What care do midwives provide?

Whether you’ve just entered puberty, are expecting a baby, desire contraception or have journeyed to or through menopause, midwifery can provide a full range of care with an emphasis on placing your needs and desires first, while maintaining a safe environment in which to birth or to receive other women’s healthcare services.

What is midwifery?
Midwifery means “being with woman” and encompasses childbirth and also well-woman gynecology (GYN) care from adolescence beyond menopause. Really, the whole lifespan, from normal life events like getting a Pap smear and starting birth control, to being pregnant and having a baby. During pregnancy, whether you choose to labor naturally or with the assistance of epidural anesthesia, we offer a variety of options in which to birth, and minimize the need for unnecessary interventions.

Where do Stony Brook’s midwives see patients?
In New York, many midwives work in the hospital setting. All 16 of Stony Brook’s master’s trained midwives are faculty members in the Department of OB/GYN and practice in Stony Brook University Hospital and in our community-based healthcare offices. In either setting, our patients have access to all the resources that Stony Brook offers, such as sonograms, and epidural and pain medication when in labor. And we make care convenient, with offices in Bohemia, Commack, East Setauket and Hampton Bays.

Who should choose a midwife?
Our view is that everyone should have access to a midwife. In terms of pregnancy and birth, the majority of people who are cared for by midwives are those who are low risk: someone who doesn’t have health conditions like preexisting diabetes, heart disease or hypertension. Anyone can see a midwife for their well-patient care, even those with preexisting medical conditions. We also perform breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings, as well as birth control counseling. We find that people are often introduced to midwifery care related to birth, but once they see the level of care that midwives provide, they continue with us beyond their reproductive years.

Does the practice support VBACs (vaginal birth after Cesarean)?
Our midwives support a patient’s right to choose a VBAC. If a Cesarean (C-section) is needed, our midwives engage their physician colleagues within the Department of OB/GYN to perform the surgery, while remaining present to support you and your family during the process. Evidence shows that working with a midwife can also reduce the need for a C-section delivery.

What other services do you offer?
We are proud to offer our patients CenteringPregnancy® and lactation support so you can get both individual care and connect with other patients in a group setting who are also on their pregnancy and birth journeys. In addition, we promote alternative health options like acupuncture, chiropracty, massage therapy and physical therapy.

Why should I choose The Midwifery Practice at Stony Brook?
Stony Brook has a midwifery service like no other. We’ve been serving patients and families since 1996 and as our practice has grown so has the scope of services we provide. We offer the best of both worlds because we have access to midwives who believe in evidence-based, person-centered, inclusive care. But if a complication arises and a higher level of care is needed, since we’re part of a larger women’s healthcare service with specialists and subspecialists in all areas, we work collaboratively with our physician colleagues to provide you with continuity of care. Stony Brook is very unique in that. Regardless of your stage of life, our Midwifery Practice delivers the warmth, compassion and expertise you need.

Call (631) 444-4686 to schedule an appointment. Learn more at stonybrook.info/midwifery