What is a Nurse Midwife? | Beginnings Birth Center Colorado Springs
← Home | Contact Us | Free Quiz

About Us

What is a
Certified Nurse
Midwife?

A CNM is not just a birth attendant. They are Master's and Doctoral-level medical providers who specialize in the full spectrum of women's health — from adolescence through menopause, and everything in between.

CNM
Certified Nurse Midwife

"The experts in normal — providing evidence-based, relationship-centered care that supports you in making the best decisions for yourself and your family."

Education & Credentials

Rigorously trained.
Highly qualified.

While there are many types of midwives, Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) complete some of the most rigorous and intensive educational programs in women's health. They are licensed by the state and nationally certified.

Our CNMs have achieved a Master's or Doctoral level of education — the same academic level as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. This training goes far beyond birth attendance.

They are qualified to perform labs, genetic testing, wellness screenings, prescribe medications, and provide comprehensive gynecological care. They practice evidence-based medicine and are held to the highest standards of care.

Certified nurse midwife at Beginnings Birth Center
Lauren Marchessault, CNM — Clinical Director

What can a CNM do for you?

A certified nurse midwife provides care across the full spectrum of women's health — not just during pregnancy.

Annual Exams
Complete physical exams including pap smears, breast exams, and gynecological care from adolescence through menopause.
Pregnancy Care
Comprehensive prenatal care including ultrasounds, genetic testing, labs, and personalized birth planning — all under one roof.
Labor & Birth
Expert support through every stage of labor and birth — including water birth, nitrous oxide, and continuous midwife presence.
Postpartum Care
Ongoing care for both you and baby in the critical weeks after birth — including well-baby visits, feeding support, and healing checks.
Family Planning
Birth control counseling, preconception planning, and personalized guidance for wherever you are in your reproductive journey.
Gynecological Care
Treatment for infections, bleeding irregularities, pelvic pain, incontinence, depression, anxiety, and much more.

CNM vs. OB/GYN

Both are highly qualified providers. Here's how they differ — and why many women choose midwifery-led care.

Certified Nurse Midwife
OB/GYN
Education
✓ Master's or Doctoral degree in Nursing + Midwifery
— Medical degree + residency in Obstetrics
Visit Length
✓ 20+ minute minimum — time to truly talk
— Typically 10–15 minutes
Approach
✓ Holistic, relationship-based, whole-person care
— Surgical and high-risk specialties available
Birth Setting
✓ Birth center or home for low-risk pregnancies
— Hospital
Continuity
✓ You'll meet and build relationships with our entire small, personal team during prenatal care
— May not meet all delivering providers
Scope of Care
✓ Adolescence through menopause — lifelong care
— Reproductive and obstetric focus

Our Midwives

Meet the CNMs at
Beginnings

Our team of Certified Nurse Midwives brings decades of combined experience in hospitals, home births, and birth centers. Each one chose midwifery because they believe birth is a profound, personal experience — not a medical event to be managed.

They are your partners. They will know your name, your story, and your goals before you ever go into labor. That's what midwifery-led care looks like.

Meet our full team →

The midwife team at Beginnings Birth Center
Your partners from the very first visit

Ready to experience
midwifery-led care?

Take our free 2-minute quiz to find out if Beginnings Birth Center is the right fit for your family.

Take the Free Quiz Call (719) 367-9405