Midwifery Options
Natividad is proud to be the first hospital in Monterey County to offer midwifery services before, during, and after birth. We have a team of midwives to care for you while you’re pregnant, during your labor, and after the baby is born. Midwives offer personalized, family-centered care to help you achieve your birth goals safely. We will support you and your decisions in all phases of pregnancy.
According to the American College of Nurse Midwives, benefits of receiving midwifery care include:
- Decreased risk of needing a cesarean section delivery
- Reduced rates of labor induction and augmentation
- Reduced use of regional anesthesia
- Decreased infant mortality rates
- Decreased risk of preterm birth
- Decreased third and fourth degree perineal tears
- Increased chances of having a positive start to breastfeeding
- Increased satisfaction with quality of care
Midwives are experts in supporting women in normal, healthy childbirth. They are an essential part of the team and rely on the expertise from obstetricians, family practice doctors and nurses if complications arise.