Midwife Pregnancy Care

Midwife Pregnancy Care: Why Time Spent With Patients Matters

Pregnancy is one of the most transformative experiences in a woman’s life, filled with excitement, questions, and moments that deserve unhurried attention. Yet in many healthcare settings, prenatal appointments feel rushed – just enough time to check vitals and answer a question or two before moving on to the next patient. For women who want more from their pregnancy care, working with a midwife offers a refreshingly different experience.

In the Livonia area, certified nurse midwife Lucy Schoemer, DNP provides compassionate, patient-centered pregnancy care under the supervision of board certified OBGYN Dr. Chadi Haddad, MD. This collaborative model combines the personalized attention and holistic approach of midwifery with the medical expertise and resources of a physician-led practice, giving patients the best of both worlds.

A Midwife Can Offer Longer Appointments

One of the most significant differences between midwife care and traditional obstetric care is the length of appointments. While a typical prenatal visit with a busy physician may last 10 to 15 minutes, midwife appointments often run 30 minutes to an hour – especially for initial visits and during the third trimester when questions and concerns tend to multiply.

This extra time allows for thorough physical assessments, but more importantly, it creates space for meaningful conversation. Patients can discuss their birth preferences, voice concerns about symptoms they are experiencing, ask questions about nutrition and exercise, and explore their emotions about becoming a parent. Nothing feels rushed or overlooked.

Research published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health has shown that longer prenatal appointments are associated with higher patient satisfaction and better health outcomes. When patients feel heard and understood, they are more likely to share important information, follow care recommendations, and feel confident as they approach labor and delivery.

Certified nurse midwife Lucy Schoemer, DNP in the Livonia area prioritizes unhurried appointments that allow each patient to feel truly cared for. Under the supervision of Dr. Chadi Haddad, MD, Lucy ensures that patients receive comprehensive attention without sacrificing access to advanced medical care when needed.

Midwives Facilitate Shared Decision-Making

In traditional medical models, the provider often functions as the expert who tells the patient what to do. While this approach has its place in emergencies, pregnancy is typically a healthy physiological process where women benefit from being active participants in their own care. Midwives embrace shared decision-making as a core philosophy.

Shared decision-making means that the midwife presents information about options, explains the benefits and risks of each approach, and then works collaboratively with the patient to determine the best path forward. Whether the topic is genetic testing, pain management during labor, or infant feeding, the patient’s values and preferences are central to every conversation.

This approach recognizes that there is rarely one “right” answer in pregnancy care. What matters most to one woman may be less important to another, and a good midwife honors these differences rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all protocol. The result is a birth plan that reflects the patient’s authentic wishes rather than someone else’s agenda.

Lucy Schoemer, DNP in the Livonia area believes that informed patients make the best decisions for themselves and their babies. She takes the time to explain options thoroughly and supports each patient in choosing the approach that aligns with her goals, always with the backing of board certified OBGYN Dr. Chadi Haddad, MD.

A Midwife Provide Education

Education is woven into every midwife appointment. Rather than simply telling patients what to do, midwives explain why certain recommendations exist, how the body works during pregnancy and birth, and what evidence supports various practices. This educational approach empowers women with knowledge they can use throughout pregnancy, labor, and early parenthood.

Understanding the “why” behind recommendations helps patients feel more confident and less anxious. When a woman knows what is happening in her body and what to expect at each stage, she is better equipped to recognize normal variations versus warning signs that require attention. This knowledge reduces unnecessary worry while also promoting appropriate vigilance.

Midwife education extends beyond medical topics to include practical skills like comfort measures for labor, breastfeeding basics, newborn care, and postpartum recovery. Many women leave their midwife appointments feeling genuinely prepared for the journey ahead rather than overwhelmed by a list of dos and don’ts they do not fully understand.

Certified nurse midwife Lucy Schoemer, DNP in the Livonia area sees education as one of the most valuable gifts she can offer her patients. By helping women understand their bodies and their options, she prepares them not just for birth but for the confident decision-making that parenthood requires.

Midwives Support Patient Autonomy

At the heart of midwifery philosophy is a deep respect for patient autonomy – the principle that every woman has the right to make informed decisions about her own body and her own pregnancy. This does not mean midwives are passive or withhold their professional opinions. Rather, they offer guidance while ultimately honoring each patient’s right to choose.

Supporting autonomy means creating a judgment-free environment where patients feel safe expressing their preferences, even if those preferences differ from what the midwife might personally choose. It means answering questions honestly and completely, including information about alternatives that the patient may not have considered. It means trusting women to weigh the evidence and make thoughtful decisions.

The American College of Nurse-Midwives emphasizes that respecting autonomy improves both the patient experience and clinical outcomes. When women feel in control of their care, they report greater satisfaction with their birth experiences regardless of how the birth unfolds. This sense of agency also supports mental health during the vulnerable postpartum period.

Lucy Schoemer, DNP in the Livonia area is committed to supporting each patient’s autonomy while providing the clinical expertise needed to navigate pregnancy safely. Working under the supervision of board certified OBGYN Dr. Chadi Haddad, MD, she ensures that patients have access to the full spectrum of care options while remaining at the center of every decision.

The Collaborative Midwife & Physician Model

Some women worry that choosing midwife care means giving up access to medical interventions if complications arise. In a collaborative practice model, this concern is unfounded. The midwife and physician work as a team, with the midwife providing day-to-day pregnancy care and the physician available for consultation, higher-risk situations, or surgical intervention if needed.

This model offers significant advantages. Patients enjoy the personalized, relationship-centered care that midwives provide while knowing that a board certified OBGYN is always in the background, ready to step in if circumstances require additional medical expertise. There is no gap in care or awkward transition to an unfamiliar provider during an emergency.

For low-risk pregnancies, the midwife may manage care from the first prenatal visit through postpartum recovery with minimal physician involvement. For pregnancies that develop complications, the physician becomes more actively involved while the midwife continues to provide emotional support and continuity. This flexibility allows care to be tailored to each patient’s evolving needs.

In the Livonia area, certified nurse midwife Lucy Schoemer, DNP and board certified OBGYN Dr. Chadi Haddad, MD have built a collaborative practice that gives patients access to attentive, personalized midwife care without sacrificing the safety net of physician oversight. This partnership reflects their shared commitment to excellent outcomes and positive birth experiences.

Midwife | Livonia Area

If you live in the Livonia area and you are looking for pregnancy care that prioritizes time, education, shared decision-making, and respect for your autonomy, certified nurse midwife Lucy Schoemer, DNP may be the perfect fit. Working under the supervision of board certified OBGYN Dr. Chadi Haddad, MD, Lucy offers the attentive, relationship-centered care that helps women feel confident, informed, and supported throughout their pregnancy journey. Schedule an appointment today to experience the difference that midwife care can make – and discover why time spent with patients truly matters.

Livonia Area Midwife: 313.561.2200