Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

As soon as you have a positive pregnancy test, call the office to make an appointment. Tell us the first day of your last menstrual period, if known.

You will see the nurse first, at around 7 to 8 weeks, then see your provider for the first visit and ultrasound at 8 to 9 weeks.

In your first meeting with the nurse she will ask for personal health information as well as a health history of your and the father's families. You will also have your prenatal blood panel drawn. This visit is a great opportunity to ask any questions you might have!

In your first meeting with the provider you may have a trans-vaginal ultrasound which will help in determining your "official" due date. You may also have a pap smear if you are due, and a set of cultures.

During the first two trimesters you will visit approximately once a month. At about 32 weeks you will be seen every two weeks, and at approximately 36 weeks you will be seen weekly.

Please, please call us as soon as you know you will not be able to make your appointment time and we will be happy to reschedule you. If you miss an appointment we may try to contact you to reschedule, but it is best to call us as soon as possible!

Generally, a vaginal ultrasound will be done at around 8 and again at 12 weeks.  A detailed anatomy abdominal ultrasound will be done at around 20 weeks.

• At the initial visit with the nurse you will have a prenatal panel drawn
• During your first visit with the doctor you will have a swab for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia and possibly a pap if you are due for one
• If you decide to do the Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis screen, this will be done at 16 weeks
• At 28 weeks you will do the test for gestational diabetes
• At 36 weeks will be a swab for Group B Strep

Please contact our office if you are having any vaginal bleeding and cramping. If it is during our non-office hours then please page your provider.

If you have the follow symptoms, please go to Labor and Delivery at the hospital.

• Water breaks
• Contractions every 5 minutes
• Lower back pain
• Bleeding (more than just spotting)

Yes!

The interval between pap tests depends on your health history.  Please discuss this with your provider.

We are not a primary care facility, however we can often see you for common health concerns.

In Idaho, to practice as a nurse midwife one must have a master's degree and are required to pass a national certification exam.

Nurse midwives work with all members of the health care team, including physicians. By working with physicians, nurse midwives can ensure that a specialist is available if a high-risk condition should arise. In Idaho nurse midwives are recognized as independent health care providers, but often work with other members of the heath care team, such as physicians and nurses to provide the highest quality care. While more than 80% of women will need no medical intervention during their pregnancy, sometimes complications will arise. In this case, our nurse midwife will consult with Dr. Lovelace or refer you for a consultation with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.

Midwives are able to provide different levels of care depending on a woman's individual health needs. In a high-risk pregnancy , a nurse midwife can help you assess resources to support your goals for childbirth, provide emotional support during challenging times or work along side a physician who is an expert in your high-risk condition to ensure safe, healthy outcomes.

Midwives are leading experts in how to cope with labor pain. As a partner with you in health care, your midwife will explain pain relief options and help you develop a birth plan that best fits your personal needs and desires. Whether you wish to use methods such as relaxation techniques or movement during labor or try IV pain medication, epidural or other medications, your midwife will work with you to help meet your desired approach to birth. At the same time, your midwife will provide you with information and resources about different options and choices available if any changes to your birth plan become necessary or if you change your mind.

Definitely. Our motto is "Listen to Women", and if this is a strong desire on your part, we feel it is our role to support you in these decisions.

Nurse midwives practice in many different settings, including hospitals, medical offices, free-standing birth centers, clinics or in private settings (such as a home). About 90% of births attended by nurse midwives in the United States are in hospitals. Our nurse midwife attends your birth exclusively at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise.

Midwifery is grounded in evidence-based practice and professional standards, along with a deep understanding of the normal, natural events in a woman's lifespan. Midwives approach women's health care based on researched evidence and clinical expertise, while also considering a woman's own values. Safety principles in childbirth promote care based on scientific knowledge, respectful coordination of care between different members of the health care team, active involvement of clients and their families in care practices and a commitment to improving quality care. A large body of research done over 70 years of Certified Nurse Midwife practice has shown that Certified Nurse Midwives are comparable in safety to doctors for normal, low-risk women.

Idaho requires private insurance companies to pay for services provided by nurse midwives, including Medicaid.

Simply put, the differences are minor - both are trained to provide high quality obstetrical care. Nurse midwives work with low-risk clients, while OB-GYN physicians see clients across all pregnancy risk levels. Both our OB providers support clients involvement in the decision making process when it comes to the birthing experience. Studies indicate that births attended by midwives generally have fewer interventions (such as continuous fetal monitoring and epidurals) without impacting outcomes for women and their babies.

At St. Luke's Hospital, Laborists (trained obstetricians) are in-house 24 hours a day, who can consult with the nurse-midwife regarding complex issues and respond to any emergencies. Dr. Lovelace is almost always on call and would be the most likely physician to provide consultation or emergency care. The best outcomes for mothers and babies, and the highest quality care is achieved when Certified Nurse Midwives and Physicians work together as a team.

Our nurse-midwife can attend your trial of labor birth after a cesarean section in collaboration with the in-house Obstetrician physician on site at St. Luke's.

Midwives have expert knowledge and skill in caring for women through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.  But they also provide health care services to women in all stages of life, from the teenage years through menopause, including general health, check-ups, screenings, and well-woman gynecologic care.  Additionally, nurse midwives can order diagnostic and laboratory tests and prescribe medications.