Certified Nurse Midwife Stacey Rees was in a Ph.D. program in comparative literature at Princeton University when she realized, early one morning, that she wanted a more hands-on career.

That epiphany and a visit to an out-of-hospital birth center across the street from the campus soon had Rees refocused on a new career as a certified nurse midwife.

Rees joins Certified Nurse Midwife Bridget Buck and Obstetrician/Gynecologist Robert Howard, MD at the Lincoln Medical Partners Women’s Center. The Women’s Center, located on the Miles Campus of LincolnHealth, offers a full spectrum of women’s health care and obstetrics services.

After owning her own midwifery practice in New York City for more than 10 years, where she attended both hospital and planned home births, Rees and her partner were drawn to Maine by a desire to live in a more rural environment as well as an interest in sustainable agriculture.

She was attracted to the Women’s Center and LincolnHealth by the commitment of both the providers at the Women’s Center and the LincolnHealth Obstetrics Department to supporting natural birth.

LincolnHealth, including the obstetrics department, has received national recognition for safe and effective care.

LincolnHealth, Miles Campus, was the first hospital in Maine to achieve BabyFriendly recognition from the World Health Organization. In three out of the past four years, LincolnHealth has also received the Leapfrog Group’s Top Rural Hospital Award.

Births with fewer interventions have a lower risk of complications for both child and mother, and also result in shorter hospital stays.

Rees said she believes that with good support, most healthy women can birth their babies with few interventions.

“I am inspired every time I see a woman just take that next breath, keep on going and birth her baby,” she said. “We don’t say enough that women are strong and capable and that our bodies help us along. Birth can be triumphant.”

“Women know what they want and need in birth. My job is to listen, offer education and options without judgment and ensure that the process remains safe and healthy. It is really about the woman and supporting her choices,” said Rees.

Midwifery care isn’t only about birth, however. Rees will provide gynecological visits and a full range of contraceptive options, including IUD insertions. She also loves working with teens to help them make positive decisions around their changing health needs.

As Rees works with Buck and Howard to build on the solid foundation of The Women’s Center, she encourages women to talk to her about ways to strengthen it.

“I want to know what women love about our services and what might not be working for them,” she said. “Drawing more women to the center ultimately depends on our being responsive to their needs.”

She hopes to build strong relationships and a high level of trust with both patients and their families. She said she is very happy to be living in Maine, where she plans to become more involved in sustainable agriculture.

“I am really excited to be here. I love Maine and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this community,” she said.