Q: What is a nurse midwife?
A: Nurse midwives are providers who have a registered nurse license and a graduate degree in Midwifery. We are trained to view pregnancy and birth as normal life processes and to work with women as partners in their care. To view our professional organization's complete definition, please go to http://www.midwife.org.

Q: What insurance do you accept?
A: We accept several major insurance plans. Call our office to see if your insurance qualifies.

Q: Where are you located?
A: We have 3 offices located in Brooklyn's Park Slope, Borough Park, and Williamsburg neighborhoods.

Park Slope 502A 9th Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 499-3636

Borough Park 1346 50th Street Brooklyn, NY 11219 (718) 853-5303

Williamsburg 126 Hewes St. Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 599-3535

Q: Who will be my midwife?
A :Currently there are 7 midwives in the practice. We all rotate shifts in the offices and on call in the hospital. Therefore, we try to schedule you for prenatal appointments with as many midwives as possible so that you will be familiar with the midwife who is on call when you are in labor. To learn more about the midwives, go to Meet the Midwives.

Q: What if I have an emergency or think I may be in labor?
A: Our patients can reach us with questions or concerns 24 hours a day by calling any of our office numbers. At times when we are not in the office, calls will be forwarded to an answering service and promptly returned by the midwife on call.

Q: Where will I give birth to my baby?
A: We have admitting and delivery privileges at New York Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Q: Are there any birth classes you would recommend?

A: Modern Birth is a program created by Roseanne Seminara, one of the partners in Park Slope Midwives. It teaches a unique approach to childbirth based on real life events. Please go to modernbirthny.com for more information and to register."

Q: What happens after my baby is born?

A: The hospital's Couplet Care program ensures that mothers, partners, and their newborns are kept together whenever possible, and are not unnecessarily separated during the recovery period postpartum. After being transferred to the Mother-Baby unit, mothers can room-in or choose to have their infants stay in the newborn nursery. Daily breastfeeding classes are offered and a lactation consultant is available for individual counseling. Partners are not permitted to stay overnight in standard rooms on the Mother-Baby unit. However, for a nightly fee, private rooms can be rented postpartum based on availability.

Q: What pain relief options will be available to me in labor?
A: We will work with you and do our best to honor your preferences for labor support and pain management. Many of our patients opt to use nonpharmacologic pain relief measures such as hydrotherapy, massage, positional changes, and deep breathing during labor. In addition, pain medications including epidural anesthesia are available. An anesthesiologist is on site and available around the clock to help provide pain relief for laboring patients.

Q: What is your C-section rate?
A: In 2012 we attended a total of 538 births. Out of those, 34 were primary C-sections, 8 were repeat C-sections, 8 were C-sections for breech presentation, and 2 were emergency C-sections. This translates to a primary Cesarean Birth rate of 6.3% and a total Cesarean Birth rate of 9.6%. The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics reported that in 2010 the national primary Cesarean Birth rate was 23.6% based on data collected from revised birth certificates. It reported a total national C-section rate of 32.8% for 2011.

Q: I had a baby by Cesarean Birth in the past. Am I still eligible for midwifery care?
A: Yes, we do provide care for women who have a history of Cesarean Birth. Those who want a repeat C-section have their antepartum visits with us and then are scheduled for delivery with our collaborating physicians. A midwife will be present in the operating room to offer support during the surgery. Other women want to try for a vaginal birth after Cesarean Birth (VBAC). In 2012, 11 women in our practice with previous C-sections opted for trial of labor. Of those, 8 had successful VBACs.

Q: What if there is a complication during my pregnancy or labor?
A: Midwives are trained to manage many common complications that can arise during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. For situations that fall out of the midwifery scope, we consult with or refer to our collaborating physicians, who are on call for our practice 24 hours a day. In addition, when certain risk factors are identified, some women are sent for consultation with a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist.

Q: Do you have any recommendations for pediatricians?

A: Premier Pediatrics has offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan. They have been serving New York City for over 30 years. Please go to premierpediatricsny.com for more information."

Q: Can I have a midwife even if I'm not pregnant?
A: Yes! Midwives care for women across the lifespan, and are educated in gynecology and primary care. We provide a number of services including annual pap smears, contraceptive surveillance, and preconception counseling. Please see Our Services for a list of the services we offer.