A Norton Women’s Care midwife-assisted birth gives you experienced and trained help through pregnancy, delivery and after. Certified nurse-midwives give you personalized care and real choices for your pregnancy and birth — and if your needs change, you have access to OB/GYNs as well as maternal-fetal medicine, anesthesiology, neonatal and other pediatric specialists..

It’s the experience of a midwife with the depth of a comprehensive women’s and pediatric health system behind you.

From caregiver to patient: A nurse midwife’s own birth story

A Norton Healthcare nurse midwife reflects on trusting a colleague to guide her through her own delivery — and what it taught her about patient care.

Read Kourtney's Story

What Is a Certified Nurse-midwife?

A certified nurse-midwife is a registered nurse with graduate-level midwifery training and certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board. They are advanced practice providers — not an alternative to medical care, but a fully credentialed (CNM credential) part of it.

Norton Women’s Care certified nurse midwives provide:

• Prenatal visits throughout your pregnancy
• Labor and delivery care in a hospital setting
• Postpartum follow-up for you and support as you recover
• Routine gynecologic and reproductive care — annual exams, contraception counseling and family planning — at any stage of life, not just during pregnancy

Certified nurse-midwives are trained to manage low-risk pregnancies independently and to recognize early when a pregnancy needs an OB/GYN’s involvement.

Why Choose a Norton Women’s Care Midwife?

• Birth planning as a conversation. Your midwife works with you before labor to talk through your preferences — positioning, pain management, who’s in the room — and revisits that plan with you as labor progresses, since birth doesn’t always go as scripted.
• Your choice on pain management. You can choose pain medication, including an epidural, while receiving care from a midwife
• Continuity into postpartum. You can continue with your midwife through follow-up care. Your midwife can help with lactation support along with day or night support through Norton eCare and breastfeeding classes.
• A team that knows your case. Because Norton Women’s Care midwives practice with OB/GYNs and other providers, your prenatal history travels with you — through labor and delivery, and to an OB/GYN if your care needs to shift.

Midwives and OB/GYNs: How They Work Together

Norton Women’s Care certified nurse-midwives work with OB/GYNs to coordinate care based on your pregnancy needs. Choosing a midwife may mean transferring your prenatal care to a practice that offers midwifery services. If your needs change, your care team will explain how an OB/GYN or other specialist may become involved. If your pregnancy becomes higher risk, or you need a cesarean section (C-section), maternal-fetal medicine consultation, anesthesiology or neonatal care, your midwife can bring in your Norton Women’s Care obstetrician without you having to change practices or hospitals.

Note that not all practices have midwives, so contact our Welcome to Pregnancy Connection Line to discuss options.

Your Child’s Birth, Your Options

Choosing a midwife does not mean choosing an unmedicated birth. It’s a common misconception, but Norton Women’s Care midwives support whatever pain-management approach is right for you, including:

• Epidural
• Nitrous oxide
• Labor tubs for hydrotherapy during labor
• Unmedicated/natural coping techniques, for patients who want them

If an induction or C-section is recommended, your care team will explain why and discuss next steps with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a midwife covered by insurance in Kentucky?

Yes. Kentucky and Indiana Medicaid, as well as most major commercial insurers, cover services provided by Norton Women’s Care’s licensed certified nurse-midwives.

Can I get an epidural with a midwife at Norton Healthcare hospitals?

Your midwife can order and coordinate an epidural and continue assisting your care after an epidural is in place. However, an anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist will insert the needle and manage the medication.

What happens if my pregnancy becomes high-risk while I’m seeing a midwife?

If your pregnancy becomes higher risk, your midwife will work with the care team to determine whether you need consultation, shared care or a transfer of care to an OB/GYN or maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Your team can also coordinate access to neonatal care and Norton Children’s specialists when needed. During delivery, OB/GYNs are available around the clock to help keep you and your baby safe.

What’s the difference between a midwife and a doula?

A certified nurse midwife is a licensed medical professional. A doula, while not medically trained or licensed to deliver babies, can provide emotional and physical support while keeping you informed of the process.

What to Expect from Norton Women’s Care

More mothers in Louisville and Southern Indiana choose to deliver their babies at Norton Hospital or Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital than with any other hospital system in the area.

We deliver more than 8,000 babies a year. We’re close to you with more than 90 providers at more than 25 locations around Louisville and Southern Indiana. Choosing Norton Women’s Care gives you many options for how delivery day could go — all with the confidence of knowing that our obstetrics and pediatric specialists are there to help. With Norton Women’s Care, you’ll find:

• The birth experience you want: You can choose natural childbirth, a midwife, labor tub, nitrous oxide and other birthing options. We’ll recommend a C-section (cesarean section) or induced labor only if it’s medically necessary.
• Preparation: Our specialists offer the support you need, including free Lamaze and other childbirth classes, new parent classes, breastfeeding support, child safety classes and more.
• Confidence and quality in care: Norton Women’s Care has been recognized as High Performing — the highest rating available — for maternity care with fewer complications and C-sections, plus breastfeeding support and other benefits.
• We offer the highest-level (Level IV) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Louisville and Southern Indiana at Norton Children’s Hospital, and a sophisticated Level III NICU at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital.
• Around-the-clock OB/GYN care is available at Norton Hospital and Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital emergency departments.
• Our board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialists  can help guide you through a high-risk pregnancy, from treating preexisting diabetes in the pregnant patient to a fetal echocardiogram to diagnose a congenital heart condition before a baby is born.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.
• Convenient access to your medical record: Communicate with your health care provider, get lab results, renew prescriptions and more through your free Norton MyChart account.
• Norton Women’s Doula Program is supported by the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation. Through donations, volunteerism and community support, the foundation can provide funding for equipment, new technologies, clinical research, child advocacy and health education for patients, families, medical staff and the community. Learn more at HelpNortonChildrens.com.