Susan Magee Wente, C.N.M., Dr. P.H., and director of the Ben Taub program, credits the personalized care offered by midwives to the program's success. We also require and expect from the woman that she will participate in the decision-making process. Gabrielle Myers-Helfgott, C.N.M., M.S.N., and director of the LBJ program, agrees the personalized care offered attracts expectant mothers. Since their beginning, the Hospital District's midwifery programs have delivered more than 20,000 babies. The Ben Taub program has about 20 midwives while the LBJ program has about six.
Midwives begin their work with patients at any of the district's health clinics.
The midwives begin with prenatal care and follow the expectant mother through her delivery. While the district's resources are limited, midwives are grouped in such a way that the expectant mother can be assured that the person helping her with the birth will be one from the group who is knowledgeable about her case. Yara and Robert Perez of Houston, admitted their decision to have son, Robert Anthony, born under the care of a midwife was an easy one. The couple became acquainted with the program when Mrs. Perez sought prenatal care at Casa De Amigos, an HCHD clinic located in near north Houston. If I needed something they were there to help me out and answer all my questions.