Your nurse midwife evaluates the progress of labor and offers ongoing emotional and physical support. She makes every effort to enable the natural process of labor and involve your family in the delivery process as you wish. If the course of labor deviates from normal, your nurse midwife will consult with a physician.

All births will occur in the Labor-Delivery Unit. Discharge as early as six hours postpartum is possible if no maternal or infant problems arise, although the usual postpartum stay is two days.

Several methods of pain management are available to assist you through delivery, including:

• supportive nurses
• birthing balls
• Jacuzzi tubs
• IV medication
• epidurals

Your nurse midwife provides advice on breast-feeding and infant care. She rejoices with you and your family in another healthy beginning.