A holistic pregnancy should address the drastic physical, emotional, and mental changes that come with bringing another life into the world. Because of the needs that extend beyond just the superficial, midwives can help support women during pregnancy, labor, and birth. 

When creating a plan for prenatal care, pregnancy, childbirth, or even postpartum care, choosing healthcare providers that understand your values is essential. If you’re interested in an all-encompassing approach to pregnancy, it may be beneficial to work with a midwife. 

What is a Midwife?

Midwives are healthcare providers, but they’re not physicians. They typically work with gynecologists and obstetricians to assist with childbirth, newborn care, and postpartum care. In some cases, midwives help patients with other forms of reproductive care, such as counseling on birth control options and pelvic exams. Midwives provide different services depending on their education, credentials, and where they practice. 

Health care services from a midwife may include:

• Prenatal appointments and pregnancy monitoring
• Ultrasounds and prenatal blood work
• Education regarding reproductive health
• Postpartum care
• Family planning counseling
• Screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

If midwives are not certified, their practice is quite limited. However, a certified midwife may practice at hospitals, birth centers, or in the privacy of your own home. If your pregnancy is low-risk, a midwife may be your best option.

Why Are Midwives the Holistic Healthcare Option

Many women work with midwives throughout pregnancy because they offer a more holistic, family-oriented approach to reproductive health and childbirth. In other words, women seeking assistance with pregnancy care and their reproductive health often prefer midwives because they offer patients greater control over their birth plans.

Unlike OB/GYNs, midwives treat pregnancy and childbirth as natural processes rather than conditions that require medical treatment. Additionally, they focus on topics such as nutrition, breastfeeding, and after-birth care. 

As a result, Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) offer the best of both worlds because they are licensed as registered nurses but still emphasize holistic care. Since most types of midwives work alongside physicians, they can provide support if any issues arise.

Holistic Pregnancy Support with OB2Me

Whether you’re planning to start a family or seeking support throughout your pregnancy, working with healthcare providers that listen to your concerns and create a birthing plan for your unique needs is essential. If you’re interested in working with a midwife that offers holistic pregnancy support, OB2Me is here to help.

At OB2Me, we offer private in-home or in-office concierge midwifery care to support you with comfortable prenatal and postpartum care for both you and your family. We are also available to help you throughout your labor and delivery at the hospital.

OB2Me provides multiple packages and services to best fit your needs and make your transition from pregnancy to motherhood as stress-free as possible. Just contact our team today and see how working with a dedicated and passionate healthcare provider can make all the difference!

Carson

Carson Ragan, CNM is a Certified Nurse Midwife with more than 25 years of experience in Labor & Delivery, Neonatal ICU, and women’s healthcare. After becoming a mother at a young age and experiencing the birth of her premature second child, she was inspired to pursue nursing and ultimately midwifery.

She earned her nursing degree from Columbus State University and graduated as an RN in 1999. After years of experience as an L&D and NICU nurse, charge nurse, educator, and clinician, she earned her graduate degree from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in 2010 and became a Certified Nurse Midwife.

Her personal experiences as both a mother and healthcare provider inspired her vision for a more personal, convenient approach to women’s healthcare. She created a concierge model designed to give women more time, individualized attention, and quality care in the comfort of their home or office.

Outside of work, Carson enjoys spending time with her husband and five children, volunteering with her daughter’s volleyball teams, traveling, and scuba diving.