“For me, midwifery has been a calling,” says Aspen Green, a Certified Nurse-Midwife practicing in Austin, Texas. “If you met me when I was in school—even if we met at the grocery store—I would have probably ended up telling you my views on birth. At one point, my husband had to let me know that maternal mortality rate in America isn’t the best talking point at parties.”

In 2015, Aspen became the first CNM at her hospital to deliver a baby. In the decade since, she has welcomed hundreds of new lives into the world, built strong partnerships with physicians, and demonstrated the essential role midwives play in women’s healthcare—all while keeping the same passion that first drew her to the field.

This month, nearly 15 years into her career in women’s health, Aspen celebrates her 10th anniversary with Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG), the nation’s largest and only dedicated provider of OB hospitalist services. She is also the first Certified Nurse-Midwife to reach this milestone at OBHG—a landmark that underscores the growing role midwives play in hospital-based care and the organization’s commitment to integrating CNMs into its programs nationwide.

Aspen’s career reflects both her personal dedication and the broader impact of OBHG’s model, which aims to elevate the standard of women’s care across the country by employing obstetricians and Certified Nurse-Midwives to deliver safe, sustainable, team-based care.

Joining Ob Hospitalist Group

“My start with OBHG was pretty serendipitous,” Aspen recalls. “I was already working in one of the private practices in Austin and wasn’t actually looking for a different job, but the opportunity to work with the OBHG doctors presented itself, so I took it!”

At the time, the program was still small, and Aspen remembers the physicians’ relief at having additional support. “It was a great move for my career because I was still a newer midwife and I was able to learn a lot in a short period of time—many things that I still incorporate into my practice now. I have been lucky enough to work alongside many doctors at this point and overall, it has been a great experience.”

The most rewarding moments, she says, are those that come during high-pressure situations. “Maybe it’s the adrenaline junkie in me, but I find it particularly rewarding to work seamlessly, step for step, alongside our doctors in the midst of an emergency and have a good outcome.”

A midwifery milestone

One landmark on Aspen’s OBHG journey stands out: the expansion of midwifery coverage to 24/7. In a 2021 social media post, she wrote:

“Both the company I work for (OBHG) and the hospital administration has agreed that midwives should be here, caring for women, 24/7. Since the first baby caught by a CNM in 2015 (that was me!), it’s been over 6 years of working hard, spreading awareness, and most importantly, gaining trust. The weight of all that used to fall squarely on my shoulders, but over time our midwife team has grown, and I’m so grateful to work with 6 dedicated, outstanding midwives who are raising the bar for maternity care in the hospital.”

Aspen credits that team of midwives with keeping her motivated every day. “These women are excellent providers and just all-around quality people, and it’s a joy to work with such a bright and high-achieving team.”

Balance through life’s seasons

Over her decade with OBHG, Aspen has built her career while also raising her family. “I didn’t actually plan to be a working mom. Well, let me rephrase that, because we know all moms are working. I did not see myself being employed, especially in a full-time capacity, while raising young children. But OBHG has given me the opportunity to do that. I have birthed 3 of my 4 children while employed by OBHG and I was able to take 12 weeks off after each birth.”

Dispelling myths and delivering facts

Even with a strong career and supportive team around her, Aspen knows that the role of CNMs is not always fully understood by the general public.

“I don’t know if there’s another profession more riddled with misconceptions than midwifery, and specifically what I do as a CNM—everything from my training to my qualifications to my schedule to my responsibilities while on shift. Many people assume that I attend home births. I frequently get asked about the difference between a midwife and a doula.”

The biggest misconception she encounters is the distinction between a Certified Nurse-Midwife and other types of midwives. “A nurse-midwife, as implied by the name, is an RN first and then obtains their graduate degree specializing in midwifery. A nurse-midwife can have hospital privileges and prescribe medications in all states. In some ways, the laws and bodies that govern nurse-midwives are actually more restrictive than the laws that govern professional midwives, but it varies state to state. I spend a lot of time educating people around me about what a Certified Nurse-Midwife is and does.”

Although the profession is often misunderstood, Aspen is clear about the value CNMs bring to hospitals and patients. “Nurse-midwives have proven—over and over, study after study—that they deliver high quality, safe, cost-effective care with a personalized touch— and women are requesting us!”

Midwifery care, she notes, is especially critical in her setting, which functions as a maternal and neonatal transport hub for the city of Austin. “We are privileged to care for some of the sickest of the sick, so every shift provides a different experience.”

For CNMs and hospitalists just starting out, Aspen offers practical advice: “I would say, give it two years. That’s the advice I received right out school as a new nurse, and it took about two years of working full time in L&D before I didn’t feel like an imposter. Then when I became a midwife, I went from expert to novice again, and it took about two years. Now I’m coming up on 15 years in women’s services at my hospital. So trust in your degree, trust in your education, and just stick with it. You know more than you think you do.”

CNMs as cornerstones of care

Aspen’s commitment to care is a reminder of why OBHG has made midwifery such a central part of its model. Over the years, Certified Nurse-Midwives have become a cornerstone of OBHG programs across the country, expanding access and strengthening care for mothers and babies—and that’s by design.

“Our experience, reinforced by quality performance data, shows that Certified Nurse-Midwives enhance maternal care by reducing unnecessary interventions and significantly improving key outcomes,” says Dr. Mark Simon, Chief Medical Officer of OBHG. “When a hospital’s obstetrics program incorporates CNM care, everyone benefits—clinicians, administrators, and especially mothers and babies.”

Amanda McPherson Shafton, DNP, CNM, FACNM, OBHG’s National Director of Midwifery, agrees. “Midwifery care is patient-centered, and by working alongside OB/GYNs in the hospital, CNMs play a critical role by helping to lower C-section rates, improve vaginal delivery outcomes, and ensure that every patient receives the personalized, evidence-based care they deserve.”

Aspen’s decade of service demonstrates that CNMs are not only vital to women’s healthcare, but also integral to OBHG’s mission to provide safe, sustainable care.

Congratulations to Aspen on 10 years of service with Ob Hospitalist Group—and thank you to all of our midwife hospitalists for the care and expertise you bring to mothers, babies, and hospitals every day.