Grace Ferguson-Pell, CNM, WHNP, RN
It is a common misconception that midwives provide only natural childbirth or pregnancy services. In fact, all New York State licensed midwives, both Certified Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives, offer a unique brand of care throughout a patient’s lifetime, from adolescence to post-menopausal years.
“A midwife is an independent practitioner who focuses on reproductive health,” says Grace Ferguson-Pell, CNM, WHNP, RN, a certified nurse midwife at the Midwife Practice at Mount Sinai Doctors at Delancey Street, in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. “And many Mount Sinai patients who are pregnant and at low to moderate risk choose to be cared for by a licensed midwife.”
Midwives provide a wide range of care, including:
- Contraceptive counseling
- Menstrual cycle issues
- Prenatal care
- Attending births
- Postpartum visits
- Annual reproductive health exams like cervical cancer screening and testing for sexually transmitted diseases
Lesley Cohen, CNM, MSN, MPH
Midwives also support patients through menopause and perimenopause, providing ongoing reproductive health services such as screenings, symptom management, and education.
They also focus on providing care for the individual.
“Certified Nurse Midwives are clinically trained in the full scope OB/GYN, but their nursing background brings a depth of empathy and compassion to their care delivery,” says Lesley Cohen, CNM, MSN, MPH, a certified nurse midwife at Mount Sinai West.
“In general, we view health from a wellness perspective,” she says. “This allows me to create strong relationships and truly connect with the patients in my care.”
By developing a mutual understanding with patients, Ms. Cohen strives to make them feel comfortable and at ease, which means patients will be more open about their health and any concerns.
Gail Rivera, MSN, CNM
Gail Rivera, MSN, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at The Mount Sinai Hospital, says midwifery care places a focus on wellness that positions the patient at the center of decision-making.
“Midwives turn the medical approach from illness to optimal health,” she says. “We focus on the natural processes of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding using medical interventions as needed.”
A midwife for more than 30 years, she has worked in a variety of settings, including at a birth center, at home, and at high-risk labor and delivery units.
“I know from experience how critical it is to engage patients,” she says. “I come from a humble background and am a bilingual Afro-Latina woman,” she says. “I have seen how important cultural connections can be in establishing a good, trusting relationship with a patient.”
Suzanne Ricca-Hinchey, CNM, MS
Suzanne Ricca-Hinchey, CNM, MS, a certified nurse midwife at The Mount Sinai Hospital, says she ensures she provides patients with personalized care.
“Our training requires us to be present, connect, and overall to educate,” she says. “We follow the same accepted standards of all professionals, with the focus of individualizing our care to consider the unique situation of each patient.”
Ms. Ricca-Hinchey is passionate about the opportunity to guide patients into motherhood.
“Birth can be messy and overwhelming,” she says. “Birth can also be calm and transformational. It’s always unpredictable. New parents deserve to feel strong and empowered so they can properly nurture and protect the next generation. If I have my hands in accomplishing this, I have done my job.”
Ms. Ricca-Hinchey keeps a photo taped to the inside of her locker that was given to her by a patient in her labor room following delivery.
“Looking at this photo reminds me that I am part of the story for this family, and for every family I assist in labor and birth,” she says. “It reminds me to remain purposeful in my words and interactions because it shapes the experience, and it will all be repeated when the story is told.”