October 27, 2006

Midwifery at the MGH

At the MGH, welcoming new babies into the world is a team effort. Along with the physicians, nurses and other staff members who work together to ensure safe deliveries, there also is another vital member of the Obstetrics team — the nurse midwife. These dedicated health care practitioners provide care throughout a woman's pregnancy, labor and delivery, and first few weeks postpartum with the ultimate goal of ensuring that each mother has the birth experience she hopes for and that best meets her individual needs.



Osborne, left, and Hernandez

Nurse midwives have been an integral part of the Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology Service since its inception in 1994. They see patients at both the MGH main campus and at many of the health centers. The majority of patients admitted to the Labor and Delivery Unit on Blake 14 meet with a nurse midwife at least once for triage, and nearly one-third of the babies born at the MGH each year are delivered solely by a midwife.

Susan Hernandez, CNM, and Cara Osborne, CNM, are two of the 15 nurse midwives currently on staff at the MGH. Both were initially attracted to the profession because of its emphasis on meeting the specific needs of each patient. "I worked with midwives at my first job," says Hernandez. "I liked the way they interacted with the women they cared for and was impressed by their approach to clinical situations. Their focus was on patient empowerment, teaching and wellness." Says Osborne, "I became a midwife as a way to help women learn to take charge of their own health and well-being. I enjoy supporting women as they explore their needs and celebrate the births of their babies."

Nurse midwives must undergo rigorous training to prepare for their roles — all nurse midwives are registered nurses who have completed additional midwifery programs. Like nearly all of the MGH nurse midwives, both Hernandez and Osborne have advanced degrees, and Osborne currently is enrolled in a doctoral program in Maternal and Child Health at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Both Hernandez and Osborne agree that working with women of different ethnicities and nationalities is one of the most rewarding aspects of their jobs. "I truly enjoy working with a diverse patient population," says Osborne. Adds Hernandez, "The best part of my job is that I get to attend the deliveries of babies from women from all over the world. At the Chelsea HealthCare Center, most of my patients are from Central and South America, but I also care for women from the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It's fun, interesting and challenging to attend their births."

For more information about midwifery services at the MGH, visit www.massgeneral.org/vincent.