Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM) are master’s level educated nurses who specialize in women’s health, including pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. We are board certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board and licensed by the state of Idaho to deliver babies as well as provide well women gynecologic care. We are also credentialed by UCLA Health to practice midwifery. 

While some midwives do offer home births, the midwives at Leavitt Women's Healthcare deliver babies in local hospitals in Idaho Falls, ID only. We also see expectant mothers in the office for their prenatal care.

Absolutely, if that’s your choice. At Leavitt Women's Healthcare, our Midwives can order your epidural when you are ready for it and work with the anesthesiologists at the hospital to get it placed. Midwives can also order intravenous pain medications if you need pain relief but don’t want to be completely numb.

If you want a more natural experience, midwives can provide labor support. This includes teaching you breathing techniques, encouraging you to change positions, and recommending pain relief methods like soaking in a warm bath. Midwives also can teach your birthing partner how to help you through labor.

We recognize the privilege of being with you during some of the most powerful and memorable moments of your lives. We strive to give you the type of birth you want. We will happily support and encourage you in whatever you choose. We’ll talk with you during your prenatal visits to learn the type of labor and birth experience you want, and we will work towards that goal with you.

No, a midwife is not a surgeon. If it’s necessary for you to have a Caesarean section, one of our qualified ob/gyns doctors will perform the surgery. Your midwife will be in the operating room to assist as you meet your new baby.

For procedures such as dilation and curettage, tubal ligation, or hysterectomy, your midwife will refer you to an ob/gyn to schedule the surgery.

Yes. The midwifery approach involves helping you make informed choices about your care and educating you on your options. Most often, women choose a midwife because it makes them feel relaxed and confident with their care. A midwife can help with:

• Issues related to your menstrual cycle, including irregular, heavy, or uncomfortable periods.
• Preconception counseling.
• Decisions about birth control, including the pros and cons of different birth control methods.
• STD testing.
• Evaluating your personal health risks and working with you on prevention strategies.