Midwifery
Education. Guidance. Advocacy. Expertise. Through pregnancy and beyond. Our midwives do more.
At Spectrum Health, all our Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) are registered nurses (RN) with advanced degrees in women’s health and midwifery. From family planning to prenatal care to that special moment when you bring your baby home, our CNMs are here for you when you want a personalized, hands-on approach to your care. Our CNMs strive to be your trusted partner, with longer appointment times to understand your unique needs and empower you to make informed decisions about your health.
Expert, collaborative care during pregnancy and birth
Our CNMs work in collaboration with our physicians, allowing for coordinated care and seamless referrals to specialists, if needed. We’re the only hospital-based midwifery program in West Michigan—giving you the personalized care you desire, with the peace of mind that comes from having our expert resources here if you need them, including Michigan’s largest Level IV NICU at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
Find the fit that's best for you.
Not sure what’s best for you? Every pregnancy is unique—which is why we offer a team of Certified Nurse Midwives and Obstetricians for you to choose from. At Spectrum Health, you have options to deliver your baby, your way.
What midwives can do for you
Hear from Courtney Hilbert, CNM, from our 330 Barclay Ave. location in Grand Rapids, on the compassionate care approach you’ll get from a midwife.
Katie Steele, CNM, practices in Zeeland and shares how you can create a lifelong relationship with your midwife.
Spend a minute with Kelsee Tharp, CNM, from Pennock Hospital to hear how your emotional and mental wellness matters to midwives.
Morgan Rademacher wanted a more natural approach to her care and delivery. See why she chose a midwife for her pregnancy and childbirth at Pennock Hospital.
Your experience is important to midwives. Hear from Emily Thrower, CNM, from Gerber Hospital, on how midwives partner with you so you can have the birth experience you want.
Carey Groendal, CNM, from Pennock Hospital, shares how you can see a midwife even when you’re not pregnant.
Marinda Ramey, CNM from Corewell Health Ludington, explains that a midwifes focuses on your choices, whether you choose a natural birth or want to incorporate pain management options. Our team connects you to a network of maternal fetal medicine specialists.
Cara VanderJagt, CMN from the Lakeshore on how you can have confidence in your decision to use a midwife and deliver at your local Corewell Health hospital.
Our Certified Nurse Midwife specialties
- Birth control & family planning
- Pregnancy & childbirth services for low-risk pregnancies
- Individual and group prenatal care
- Breastfeeding support
- Post-partum care & support
- Routine gynecologic care, such as annual well-woman exams
- Menopause management
Frequently asked questions
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) are certified in advanced practice nursing and midwifery. They are certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives and licensed by the State of Michigan as both nurses and midwives.
Spectrum Health’s midwifery program is hospital-based, and the only one of its kind in West Michigan. We offer private labor and delivery suites for all our patients. For those interested in a home-like atmosphere, we have a select number of high-touch, low-intervention birthing suites at Butterworth Hospital Family Birthplace with a queen bed, sleeper sofa and soft lighting. These suites are available to reserve by your provider on a first-come, first-served basis.
Throughout your pregnancy, our physicians are available for consultation and collaboration with our CNMs as needed. Having this collaborative model allows for a seamless transfer of care if you should require additional medical or surgical care. During labor and delivery, there is always an on-call physician available at the hospital should intervention be required.
Certified Nurse Midwives offer a low intervention approach to labor management, including deep breathing, massage, hot and cold therapy, hydrotherapy and movement. A full array of pain relief options are always available, including epidural anesthesia.
Most major health insurance companies and Medicaid cover midwifery services, but patients should always check with their insurance provider for coverage specifics.
Our midwives provide care during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, as well as gynecologic, family planning and preconception care.
Find a Certified Nurse Midwife
Our experienced CNMs are ready to serve you, right in your community.