Who to choose?! Charlotte NC Midwives
Just found out your pregnant and considering an OB GYN or a midwife? Both are great options, depending on what you are looking for! There are even a few doctors offices who have both midwives and OBs in their practice. I’ve taken the time to investigate some local Charlotte NC Midwives to make it a little easier for you.
Charlotte NC Midwives | Fort Mill Area Options
The first midwife I came across is located in Fort Mill is called Natural Choice Midwifery and she attends home births, if that is something you are considering! She has attended over 1000 births herself, and even takes insurance. (I didn’t even know that was a thing!) She leans toward a holistic approach and encourages natural childbirth. She offers individualized care plans— you can check more about the experience that she offers her patients here. She has 22 5 star reviews on her google page.
Gentle Spirit Midwifery is another option local to the Fort Mill area near Charlotte. She believes that childbirth is sacred and empowering for women and wants to support you in that process. She got her M.S. and is board certified in 1997, so she has a few years under her belt working with moms and childbirth! She also served as a director for a at a Childbearing Center. You can contact her for more information about her midwifery services here.
Charlotte NC Midwives | Uptown Options
These are a little harder to find, as in North Carolina homebirths are legal, but not with assistance.
Kathy Shields is a Certified Nurse Midwife who works at an OB. She is connected to Atrium so of course insurance would be covered if your insurance company works with Atrium. She has been practicing for over 25 years and started one of the first Charlotte midwife practices in Charlotte in 1995. She has a nursing degree and a masters in nursing as well. To read more about her, feel free to check out her biography page.
Hallie Lyon is also apart of the Atrium network but is also a CNM. She has pretty good reviews on her health care page, though there is one complaint about the wait time! She has both a degree and masters in nursing. She is currently accepting new patients. You can find informatio about her location and a little bit about her biography here.
Novant Health Mintview OB GYN-Ballantyne is a doctor’s office that works with Novant. They have MDs on staff, OBs on staff, as well as a CNM. My favorite doctor used to work there and delivered our 3rd as a VBAC but she no longer works in this office. It might be worth a shot to check out their CNM on staff to see if she might be a good fit. You can head to their website now.
Alexandria Nicole Montgomery is another option through Novant Health. She has great reviews from clients who have had a positive experience with her. She is a certified nurse midwife and she graduated in 2012. She is not the only CNM located in their practice but has quite a few more reviews than any other CNM on staff. You can find out more information about her and the practice she works in here.
What is The Difference between an OB and a Midwife?
There are a few differences between an OB and a midwife, and it’s up to you to decide what is best for you and your family. Here is a rundown about the main differences between the two!
“A midwife uses fewer medical interventions during childbirth and are great if you are planning a natural birth. An OB/GYN is trained to handle any type of childbirth. A midwife is a good choice if you are looking to have an unmedicated natural childbirth experience. An OBGYN is a good choice if you plan to have an epidural and want a hospital experience.” https://www.motherhoodcenter.com/the-differences-between-an-ob-gyn-and-a-midwife/
A midwife is trained to handle a relatively “normal” or low risk birth. An OB is trained to handle any type of birth or high risk pregnancy.
Only an OB GYN has the medical training in the event a C section is needed.
An OB is trained at a medical school and specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. A midwife attends midwifery school to receive training in obstetrics and gynecology.
Charlotte NC Midwives
There’s no wrong choice, so choose what works best for your family and what you are hoping for your birth. It may not end up being exactly how you envisioned it, but it’ll be your birth story regardless!
