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Parkland Medical Center’s Women & Children’s Services Announces the Addition of Midwifery Services

Derry, NH, August 18, 2008 – Parkland Medical Center has announced the addition of two Certified Nurse Midwives, Katrina Bergevin, RN, CNM, MSN and Candace Delisio, BSN, CNM, MPH to the Family Birthing Center Team.   Located at Women’s Health Associates in Derry, Katrina and Candace will work in collaboration with OB/GYN physicians, Wayne White and Thomas Zarka.  The addition of their services to Parkland Medical Center allows Parkland to offer women a new choice for the individualized care of their healthcare issues.

Midwifery is a fast-growing part of the healthcare industry; approximately 10% of U.S. births are attended by midwives.  According to the National Center for Health Statistics, New Hampshire alone has seen an almost 15% increase in Certified Nurse Midwife attended births from 1990 to 2004.   Midwives encourage patients to see pregnancy, labor and birth as a natural, healthy process.  Births that are attended by midwives are much less likely to involve interventions such as episiotomies, medications to induce or hasten labor and caesarean sections.  These continue to be available to women delivering at Parkland’s Family Birthing Center.  “The Midwifery Service is all about offering the expectant mother choices,” explains, Amy Carter, RN, Director of Maternal – Child Health Services.  “We want to educate our patient to all her options with the goal of helping her to feel in control throughout this important time in her life,” adds Deb West, RN, Coordinator of Family Education.

The Midwifery Service at Parkland Medical Center has been designed so that the midwife works in a close collaboration with the OB/GYN physicians.  It is a team concept.  As Midwife Katrina Bergevin explains “when an expectant mom arrives at the Family Birthing Center, our on-call OB/GYN is aware that a new arrival is on the way so everyone is on the same page.”  The physician is available for consultation and to assist as needed in an emergency.  Although the Midwives are recognized and function as independent providers, they work collaboratively with OB/GYN’s, not as an exclusive alternative.

Enhancing the childbirth experience is only one component of today’s midwifery care.  Midwives are licensed to dispense medications and provide services to patients for routine gynecological care and primary preventative care including breast, bone and heart health.  The heart of midwifery practice can be found in the origin of the word midwife, meaning “with women.”  Midwives often bond with their patients, allowing them the comfort needed to ask the most personal questions.  For women, Midwifery Services at Parkland Medical Center can offer a unique perspective on their healthcare. 

For more information about Midwifery, please call Women's Health Associates of Derry, 603-421-2526 .

To learn more about services, programs and physicians at Parkland Medical Center, visit ww.parklandmedicalcenter.com.

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