“Can a midwife do my well-woman care after I give birth?”
Yes! Midwives, who have been certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board and licensed by New York State, can provide well-woman care throughout their lifespan. A midwife is a good choice for both young women having their first gynecologic office visit for women in their post-menopausal years, and for every woman in between.
Midwives can perform annual GYN exams including pap smears, diagnose and treat routine female infections like vaginitis and cystitis, discuss and prescribe birth control options, including intrauterine device insertions, diagnose and treat sexually transmitted diseases, and discuss hormone replacement and its alternatives.
Midwives consult with gynecologists, breast surgeons, radiologists, dermatologists, and other specialty physicians if a woman’s care is more complicated than within the midwife’s scope of practice.
Many midwives are also interested in alternatives to routine gynecologic care and suggest or incorporate modalities like herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and physical therapy in their practice.
Most of them might be able to help you with a number of pregnancy-related stuff as well.
Midwives are with women for a lifetime.
Best,
Nancy Kraus LM, CNM
Nancy Kraus LM, CNM has an office-based practice at Downtown Women Ob-Gyn in Soho where she provides prenatal, postpartum, and well-woman GYN care.
She is the mother of two grown sons. She is active in midwifery politics and has been an officer of the New York State Association of Licensed Midwives.
You might also be interested in knowing how to select a midwife?
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