Midwife Services (Midwifery)

From having a baby to navigating menopause, our midwives offer outstanding care and support at every stage of your life.

Request an Appointment

For Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) related requests:

1-319-356-2294

For all other requests:: 1-800-777-8442

Download Your Pregnancy and Birth Roadmap

Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are often recognized for their expertise in helping patients give birth. However, the services they provide go far beyond labor and delivery.

Midwives from University of Iowa Health Care offer many of the same services as our obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYNs). You can choose one of our midwives to manage most of your gynecologic needs, from prenatal care to Pap smears.

Midwifery care for any pregnancy and birth

Many of our pregnant patients partner with midwives because they are trained to provide high-touch care—especially during childbirth. We often help labor and delivery progress naturally, without the use of pain medication or other medical interventions.

We also assist patients who don’t want (or can’t have) a natural vaginal birth. You can still work with a UI Health Care midwife if:

You prefer to use pain medication: Whether you already plan to use an epidural or change your mind during labor, that’s OK. We’re here to support you no matter what type of pain relief you choose.
You hope to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC): If you want to have a VBAC but don’t have that option at your local hospital, call UI Health Care. Our midwives routinely help patients give birth vaginally after having had one or more cesarean sections (C-sections).
Your pregnancy is considered high risk: If you have a medical condition that makes pregnancy risky, midwifery care may still be an option. We often collaborate with maternal-fetal medicine specialists to provide prenatal care and assist during labor and delivery.
You need to have a C-section: We can provide midwifery care if you’re having a planned C-section (or unexpectedly need one during labor). In these cases, we’ll attend your cesarean delivery to provide support and encouragement. Following your baby’s birth, we’ll initiate skin-to-skin contact and can help you begin to breastfeed.

Comprehensive postpartum care

When you partner with our midwives for pregnancy and childbirth care, you can also count on us for postpartum support.

Compared to many obstetric providers who see patients six weeks after birth, we see ours after only two weeks. This helps us identify and address any challenges—such as breastfeeding concerns or postpartum depression—as early as possible.

Supporting your birth preferences and your safety

Our midwives understand that birth is a deeply personal experience.

If you have specific labor and delivery goals, we’ll help you create a birth plan based on your preferences. For example, we often accommodate natural birth experiences that include one or more of the following:

Aromatherapy
Dim lighting
Hydrotherapy (laboring in a tub)
Music
Position changes
Privacy (limiting the number of people in the room with you)

When we’re creating your birth plan, we’ll also talk to you about leaving room for flexibility. That’s because childbirth doesn’t always go as planned—and our job is to keep you and your baby safe and healthy.

If we think it’s important to adjust your birth plan during labor, you’ll be part of that discussion.

Gynecologic care for every stage of life

Midwives can play an important role when you need pregnancy care or want holistic support during labor and delivery. They also provide the ongoing gynecologic care you need throughout life, from menstruation through menopause—and beyond.

For example, our midwives can coordinate or provide:

Family planning services, such as contraception counseling and Nexplanon or intrauterine device (IUD) placement
Referrals for preventive screenings such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and DEXA (bone density) scans

Routine gynecologic exams, including Pap smears and breast exams
Menopause symptom management
Nonsurgical treatment for conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and dysmenorrhea (painful periods)

A team-based approach

Our midwives work closely with many other OBGYN experts from UI Health Care. If you ever need advanced gynecologic care, your midwife can refer you to the right specialist for the right treatment.

Our team includes

Gynecologic cancer specialists who diagnose and treat cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and more
Gynecologic surgeons who treat conditions like uterine fibroids and endometriosis
Gynecologists with special expertise in vulvar vaginal diseases, sexual health, and more
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists who care for women whose pregnancies and/or deliveries are considered high-risk
Pelvic floor physical therapists who treat painful sex, vaginal pain, and other symptoms of pelvic floor disorders
Reproductive endocrinologists who diagnose and treat infertility in women and men
Urogynecologists who specialize in conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence

Midwifery tests and treatments

Birth control
Birth control implant (Nexplanon etonogestrel implant)
Breast exam
Breastfeeding care
Colposcopy

DEXA scan (bone density test)
Endometrial biopsy
Family planning
Intrauterine device (IUD)
Labor and delivery

Mammogram
Pap smear
Pregnancy care
Pregnancy test
Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)

Midwifery conditions treated

Abnormal uterine bleeding
Bacterial infections
Breast concerns
Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
Dyspareunia (painful sex)

Endometriosis
Infertility
Menopause
Pelvic pain
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Pregnancy
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Yeast infections

Certified Nurse-Midwife

Lastascia

Coleman

CNM, ARNP, MSN, FACNM

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.78 out of 5 (222 ratings)

Laura

Dellos

CNM, ARNP, MSN

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.83 out of 5 (615 ratings)

Megan

Drey

CNM, ARNP, MSN

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.76 out of 5 (169 ratings)

Amber

Goodrich

CNM, ARNP, MSN, FACNM

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.77 out of 5 (260 ratings)

Laura

Hanna-Bergen

CNM, PMHNP, ARNP

Psychiatry

4.62 out of 5 (60 ratings)

Bree

Herring

CNM, ARNP, MSN, DNP

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.65 out of 5 (172 ratings)

Sarah

Jones

CNM, ARNP, MSN, NP-C

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.64 out of 5 (128 ratings)

Meredith

Parizek

CNM, ARNP, DNP

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.71 out of 5 (117 ratings)

Jaclyn R.

Roman

CNM, ARNP, MS, CLC

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.65 out of 5 (373 ratings)

Christina M.

Shutters

CNM, ARNP, MSN

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.60 out of 5 (361 ratings)

Kimberly K.

Sprague

CNM, ARNP, MSN

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.48 out of 5 (151 ratings)

Andrina M.

Timmins

CNM, ARNP, MSN, WHNP

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.45 out of 5 (136 ratings)

Rebecca

Winnike

CNM, ARNP, MSN

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

4.48 out of 5 (421 ratings)

Looking for a certified nurse-midwife?

Call UI Health Care for help finding a midwife near you. You can choose one of our midwives to provide prenatal care, guide you through childbirth, or provide routine gynecologic care.

Call 1-319-356-2294