Womack celebrates their midwifery program.

Photo By Twana Atkinson | Mothers, who recently gave birth at Womack Army Medical Center, place their babies in the traditional pose to symbolize their last session of the Womack centering program ran by certified nurse midwives Oct. 2. The centering program allows women to navigate through their pregnancy in a group setting that is guided by certified nurse midwives.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

10.01.2019

Story by Twana Atkinson 

Womack Army Medical Center

Womack Army Medical Center celebrates their certified nurse midwifery program Sept. 29 - Oct. 4.
Certified nurse midwives diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. Midwives may provide well-woman gynecological care. As part of the Army Nurse Corps, they play an important role in improving the overall quality of life for Soldiers and their families.
Womack has the largest run and the longest established full-scope midwifery program within the Department of Defense.
The midwifery program coaches new and seasoned mothers through a 10-month program that involves monthly visits with their midwife and additional appointments with a group of moms with close due dates. These additional appointments are included in the centering program that is also ran by the hospital midwives.
Ruth Boone, a Womack certified nurse midwife, helped establish the WAMC program more than 20 years ago after leaving East Carolina University staff.
Womack’s midwifery program is geared to provide a more intimate experience throughout the mother’s pregnancy.
Mother’s in the program will have the opportunity to received guided conversation with their midwives on what to expect during different phases of their pregnancy.
Pfc. Austin Gragg and wife Torri, are experiencing their first-baby joys away from family for the first time.
“Mrs. Woolard (her midwife) makes me feel very comfortable and confident during our visits,” said Torri. "She takes time to talk with me during my visit with her and alleviates any concern that I may have by helping me ask questions that I wouldn’t even have thought of and talking about.”
Kay Woolard has been a certified nurse midwife here at Womack for more than 13 years.
“A lot of the midwives are women that have experience with childbirth ourselves," said Woolard. "So it’s natural for us to sit down with the patients and help prepare them through the stages of pregnancy."
Brook Van Dyke, just had her first baby and expressed how she really enjoyed being a part of the midwifery program.
“I feel like that I have made a new family. The sessions were so intimate and I really enjoyed spending time with the other mothers and feeling like I’m not going through these experiences by myself,” said Dyke.
Boone explains how military families of deployed Soldiers have a 50 percent pre-term delivery rate.
“This may be due to stress, but it’s even more prevalent in African American women,” said Boone.
Boone stated that the Womack midwifery program has help with the decline of pre-term labor in the mothers within the Fort Bragg community.
“There has been less sick call and emergency room visits for mothers that participate in our program,” said Boone. “That increases readiness in our active duty mothers and helps provide a better quality of life overall for our families.”
“When you see it from a family perspective, the ability to provide high quality care for our mothers, active or beneficiaries, helps support our community of airborne and special operation families,” said Boone.
If you are interested in the Womack Midwifery program please call 907-7394.

• Date Taken: 10.01.2019
• Date Posted: 10.17.2019 10:31
• Story ID: 347861
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US