Ozarks Healthcare Introduces Midwifery Services to Women’s Health

Ozarks Healthcare is expanding its Women’s Health services with the introduction of midwifery care, offering patients another option for personalized, patient-centered pregnancy care. Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Tabitha Young will help lead the new program, which will provide collaborative care alongside the organization’s obstetrics physicians.

Young’s journey into midwifery began with a passion for nursing, though it wasn’t initially the career path she expected.

“When I went to nursing school, I wanted to be an ER or ICU nurse,” Young said. “But while I was waiting to interview for an ICU position, the NICU manager approached me and encouraged me to consider neonatal intensive care. It sounded amazing, so I started there.”

Young began her career working in a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and later worked in NICU and lactation services while living in Kansas City. When she moved back to the Ozarks in 2019, she joined the team at Ozarks Healthcare as a labor and delivery nurse and quickly discovered a passion for caring for both mothers and babies.

“I loved being a bedside nurse and building relationships with patients during their labor,” Young said. “But the more time I spent in labor and delivery, the more I realized I wanted to do more and be more involved in the pregnancy journey.”

That realization inspired her to pursue midwifery.

Young attended Frontier Nursing University in Kentucky, where she completed a two-and-a-half-year program beginning in January 2023 and graduating in September 2025. During her training, she completed hands-on clinical experiences, including delivery rotations at hospitals in Rolla and St. Louis.

For Young, one of the most rewarding aspects of midwifery is the opportunity to build deeper relationships with patients throughout their pregnancy.

“As a bedside nurse, I could build a relationship with a patient over a 12-hour shift,” she said. “As a midwife, I have the opportunity to build that trust over nine months. I love education and empowering patients to make informed decisions about their care.”

Midwifery appointments often focus on patient education and shared decision-making. Visits may take more time than traditional appointments, allowing patients to ask questions, discuss preferences, and feel supported throughout each stage of pregnancy.

“If someone wants to pursue a natural delivery, we help them learn techniques to stay comfortable and move throughout labor,” she said. “If they choose an epidural, that’s completely fine too. It’s about supporting patients and helping them feel informed and confident in their choices.”

The midwifery program at Ozarks Healthcare will operate as a collaborative care model, meaning certified nurse midwives work closely with obstetric physicians to ensure safe, comprehensive care.

Young also emphasized an important distinction about the service: deliveries will take place at Ozarks Healthcare.

“When people hear ‘midwife,’ they sometimes think of home births,” Young said. “That’s not what we do. We are certified nurse midwives who provide care in the hospital, working alongside physicians to make sure patients receive the care they need when they need it.”

Ozarks Healthcare plans to have two certified nurse midwives available as the program grows, with Young joined by fellow midwife Shelley Mitchell, CNM. Patients will schedule appointments within the midwifery program and may see either provider during their pregnancy.

The team hopes to begin seeing patients in the coming weeks as operational details are finalized.

“This program gives patients another choice for their pregnancy care,” Young said. “Our goal is to provide supportive, patient-centered care while working closely with our physicians to ensure the best possible outcomes for moms and babies.”