This page has been update to reflect the current accessibility of Midwifery services available on Maui as of 3/21/20. We have three primary care Midwives currently accepting new clients. Maui currently has around 200 births per month and the max capacity of out of hospital services would be stretched at 25 per month, much under what will be needed in the coming months.
We know that there are many mothers and families who are evaluating their options and we are working hard to respond to this need. Updates will be provided as available.
What is a Midwife? A Midwife is a Healthcare Provider who specializes in caring for women during their pregnancy, labor, birth and throughout their childbearing years for routine care. They are trained to support normal physiologic childbirth as well as to recognize and intervene when things extend beyond the scope of normal. Attending laboring women, they typically carry standard medical tools such as anti-bleeding medications and Oxygen. In comparison to an OB who will spend an average of 4 hours with a woman throughout the course of her pregnancy, birth and recovery, midwifery care is woman centered and a midwife will spend an average of 40 plus hours of individualized time with a woman throughout the same time span.
Care by a midwife should be a trusting relationship with a knowledgeable professional who supports your autonomy and empowers you with knowledge to take charge of your own health. Midwifery care on Maui is becoming increasingly accessible. We recently broke new ground with the first Nurse Midwife, CNM being granted hospital privileges at Maui Health Systems. She practices out of Malama I Ke Ola medical clinic in Wailuku. The 2019 legislative session passed SB1033 regulating and licensing the practice of midwifery care in the state of Hawaii. To find out how this will impact your access to care we encourage you to reach out and discuss these changes with midwives practicing in your community.
List of acronyms and credentials available here