Women's Health

When most people hear the term nurse midwife, thoughts instantly turn to birth assistance. For patients of Adena Health’s nurse midwife program such as Krista Depugh, however, it means so much more. 

“As a nurse myself and as someone who is done having children of my own, I wanted someone who I could talk to about options who I knew would take time to understand my wants and needs,” said Krista, who formerly worked as a nurse in obstetrics but now is with Adena’s information technology department. “I knew going with a midwife would offer exactly what I needed, and Brittany Winland (CNM) definitely delivered.” 

While midwives are involved in those special moments involved with labor and delivery, they also provide a holistic approach to a woman’s health at different stages of life ranging from adolescence through menopause. Adena’s program began in 2015. 

Krista saw a physician during her pregnancies and had been relying on her primary care provider for gynecological care the past few years. She then decided to give the nurse midwife program a try and found exactly what she was looking for in Winland. 

“Brittany was gentle and so kind,” she said. “I was having a somewhat uncomfortable procedure done in the office that I’ve had bad experiences with before, and Brittany was able to keep me as comfortable as possible and stayed calm the entire time. She spoke to me like a patient, not like a nurse, and even messaged me that night and the next day to check on me.” 

Krista is very familiar with obstetric care at Adena Health. She was born within the health system and, in addition to her time spent working in obstetrics, also gave birth to her two daughters, Kendall and Ashton, at Adena.  

Now, she enthusiastically supports those bringing their knowledge and care to the growing nurse midwife program. 

“Most people think of the word midwife and think of OB care, but our midwives are excellent options for your gynecological needs as well,” Krista said. “I would say that if you are interested in seeing a nurse midwife and it is appropriate for your situation, you absolutely should. We have a wonderful group here who are passionate about what they do and have extensive knowledge of OB/GYN care. They care for you with their hearts.”