TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
Brittany Nieves delivers a newborn, welcoming the family’s first baby.
Hollie Sharrock holds a newborn she helped deliver during her missionary work in Africa.
Pamela Wyatt accepts the “Excellence in Midwifery Leadership” award with OB Hospitalist Group CEO Lenny Castiglione.
side of her digging deep and not giving up.” It is in those words, firm yet full of compassion, that mothers often find the strength they didn’t know they had. Midwifery is also surrounded by misconceptions. Many assume midwives only attend home births, that they cannot have an epidural, or that they cannot have any pain control, but CNMs practicing in hospital settings offer a full spectrum of care. What sets midwifery apart is not the absence of medical care but having a choice. Sharrock recalls the shift she witnessed when women began to understand they could move during labor, choose positions of comfort, and trust their bodies rather than follow rigid expectations such as being confined to their backs. “Watching a woman trust her body is empowering to her and exciting for a midwife to witness,” she adds. That empowerment is not only something providers see. It is something patients feel. Candace Stine, a registered nurse at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital, experienced that firsthand when she chose a midwife to deliver her first child. “I chose a midwife because I felt more comfortable and supported,” she shared. “They are known for being flexible and creating a more relaxed experience. During my labor, they helped me stay calm and never rushed me, which made such a difference.” For Stine, that thoughtful approach shaped both her experience and her outcome. “As a first-time mom, I had a great delivery, which truly felt like an answered prayer. I would absolutely recommend a midwife. They are a great option for moms who want someone personable, supportive, and willing to walk through the experience with them.” Brittany Nieves, a CNM at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital, echoes that same heart for holistic care. “Midwifery is so much more than just the physical part of birth,” she says. “As a mother of three myself, I understand what it is like during the vulnerable times. Whether it is reassurance, prayer, or providing resources that
can help you postpartum before you go home, we can do that. I lost my own mother at eight months pregnant with my first child, so I can empathize with women who need more personal guidance through the hard times. I wish more people understood that as a nurse midwife that attends births in a hospital, we can take care of women who are both low-risk and high-risk patients as well. Whether you want a hands-off approach, need an induction of labor, or are having a cesarean section delivery, we are still there for you. As midwife hospitalists, we work hand in hand with amazing obstetricians to ensure that you and your baby are safe.” In the United States, only 10-12% of births are attended by midwives, a stark contrast to countries like the United Kingdom, where that number ranges from 50-70%. It is even higher in places like the Netherlands. Notably, midwifery care is associated with lower cesarean section rates and improved maternal outcomes. While the U.S. cesarean rate hovers around 30-32%, countries with higher midwife involvement see rates closer to 15%. These numbers tell an important story. But the real story is found in the lives changed, the hands held, and the encouragement shared in delivery rooms by midwives every single day. For Hollie Sharrock, the calling of being a midwife holds special significance at this time of year. “Mother’s Day is a very special day to me as a mother and midwife,” she said. “As a midwife, every day is Mother’s Day. I am passionate about women becoming mothers and other women surrounding them to help and encourage them in times of need.” As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we honor not only the mothers who hold their babies close but also the hands that helped guide them into the world. The midwives who stood beside them, believed in them, and reminded them of their strength when they needed it the most. Before the cards and flowers, celebrations and tributes, there was a moment, a sacred beginning, where a woman became a mother. And at that moment, she was not alone.
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LIFE & STYLE
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