NMC’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) met earlier in June and learned bout the midwifery program from Certified Nurse Midwife Robyn Ayer.

Robyn share information related to:

• What midwives can do and how they are evolving in healthcare for women.
• How fathers are being supported and prepared for labor without the community classes the were offered prior to Covid
• Consideration of restarting group classes for the community
• How the PFAC group can help promote the midwife program
• Recruitment of additional nurse midwives

The Council also heard from Family Birth Center Nurse Midwife Anna Gabaree and Director of Clinical Services Courtney Leduc, RN about MoMMA’s Voices.

That presentation included:

• Discussion on the multiple collaboratives and partnerships for maternal/child health.
• Discussion about post-partum mental health
• Wrapping around social determinants of health in the community.
• The possibility of wrapping around employers on how to support the needs of pregnant and post-partum employees to ensure they have what they need and are supported.

The PFAC is a six-member council first that began meeting in August of last year and meets monthly. The establishment of the group is a key action in the hospital’s Quality Plan to strengthen communication and collaboration between patients, their families, providers and hospital staff.