Ruth K Mielke, DNP, APRN, CNM

Did you know the use of lactation consultants can increase rates of breastfeeding? With the support of certified lactation consultants, more parents start breastfeeding and sustain it.
A Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) holds the most advanced certification in breastfeeding that a registered nurse can receive. Becoming a lactation consultant as an RN can open the door to new opportunities to support families and babies.
Breastfeeding for many new parents comes naturally and easily...

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is among the highest nursing degrees you can earn and can lead to more career opportunities and improved healthcare outcomes.

Nursing has many acronyms to remember. The DNP is a significant milestone in nursing education and is considered a high point of academic achievement.

Studying for a DNP helps nurses gain many skills that can help them advance in their fields with multiple career paths available. Let’s look at what is involved in obtaining this degree...

The ABCs of nursing care address patients’ most critical and immediate needs. Nurses can prevent serious health consequences and save lives by systematically using these components.

As nurses, we play a vital role in promoting patient well-being. And in emergency situations, we’re one of the first caregivers at the bedside, making our knowledge of the ABCs of nursing care essential.

The ABCs of nursing provide a systematic method to prioritize the initial assessment of critically ill or injur...

Pregnancy with epilepsy requires careful medical care. With proper treatment, you can have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Medication management and regular prenatal care are essential.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that causes repeated seizures. If you have epilepsy and become pregnant, you will need special treatment throughout your pregnancy. Seizure disorders such as epilepsy affect 0.3–0.8% of all pregnancies.
Most people who have epilepsy during pregnancy have the...

Pregnancy and birth are full of decisions like choosing names, prenatal screening test selection, and pain medication options. One of the first decisions you must make is who to see for your prenatal care. Midwives and doctors in the United States provide prenatal care and attend births. The midwife vs. OBGYN models of care have different beliefs and views about pregnancy and childbirth. Understanding the differences between midwives vs. OBGYN doctors will help you make this critical decision...

I’m Ruth, a certified nurse midwife. At 52 years old, I’ve cared for women for half my life. I have five children, and I’ve been a gestational surrogate and an egg donor. Yes, I love babies!
When people hear what I do for a living, the usual response is, “How fun! Such a happy job with all the babies being born.” They are right 90% of the time. The other 10% is complex, often sad, and leaves its mark on me.
The complex part of my work as a midwife involves fetal loss, fetal anomalies, domesti...

Conducting head-to-toe assessments is a critical skill for all nurses. This exam identifies potential problems and helps form appropriate nursing diagnoses and interventions.
The first step of the nursing process involves collecting data with a thorough assessment. This evaluation includes many factors, including a head-to-toe exam.
A head-to-toe assessment is a comprehensive patient health evaluation. You collect subjective and objective data that helps to identify a patient’s needs and prob...

Your labor experience isn’t always the way you expect it to be. I’ve given birth to five babies, including twins, and had an emergency Cesarean section. I have also delivered thousands of babies as a nurse midwife. Each delivery was different. I’ve made a list of things I wish I had known when I gave birth to my two oldest before I was a nurse. I’ve also included things my patients have said they wish they had known to prepare better.
Things I Wish I Knew Before My Labor Experience
Here are 1...

Hemophilia affects pregnancies in individuals who are genetic carriers of hemophilia or who have the condition. It can lead to unusual bleeding and be passed on to the baby. Prenatal care is essential for individuals with hemophilia.
Hemophilia is a rare genetic bleeding disorder that affects your blood’s ability to clot, leading to excessive bleeding. Certain clotting proteins, or clotting factors, are low or absent in this condition. There are different types of hemophilia and levels of sev...

You’ve heard of it. You don’t want it. But you may not be able to avoid it. It’s back labor. Most women have heard of back labor from family or friends or experienced it themselves. It can be excruciating pain in the lower back during labor pains and doesn’t always let up between contractions. Fortunately, counter pressure during labor can reduce your pain and anxiety. There are two main types of counter pressure that you may find helpful. Let’s learn all about them.
What is Back Labor?
Most ...

Women have many options for coping with pregnancy discomforts and labor pain — there isn’t one right way to have a baby. Understanding all the available tools and options can empower you to make the best choices for you and your baby. Pain management options include massages, counter pressure, TENS units, epidural...

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited illness that can be screened for during pregnancy. The test determines whether you have any altered genes that you can pass on to your child. Having the information can help determine your next steps.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition caused by genetic mutations or changes. You must inherit a copy of the altered genes from both biological parents to have the illness. If you have only one copy of the genetic mutations – from one parent, you do not have...

Meconium ileus can happen when a baby with cystic fibrosis can’t pass their first poop, called meconium. It’s a serious condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Treatment involves enemas and possibly surgery.
Meconium ileus is a serious issue that affects up to 20% of newborns with cystic fibrosis. Learning about this condition can help you know what to look out for and when to get help.
This article will give you a brief yet clear understanding of the causes, symptoms, diagnos...

While prenatal screening and diagnostic tests detect most birth defects, there are many conditions that simply can’t be diagnosed during pregnancy because of the nature of the condition.
Having a baby is an exciting journey filled with hopes for a healthy child. Many potential issues are discovered before birth thanks to advances in prenatal screening. But, some birth defects, or congenital conditions, may only be diagnosed or show signs after your baby is born.
About 3% of babies in the Unit...

Birth defects affect 3% of pregnancies in the United States. Screening and diagnostic tests during pregnancy can identify many birth defects. Parents can take critical steps to help prevent certain defects.

Birth defects are common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies born in the United States each year.

The cause of many birth defects is unknown. However, other defects are a result of genetic factors, environmental exposure, ...