“I think when women hear the word ‘midwife’ they picture tie-dye skits and Birkenstocks and delivering in someone’s home all the time, and that’s just not it.”
Breck Reinsma is a midwife with Holland Hospital’s new Midwife Services.
Certified nurse midwives hold advanced degrees in nursing and are certified by a national board.
They’ll offer deliveries at the Boven Birth Center in Holland and personalized obstetric and gynecological care at the Medical Building in Zeeland.
“We really embrace the term “midwife” which means ‘with women.’ Their prenatal visits are significantly longer than your typical visit with an OB/GYN. We want to make sure they have opportunity to ask lots of questions and we have a teaching experience.”
The midwives collaborate closely with OB/GYN physicians and only handle low-risk, normal, non-complicated pregnancies.
They do have the full support of the hospital behind them if there are complications.
Boven Birth Center Director Nicole Huisman says that includes a Special Care Nursery and OB Emergency Department staffed with specialists.
“I think that’s a security for patients that they maybe don’t realize they might need but we really feel it’s important and it’s a service we’re really proud to offer.”
Reinsma says the difference with midwifery is really about the added level of support and extra time before, during and after the birth.
“When they show up to the hospital, we show up to the hospital and we’re in it with them.”
