that may come up during pregnancy and childbirth and work with their clients to provide an individualized, holistic, type of care.
Certified nurse midwives who practice along side our medical staff, follow the philosophy of the American College of Nurse Midwives which is to provide care "
focused on the needs of the individual and family for physical care, emotional and social support, and active involvement of significant others according to cultural values and personal preferences."