For many years, midwives were mainly connected with home births, but today almost 90% of deliveries assisted by midwives in the U.S. take place in hospitals. At NYU Langone Health, midwives work as a fully integrated part of the obstetric team, offering personalized support within a setting equipped for advanced medical care whenever it’s needed.
This coordinated model shaped the birth experience of Juliette Sardou. She originally planned for a home birth, but during a routine third-trimester checkup, doctors detected an irregular heartbeat in her baby. Further evaluation at NYU Langone by pediatric cardiologist Dr. Colin K. Phoon revealed a twisted ductus arteriosus—an important fetal blood vessel—that required ongoing monitoring.
To keep both mother and baby safe, Dr. Phoon recommended hospital delivery. At the same time, he ensured that Sardou’s wishes for a personalized, low-intervention birth were respected by connecting her with NYU Langone’s midwives and maternal-fetal medicine specialists.
At 37 weeks, Sardou developed high blood pressure and was admitted for delivery. Midwives Kathryn Mulholland and Karry Li helped her maintain her preferred birthing approach—avoiding an epidural and choosing her own labor positions—while monitoring her and the baby closely. Her son was delivered safely and discharged without the need for continued cardiac follow-up.
Sardou described the midwifery team as calm, supportive, and consistently focused on her comfort and preferences.
At NYU Langone, certified nurse midwives provide care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. They practice at the Mignone Women’s Health Collaborative and attend births at Tisch Hospital and NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn. According to midwifery director Eugenia Montesinos, the focus is on education, empowerment, and honoring each person’s birth plan while keeping medical safety in view.
Midwives collaborate closely with obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine experts, allowing patients— including some with high-risk conditions—to experience a supported, low-intervention birth whenever clinically appropriate.
First-time mother Alison Ferrell also found this team-based approach transformative. After feeling rushed at another practice, she transferred her care to NYU Langone and immediately noticed a more thoughtful, patient-centered environment. During her labor, unexpected complications required antibiotics, but the midwives and obstetric team kept her informed and involved in decision-making. She delivered a healthy daughter and received follow-up support even after returning home.
As Montesinos explains, every pregnancy is different, and the goal is always the same: to listen, to guide, and to provide compassionate, individualized care throughout the entire journey.
