Midwives

In the Spokane area you have multiple midwifery options available for your prenatal care and the birth of your child. Local midwives attend home births, hospital births and provide birthing centers as an alternative choice for women and their families. Check out the list of midwives attending these different types of births on the left side of this page and read on to find out what a midwife can do for you.

What is a midwife?
The modern midwife is a health professional who provides holistic care to the childbearing woman and newborn. She respects a wide range of women’s needs, including personal and cultural values. Focusing on the natural processes of pregnancy, labor, and birth, she combines traditional skills and modern medical techniques to safeguard normal childbirth. The midwfe maintain associations with physicians and other health care providers to ensure that mother and child have the best knowledge and technology available.

Midwifery is based on a strong belief in partnership with childbearing women and respect for birth as a normal life event. Midwives strive to empower parents with knowledge and support their right to create the birth experience which is best for them. Midwives respect intimacy, privacy, and family integrity, and draw on their own patience and understanding to provide care during pregnancy and birth.

Insurance Coverage
Most health insurance plans cover midwifery care, including Medicaid/DSHS, Group Health, Regence and other major insurers. Midwives are cost effective and improve outcomes. Midwifery care reduces costs through sensible use of technology and tests, and low cesarean section rates without compromising quality or outcome. Midwives contribute to cost savings. With the option of out-of-hospital care, families can reduce costs as must as 30-50%!

Read the Bloom Blog article about home birth insurance coverage in Washington State.

Washington State Organizations
The Midwives’ Association of Washington State
Midwives of Washington

National Organizations
American College of Nurse-Midwives
Citizens for Midwifery
Midwifery Education Accreditation Council
Midwives Alliance of North America
National Association of Certified Professional Midwives
The North American Registry of Midwives