With Women, For Women
Midwives Offer a Lifetime of Care

The practice of midwifery has been around for thousands of years and continues to have a strong place in modern day obstetrics and gynecology. In fact, midwifery has enjoyed a renaissance in the United States over the past several decades.Between 1990 and 2004 the number of U.S. births attended by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) more than doubled.

MEET SHAMEKA GREEN OF TRENTON After having two children at another area hospital, Trenton resident Shameka Green was seeking a change of venue. Green decided RWJ Hamilton was the best choice in the area after doing some research and receiving positive input from friends and family. Peace of Mind "From the moment I walked into the RWJ OB-GYN Group Hamilton, I knew this was where I wanted to have my baby," Green says. "Everyone was very knowledgeable and anytime I asked a question, I would always get a complete answer from my midwife," she says. Green chose the midwives at RWJ OB-GYN Group Hamilton to deliver her baby. "JoAnne Healey was wonderful. Her eyes and smile are so warm. When she speaks to you, it is obvious she wants to be there for you and to comfort you," explains Green. A Team Approach When Green first arrived at the hospital, she was cared for by Eduardo Flores, MD, coincidentally, the very obstetrician who delivered Green's husband when he was born. Upon Healey's arrival, she took over Green's care. Green was impressed by how seamlessly her care was transferred between Dr. Flores and Healey. Although she was feeling many emotions, Green credits her midwife with keeping her focused and confident in the late stages of labor. Green explains, "She was constantly reassuring me, and treated me with a great amount of respect and dignity. She kept telling me, ‘you're ready for this,' and I knew I was." Overall, Green considered her childbirth experience at RWJ Hamilton to be one of the most joyous experiences of her life. "The midwives, physicians and all the nursing staff–everyone–treated me like a princess," says Green.

According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), over 50 percent of CNMs list physician practices or hospitals as their principal employers. In 2005, 98 percent of midwives' deliveries took place in hospitals, with one percent in freestanding birth centers and the remaining one percent homebirths.

Collaborative Care
The certified nurse-midwifery group at the RWJ OB-GYN Group Hamilton is made up of three outstanding and experienced providers – JoAnne Healey, CNM, Johanna Delongaig, CNM, and Jane Wapplehorst, CNM. "I had my second child with a physician-midwife team," says Healey, who has been a CNM for 15 years. "There was a great deal of personal interaction and support. I knew at that point I wanted to become a midwife."

The midwives work in collaboration with physicians and hospital staff to care for, support and nurture pregnant women who opt for midwifery care at the RWJ OB-GYN Group Hamilton.

Choosing a Provider
A survey conducted by the ACNM of their members found that 90 percent of patient visits to midwives are for primary, preventative care, including annual gynecological exams and reproductive health visits.

At the RWJ OB-GYN Group Hamilton, the midwives provide both gynecological and obstetrical services. Patients have the option to seek care from either a physician or midwife. "All our providers are dedicated to helping the patient through a safe and rewarding experience as they go through this journey of bringing life into the world," Healey says.

Whether it is an annual gynecological exam or the once-in-a-lifetime experience of having your first child, midwives are experts at helping guide and care for you. Healey says, "Many women who start with midwives stay with them for a lifetime and even bring their daughters, their mothers and their sisters."

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.