This National Midwifery Week, we’re celebrating our incredible midwives who provide compassionate and expert care every day! Nurse midwifery is one of the oldest advanced-practice nursing specialties. Today, nurse midwives offer so much more than care during pregnancy and childbirth – they support women’s health at every stage, from adolescence through menopause. Whether delivering babies in hospitals (where over 90% of midwife-assisted births occur) or offering routine gynecologic care, learn how our midwives at Essex County OB/GYN are here to support you.
What is a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)?
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) at Essex County OB/GYN are highly trained healthcare professionals specializing in reproductive health. With advanced degrees in midwifery, we provide comprehensive care from prenatal to postpartum and beyond.
I’m pregnant, how do I know if I should work with an OB/GYN or a CNM?
Both OB/GYNs and Certified Nurse Midwives offer compassionate, expert care for your reproductive health, each with their own unique focus and approach to supporting you on your journey.
Consider an OB if you:
- Have a high-risk pregnancy or a history of complications
- Need surgical interventions (C-section, fibroid removal, etc.)
- Require specialized care for complex reproductive conditions (PCOS, endometriosis)
Consider a CNM if you:
- Have a low-risk pregnancy and prefer a more natural approach to childbirth
- Want a more holistic experience
- Prefer fewer medical interventions, but still want the option for epidurals or pain relief
- Need routine gynecologic care or family planning support
Midwifery: More Than Just Pregnancy
Our midwives also provide routine gynecologic care, including annual exams, breast health screening, and contraceptive counseling. Whether you’re planning a family or seeking routine care, we’re here to support your reproductive health journey at every stage.
Our Midwives
We are proud to have a skilled and passionate team of midwives at Essex County OB/GYN. When asked why they love what they do, here’s what they said:
“It’s truly a joy to support patients during pregnancy and delivery and beyond and help them find the safest, happiest journey to meet their baby and grow their family. I feel it’s an honor to follow patients through their lifespan and see them yearly as their gynecologic questions and concerns evolve and change.”
– Amanda Carritte, CNM
“I love making connections and the shared learning from long conversations with patients.”
– Tess Brickley CNM, WHNP
“Midwifery called me from an early age. The opportunity to develop a trusting relationship with a patient, one within which we can explore what is right for that person at that time, is a privilege. Each person is an expert about themself and their family. My role is to empower people with the information and expertise needed to make the best medical decisions for themselves and their families (after all, you can’t get all the information you need from Google). This doesn’t mean we always agree, but I love seeing patients use the best scientific evidence to take charge of their health.”
– Gwen Olsen, CNM
“I love getting to know my patients and hearing their stories, being part of their journey.”
– Kristin Dovan, CNM
“I used to work as a homebirth midwife and herbalist. I believe it’s important to bridge allopathic and natural modalities in healthcare. Dignified healthcare and birth with a trusted healthcare partner is the most powerful and personal way to effect change in the lives of individuals and their families. Healthcare is a human right.”
– Lindsey Gillies, CNM
“I love providing education to individuals about their bodies, whether it is regarding childbearing, contraception, or GYN care. My goal is to educate and empower people to make the best decisions for themselves.”
– Marrina Rose, CNM
To book an appointment with a certified nurse-midwife at Essex County OB/GYN, contact us today.