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Tender Touches for Birth and Beyond
an article from the Spring 2009 issue of…
Harbor Hospital Midwives Deliver Compassionate Care
"I am addicted to the compassionate care I receive. I will never go anywhere else."
Certified nurse-midwife Paula J. Greer continues to take great care of Jenn Marino, close to two years after she delivered Mason.
Certified nurse-midwife Paula J. Greer continues to take great care of Jenn Marino, close to two years after she delivered Mason. Mix 106.5 afternoon DJ and White Marsh resident Jenn Marino learned about midwifery services for pregnancy — and well-woman care — when she was on the air one afternoon. A woman who worked with Harbor Hospital's Paula J. Greer, C.N.M., M.S., called Marino at the radio station.
The caller talked with her about how midwifery care focuses on helping women feel comfortable with their bodies and their medical treatments. Marino, who was 12 weeks pregnant, was intrigued — especially since she almost always had severe panic attacks during doctor visits. "In fact, I had been sent home in the past because of my panic attacks," she explained.
Marino made an appointment with Greer the same day she spoke with the caller. At their first visit, Greer took every measure to help Marino feel comfortable and calm. "Paula or her assistant held my hand and talked me through every blood draw," Marino said.
With her son Mason now almost 2 years old, Marino continues to see Greer for her gynecologic needs. "Midwives offer more than an alternative approach to childbirth," explained Greer. "We provide annual Pap smears and clinical breast exams, and we teach women about their bodies."
Well-Woman Care
Jeri Mancini, C.N.M., M.S., is the other certified nurse-midwife on staff at Harbor Hospital. Empathy for each woman's situation is the hallmark of their practice.
"A certified nurse-midwife can serve in various expanded roles, including adolescent gynecologic care, menopausal counseling or care for sexual assault victims," Greer explained. "We take time to get to know our patients and help them through unsettling exams and test results. We also secure medical treatment for them when necessary."
Like a physician, certified nursemidwives can write prescriptions for medication and birth control. They also screen for health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sexually transmitted diseases.
Hospital Resources for a Healthy Birth — Your Way
Nurse-midwives encourage natural pain management methods for childbirth, Greer said, including walking, back rubs and the warmwater jacuzzi. Should a woman want or need it, a certified nurse-midwife can provide IV sedation or epidural anesthesia.
"We have collaborative relationships with the obstetricians at Harbor Hospital. By delivering babies here, not in the woman's home, we have immediate access to all the hospital's resources," Greer said. "We can assist on surgeries, such as cesarean sections, and remain with our patients during all procedures to help them feel as comfortable as possible."
Certified nurse-midwives receive extensive medical training. Greer earned her graduate degree from Georgetown University and is board-certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Continuing education is required for certification, as it is for physicians. Not all midwives are certified, so patients should make sure to choose a certified nurse-midwife for the most qualified midwife care, Greer explained.
"I continue to see Paula because she takes time with me during my annual visits," Marino said. "I am addicted to the compassionate care I receive. I will never go anywhere else."
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