Mercy Medical Center - New Hampton is pleased to have the physicians and providers of Mercy Gynecologic and Birthing Specialists of Mason City providing prenatal care in New Hampton.

To schedule an appointment in New Hampton or for more information, call Mercy Gynecologic and Birthing Specialists at 1.800.433.3883.

Melody Gifford, a certified midwife and advanced registered nurse practitioner, will be delivering high-quality and compassionate prenatal care to expectant mothers in New Hampton. The clinic, which is being held two days a month, is located in the Specialty Clinic at Mercy - New Hampton.

Gifford has been a provider at Mercy Gynecologic and Birthing Specialists since 2004. As a midwife and advanced registered nurse practitioner, Gifford is qualified to care for women of all ages. She specializes in pregnancy, labor, hospital birth and postpartum care. The physicians of Mercy Gynecologic and Birthing Specialists are always available for client consultation and referral.

Gifford completed her original nursing education in Des Moines in 1978 and actively practiced nursing for 19 years prior to obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa in 1997. She received her Master of Science degree in Nursing with emphasis in nurse midwifery from the University of Minnesota in 2001. She has earned her national certification from the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Patients will be visiting the other Mercy Gynecologic and Birthing Specialists clinic providers during periodic appointments in Mason City. While in Mason City, expectant mothers and their families can tour the newly renovated Mercy Birth Center, which features private rooms, room service, a family nutrition center, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff.

The Mercy Birth Center in Mason City has completed a renovation project to improve privacy for patients and families, improve space for families in the private rooms, enhance security of the unit, and ultimately provide a welcoming home-like atmosphere for our patients and their families and visitors.

The project’s primary focus areas included:

• Transitioning to 100% private rooms for patients and their families on the Mother – Baby unit.  The unit remains at 15 beds. In order to accomplish this, five semi-private rooms were converted and five additional private rooms were added.
• Providing a sleeping space for family in the private rooms post delivery.
• A new nurses’ station allows staff to screen family and visitors prior to entering the secure unit.
• Providing a nutrition galley for patients, families and visitors.
• Re-organizing the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which allows for more space and privacy for babies and parents.
• Adding a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit mother/parent(s) lounge.
• Making aesthetic improvements throughout the Birth Center, which included new flooring/carpet, paint, cabinetry and in-room amenities.

What type of care does a  Certified Nurse Midwife provide?

A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) is a skilled healthcare professional who provides primary healthcare to women. This includes evaluation, assessment, treatment, and referral to a specialist, if required. CNMs emphasize health promotion, education, and disease prevention. CNMs provide preconception-counseling, care during pregnancy and childbirth, normal gynecological services, and care of the peri- and post-menopausal woman. With health education as a primary focus, CNMs help prevent problems and assist women in developing and maintaining good health habits. Midwives can prescribe medications including methods of contraception and treatment for common infections.

Should you develop a medical condition that needs more specialized treatment, you will be referred to a gynecologist, or other specialist as needed. Years of experience and continued education enable CNMs to provide a compassionate approach to all aspects of women's healthcare.  Even the United States government's top scientific organization, the Institute of Medicine, has recommended, "more reliance be placed on certified nurse-midwives" in delivering primary healthcare.

Certified nurse-midwives are experts, held to the rigorous standards of practice set by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and by state licensing organizations. They attend continuing education programs offered by hospitals, universities, and ACNM.

Did you know?
98 percent of midwives' deliveries occur in hospitals, 1 percent in freestanding birth centers and 1 percent were homebirths.