CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth now offering midwifery services

CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - St. Elizabeth is expanding the delivery care options available to expectant mothers by now offering midwifery services for the southeast Texas region.

Midwives are trained health professionals who specialize in women's reproductive health as well as pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. They also provide comprehensive care for women throughout their lives, including routine gynecologic services.

The hospital welcomes the first certified nurse midwife, Ashleigh Clark, to the team. She has begun delivering babies and already making an impact on the lives of southeast Texas families.

“I truly am so excited to be a part of providing this service for moms in the southeast Texas community,” said Clark. “This is a unique opportunity for women to experience more birthing freedoms within a hospital setting, ensuring that medical intervention is readily available if needed.”

Briana Scruggs, a southeast Texas resident, recently delivered her baby boy, Kolsen, under Clark’s care and shared her experience.

“After my first appointment with Mrs. Clark, I knew midwifery was the direction I wanted to go,” Scruggs said. “She was extremely personable and allowed my body to do what it needed to do to have the baby organically. I felt completely safe and involved through the entire process.”

She said her decision to switch to midwifery was even more solidified when she discovered Clark not only delivers babies but has delivered five of her own children.

“I felt reassured knowing someone giving me advice about birth and delivering my baby has experienced these aspects of birth firsthand and five times.” said Scruggs. The experience was interactive, giving Scruggs’ husband the opportunity to catch their new baby as he was being delivered.

“Mrs. Clark offered him some gloves, so he just put them on and caught our baby,” she said. “It was such an empowering and intimate experience, feeling like we were bringing the baby into the world together as a team.”

Reports show an increase in both the number of births attended by midwives and the number of practicing midwives in recent years, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

"I am thrilled to be part of the team at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - St. Elizabeth," Clark said. "My goal is to empower women during their birthing experience while ensuring they have access to the medical support they may need."