Valerie M. Topp, a certified nurse midwife, checks fetal heart tones during Josefina Fernandez’s visit to the obstetrics clinic at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Photo by Julia Yubeta.

Nurse midwives honored during National Midwifery Week

Julia Yubeta

WBAMC Public Affairs

William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s six certified nurse midwives from the Department of Women’s Health have delivered more than 7,300 babies during their combined careers.

From Oct. 5 through Saturday, the department staff, along with the Soldiers and families they care for, reflected on the contributions nurse midwives make toward providing compassionate care to families while respecting their dignity. 

“This is the most amazing job,” said Maj. Robin Neumeier, chief of Midwifery Services and a certified nurse midwife since 2001. “Every day I watch as couples become a family. The experience of giving birth is universal, across the human spectrum, but I still get goose bumps every time I have the privilege of seeing the family bond as they welcome their newest member.”

Nurse midwives are registered nurses who have completed an accredited midwifery program. They must go to school for an additional 18 months and must pass a test to become a certified nurse midwife. There are currently about 30 nurse midwives in the Army Nurse Corps. Civilian certified nurse midwives in Army hospitals and medical centers augment obstetrical care. 

According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives Web site, an independent study found that infant and newborn deaths were significantly lower following midwife-assisted births. Although midwives have been attending births in the U.S. since its colonization, the profession of nurse-midwifery was established in the 1920s as a response to the nation’s alarming rates of infant and maternal mortality. 

WBAMC became the first Army hospital to implement an alternate form of prenatal care, the Centering Pregnancy program, in May 2006. Developed by Sharon Rising, a certified nurse midwife, the program empowers women to actively participate in their prenatal care. 

At pregnancy orientation, mothers are given the option to attend this alternate program, which provides alternative prenatal care by bringing women out of exam rooms and into groups for their care. Groups of eight to 12 women are formed when the women are between 14 and 16 weeks pregnant, and they meet every month for the first four months, then every two weeks, then weekly as their due date draws closer.

Assisted by a nurse midwife as they enter the group, the women engage in self-care activities such as checking their weight and blood pressure and estimating their gestation age and recording it on their chart. They also listen to their baby’s heart beat, check for uterine growth and talk individually with the nurse midwife about specific problems and concerns. 

“Educating women is a part of why I became a nurse midwife,” said Kim Flanders, director of the Centering Pregnancy program. “I worked in civilian hospitals for many years as a labor-and-delivery nurse. Many women were at the end of their pregnancies, uneducated, and with no idea of what to expect during childbirth. I saw this career as a way to be of service to women.”

“In addition to prenatal care, mothers are given the opportunity to share their experiences,” said Wendy Strach, a registered nurse and coordinator for Centering Pregnancy. “The group setting is an ideal way to give care to women. 

“Nurse midwives provide a continuum of care throughout the pregnancy and are strong advocates for the entire family,” Strach added. “Their goal is for the entire family to have a joyful and unforgettable birth experience.”

“Empower” and “educate” are words associated with nurse-midwifery. 

“Nurse-midwifery care focuses on the needs of the individual and family for physical care, emotional and social support and active involvement of family members,” said Kate Simon, a nurse midwife. “Midwives listen to women and always provide the information women need to make informed and educated decisions about their health care. Our goal is to inspire a feeling of confidence and deep trust built over the months of pregnancy, not only in us as providers, but in themselves as birthing women and new mothers.”