Obstetrics, Midwifery and Gynecology

Midwives, Physicians and Health Care Professionals: A Collaborative Approach for Top-Notch, Patient-Centered Care 

Welcome to Central Vermont Medical Center, where we are committed to delivering exceptional care, tailored to your needs.

Whether you’re visiting us for routine wellness screenings, during pregnancy, or for a specialized consult, our goal remains the same:

High-quality personalized care that puts YOU at the center of everything we do.

We are a dedicated team that lives and works in the community we serve.

We prioritize individualized care for all our patients and respect the unique needs of our transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary patients.

Our Services

Routine Wellness Visits

Regular check-ups and preventive care. These exams typically involve a history, physical examination and discussion of your overall health and well-being. 

Pregnancy-related Care

Midwives and obstetricians offer guidance and support while monitoring the health and development of you and your pregnancy. 

Prenatal check-ups

These visits typically occur once a month during the first and second trimesters and increase in frequency to every 1-2 weeks during the third trimester, and include: 

• Birthing plan discussions: We listen and ask follow-up questions to understand your preferences for care during pregnancy, labor and delivery. We’ll help address concerns and clarify potential outcomes so you can make informed decisions throughout the process. And we will always be advocates for your desired birth experience, ensuring that your choices are respected and honored within the bounds of safety and medical necessity.
• Emotional and mental health support: Pregnancy-related care can also involve addressing concerns or changes in your emotional well-being or mental health. Our in-practice mental health counselor is a resource for you.
• Lab tests: routine lab tests are performed during pregnancy to monitor your health and screen for potential complications.
• Nutrition consultation:  We also encourage you to schedule a meeting with our Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) at least once for personalized guidance. The consult covers weight gain, nutritional needs and common pregnancy symptoms. You can always request additional visits and we sometimes recommend more based on your pregnancy or the concerns we hear during our check-ins.
• Physical examinations: These examinations may include measuring your abdomen to estimate the fetal size and listening to the baby's heartbeat using a Doppler device or fetoscope.

Labor and Delivery

Midwives and obstetricians provide 24-hour local coverage, working closely with CVMC’s Birthing Center nurses and your support team throughout labor and delivery. Together, your birthing team will provide:

• Advocacy: Ensuring your preferences and wishes are known and respected by your health care team. 
• Comfort: We strive to be a partner in your birth experience, offering reassurance, encouragement and guidance throughout the challenges of labor. Pain management may include holistic techniques and medications based on your birth plan.
• Managing changes: Your health, your baby's well-being and your birth plan are at the forefront of our care. If a change in the plan or a medical intervention is needed, we always strive for ongoing, open communication, so you are well-informed and part of the decision process.

Postpartum support

After delivery, we continue to provide care to you while a pediatrician or family medicine physician begins caring for your baby.

• Recovery from labor: begins in the birthing center and continues with office visits to check in on your recovery and mental well-being.
• You are not alone! Postpartum mood adjustments (also known as “The Baby Blues”) are common after delivery. For some, this can become more serious and requires more support. Our practice is committed to bringing awareness to these issues and helping our patients who experience these challenges.

Mental Health Resources

Your emotional health matters to us, and we're here to support you every step of the way. That’s why we offer in-house mental health counseling alongside our medical care. Our licensed mental health professional provides personalized care to address common concerns like anxiety, depression, stress, relationships, body image and pregnancy-related challenges.

Family Planning and Preconception Care

• Preconception evaluation: to assess overall health (sometimes of both partners) and identify any pre-existing medical conditions or factors that may impact fertility or pregnancy outcomes. This may include reviewing medical history and lifestyle factors, performing physical examinations and ordering lab tests.
• Contraception: Discussion of different birth control methods and recommendations based on specific needs and preferences, including office procedures. Some examples include:
  • Intrauterine Device (IUD) insertion and removal
  • Nexplanon insertion and removal: Nexplanon is a long-acting contraceptive implant placed under the skin of the upper arm.
  • Injection, pills, patches and rings
• Chronic condition management: Preconception care may involve ensuring conditions are well-controlled before pregnancy. This may involve adjusting medications, initiating specific treatments, or consulting with specialists to address any potential risks associated with the condition
• Genetic counseling and testing: Depending on family history or background, genetic counseling and testing may be used to identify any potential genetic disorders or risks, allowing for informed decisions, further testing or interventions. 
• Reproductive choices and family planning: We support you in your reproductive journey and provide resources and education as needed.

Common Office Visits

• Menstrual irregularities: For those experiencing irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding, severe menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) or other menstrual issues.
• Menopause and perimenopause: Patients approaching or experiencing menopause often seek guidance and support for managing symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and vaginal dryness. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or alternative treatments may be discussed
• Pelvic pain or discomfort: Evaluation and management of pelvic pain, which may be caused by conditions like endometriosis, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or uterine fibroids. In addition, pelvic pain is often multifactorial, and we work closely with your primary care provider, when appropriate.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): We provide testing, treatment and counseling for STIs, as well as general reproductive health education and guidance.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other gynecological infections: Evaluation and treatment for gynecological infections, such as yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis, as well as UTIs.

Office Procedures

• Colposcopy: This procedure involves examining the cervix, vagina, and vulva with a specialized instrument called a colposcope to evaluate abnormal Pap smears or detect abnormalities. 
• Endometrial biopsy: A procedure to obtain a sample of the lining of the uterus (endometrium) for diagnostic purposes, often to investigate abnormal uterine bleeding or evaluate suspected uterine conditions.
• Vulvar biopsy: A procedure to take a sample of your vulva or skin.
• Saline Infusion Sonohysterogram: A pelvic ultrasound is performed on the abdomen while a catheter is used to inject saline through the cervix into the uterus. This allows a more detailed view of the inside of the uterus than a standard pelvic ultrasound. 
• Hysteroscopy: A thin camera is inserted through the cervix into the uterus. This provides a direct view of the uterine lining and can facilitate removal of a retained intrauterine device or a small polyp. 
• Insertion of Intrauterine Devices and Contraceptive Implants 

Surgical Procedures 

• Dilatation and Curettage (D&C): Involves dilating the cervix and scraping the uterine lining to diagnose or treat various conditions, such as abnormal uterine bleeding, pregnancy problems, or endometrial pathology.
• Hysteroscopy: A minimally invasive procedure that uses a thin, lighted instrument called a hysteroscope to visualize and examine the inside of the uterus for diagnostic or operative purposes, sometimes including the removal of polyps or fibroids. 
• Laparoscopy: Involves making small incisions and inserting a laparoscope (a thin, lighted tube with a camera) to visualize and perform various gynecological procedures, such as tubal ligation or removal of ovarian cysts.. 
• Hysterectomy: This surgical procedure involves removing the uterus for conditions related to bleeding and other conditions. We strive to be minimally invasive, when appropriate, to improve patient outcomes. 
• Oophorectomy and Salpingectomy: Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of one or both ovaries, while salpingectomy is the removal of one or both fallopian tubes. These procedures may be performed for various reasons, including ovarian cysts, tubal pathology, or as part of preventive measures in high-risk patients.