Midwife in Miami - Midwives in Miami services

Every woman has the right to a safe and satisfying birth process. At In-Touch Midwifery we believe that giving birth is a normal process which can occur in a safe, soothing, and non-interventional environment. We provide prenatal care with delivery at Baptist Hospital. We are proud to say that we have re-opened the doors at Baptist Hospital of Kendall to midwifery care!

We will be with you while you labor to help you through the process with position changes, Jacuzzi water therapy (tub-labor), relaxation techniques, and soothing words of encouragement. Even though you are in the hospital, you may be intermittently monitored, which means you will not be strapped down and have to stay in bed. You may walk and are not required to have IV fluids. You may bring your birthing aids such as your birthing ball, aromatherapy, massage therapy, Doula and Hypno- Birthing® tools. We stay with you during your active labor phase, and after delivery to assist with breast feeding. If you desire the intimate relationship of midwifery care and would also like to have an epidural or IV pain medication, we can still take care of you.

Before, many women who wanted midwifery care had to drive the long distance to Broward or North Miami. Now women have the option of local and experienced midwifery care in the safety of the hospital. While emergencies may be rare, we are lucky to have Ivy League trained physicians who are supportive of midwifery care and management, as our back up physicians. If you do require a cesarean section for emergency, the operating room is only seconds away instead of hours away like other centers.

What we offer to our pregnant patients:

• Intermittent fetal monitoring during labor
• Jacuzzi water therapy (tub labor)
• No IV fluids; which means no pole to drag around the room
• Personal choice of pushing techniques and position
• Baby placed on your chest immediately after delivery
• Breast feeding immediately after birth
• Option of delayed cord clamping
• Monthly prenatal classes which include a light meal*
• Natural labor induction methods
• Access to the midwife’s cell phone number
• Physician back up in event of emergency
• In office spa for prenatal massage*
• 3D/4D ultrasound*
• In office obstetrical ultrasound by certified technicians*
• In office blood drawing with no extra fees
• We accept third trimester transfers to our practice for care
  *-may require additional costs and/or co-payments.

Your nurse midwife can be involved in your care for almost all types of pregnancies. We can manage your entire pregnancy and delivery experience if you are healthy and low risk. There may be times, however, when we must refer you to our superb obstetricians, or when some component of your natural birth experience may not be possible for the safety of you and your baby.

About Us:

Irene Besser, CNM

Irene has been a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner for 24 years and a Certified Nurse Midwife for 17 years. Years ago when Irene was a new Registered Nurse (RN) she was present during her sister’s vaginal birth of twins. This miraculous birth process was so moving for Irene that she knew at that moment she wanted to deliver babies! Even after attending over one thousand births, Irene feels that each one is a special miracle of its own, of which she is honored to be a part. Irene strives to work with each woman to achieve the type of birth that will be fitting to the mother and the family.

Scholastic history:

St. Francis Hospital of Nursing: RN Diploma
Syracuse Community General Hospital: Family Practice Nurse Practitioner
Educational Program Associates, San Jose, California: Nurse Midwifery Certification
Graduated with honors

Irene is the proud mother of a 23 year old son, summa cum laude graduate from University of Florida. Irene is a member and board certified through the American College of Nurse Midwives, and is a member of the South Florida Chapter of Nurse Midwives. She is also a certified advanced open water scuba diver, member of Active Divers Association, United States Equestrian Foundation and South Florida Trail Riders. Irene loves to ride her horse Rain, and has won many showmanship and riding competitions. Irene has privileges at Baptist Hospital in Kendall.

Stephanie Fink, ARNP, MSN, SNM

Stephanie is currently a student of nurse midwifery at the University of Miami and will finish December 2011. Stephanie has been a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner for over 15 years and prior to that she was a labor & delivery nurse for 3 years. In her early 20’s, while Stephanie was in her labor and delivery rotation in nursing school, she attended a birth that changed her life.

Scholastic history:

Texas Woman’s University: Bachelor of Science, licensed RN
University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center: Nurse Practitioner in Women’s Health Certificate
Drexel University: Masters of Science in Nursing
University of Miami: Student of Nurse Midwifery, graduation 12/2011

Stephanie is a mother of 2 beautiful toddler boys, Max and JB. Stephanie is on the Board of Directors at Temple Beth Am, has been a volunteer basketball coach, singer, a founding member of Femfessionals, loves Pilates, and has been a successful fund-raiser. She loves her two cats Lucy and Stanley. She is a member of Florida Nurses Association, Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, American College of Nurse Midwives, and the South Florida Chapter of Nurse Midwives. Stephanie is on medical staff at Baptist Hospital and is currently delivering patients alongside Irene Besser.

Cynthia Jacinthe, MSN, CNM

We are proud to announce the arrival of Cynthia to in-Touch Midwifery in May 2012. Having Nurse Midwifery experience since 2007, Cynthia is excited to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to South Florida. Cynthia moved to South Florida when she was 12 and left to train in New York where she remained to practice nurse midwifery. She is happy to return home to be with her family and to join The Miami Center of Excellence for OB/GYN.

Scholastic history:

Florida International University: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
SUNY Downstate Brooklyn: Master of Science in Midwifery

Cynthia is passionate about women’s health issues. While working as a nurse practitioner in New York City, she developed free educational sessions covering common gynecology concerns. Her passion is doing volunteer work. While working in Haiti she helped to educate Haitian midwives, assisted in a mobile prenatal clinic in a remote village, and delivered babies in a makeshift birthing center. Cynthia is fluent in Spanish and Creole.

Services we offer:

Prenatal care Monthly prenatal classes Labor support Postpartum care Breast feeding assistance Family planning assistance Endometrial and vulvar biopsies Yes, we can write prescriptions! Infertility & artificial insemination	Annual examinations Pre-conceptual counseling Gynecological problems: vaginitis, pelvic pain, etc.. Menopausal concerns Bio-identical hormones Adolescent exams Saline Sonograms IUD/Implanon placement Colposcopy Urodynamics

Our Scope of Practice

Midwifery as practiced by Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) encompasses primary care for women across the lifespan from adolescence beyond menopause, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health. Midwives perform comprehensive physical exams, prescribe medications including contraceptive methods, order laboratory and other diagnostic tests, and provide health and wellness education and counseling.