Sometimes I'm asked what the benefits of using a nurse-midwife are....
While I respect and honor midwives from all paths of education and apprenticeship, I thought I would fill you in on some benefits of my licensure/advanced education:

• Lower transfer rate to the hospital related to fewer legal requirements for transfer when compared with licensed midwives in the state of Florida. For example: More leeway with ruptured membranes and post-dates pregnancies. More is left up to my practice protocols and clinical judgement and less to the state's arbitrary rules (many of which I disagree with). 
• Ability to prescribe medications if needed. While I respect and honor natural and herbal remedies, sometimes Western medicine pharmaceuticals are useful tools as well. This is helpful if you have hyperemesis, bacterial urine infections, mastitis, hypothyroidism, etc. 
• Ability to prescribe controlled substances if needed. This is useful for severe pain due to kidney stones, gallstones, or prolonged early labor-when someone really needs a nap. 
• Ability to treat mood disorders like anxiety and depression in the perinatal period if needed. You deserve to be happy, and your baby deserves a healthy, happy parent. 
• More training on complications and how to manage them during pregnancy.
• Ability to provide full-service gynecological care for the lifetime. 

Questions you should consider when choosing your prenatal care and birth attendant. If someone doesn’t know their rates, they either do not want to divulge or don’t care about their outcome statistics.
These statistics for Midwife Love reflect the 359 births from 2010-Jan 2020.
 
What is your c-section rate? What have been the reasons?Medically indicated c-section rate was 9%: Reasons: maternal high blood pressure during labor, breech baby, transverse baby, placental abruption, failure to progress and non-reassuring fetal heart tones.  Elective c/s rate was <1%. Compare that to local hospitals who report over 35% c/section rates.
 
How do you feel about episiotomies? When are they needed?We think they are unnecessary and lead to greater tearing. The episiotomy rate was 1%. We teach clients perineal massage techniques and pushing methods to help avoid tearing. Natural tearing requires fewer stitches and heals quicker than episiotomies. Moms remaining completely intact, needing not even 1 stitch after birth, our rate in 2019-36%.
First time moms: intact rate: 25%                          3rd/4th degree tears: <1%
 
How long should my pregnancy continue?Your baby and body will decide how long your pregnancy goes. Most first time moms go 7-10 days past their due date. We can discuss natural labor induction techniques you can do for yourself, but it is your choice whether to use them. We can continue taking care of you for as long as you need. Preterm Birth-<1%
 
What is the normal postpartum visit schedule? Do you include the PKU test?We do a home visit day 1-3 postpartum and offer you the PKU test for your baby then. We then see you and offer lactation support back in the office, 2 weeks, and 6 week and additionally if necessary. Breastfeeding at 6 weeks: 95%

Are labs drawn on premises or do I go elsewhere?Labs are drawn in the office for your convenience.
 
What is your transfer to the hospital rate? What have been the reasons?Antepartum transfer rate in 2019=7%. Our intrapartum (during labor) transfer rate was 12%. Reasons included high blood pressure, failure to progress, epidurals, non-reassuring fetal heart tones, preterm birth, fever, and  breeches.  The postpartum maternal transfer rate was 1%, reasons included too much blood loss.
 
How many births have you attended? How long have you been in practice? In what environments have you practiced?Angela: In my 15 years as a midwife I have caught 902 babies, and attended many more births. I practiced 5 years at a busy birth center in Miami, where we did 30-40 births a month. I have been attending home births on the Treasure Coast since 2010.
 
If I need a prescription drug during my pregnancy or birth, or birth control later, do you provide that?Yes. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medications.  We have extensive training in contraception, IUD insertion, and gynecology when needed for your annual Paps for years to come.
 

Laboring in water helps relax muscles, minds, and ease discomforts. It allows for easy and gentle movements which facilitate labor. We recommend water to be available for comfort for all clients. In 2019 47% of our clients had underwater births, which is a gentle transition for baby, and helps decrease perineal tears in mom.
 
What is your VBAC success rate? In 2019, our VBAC success rate was 100%, and all at home. Since 2010, 87% have had a VBAC, 79% at home , transfers for reasons of failure to progress, epidurals, and transverse lie.