In September 2025, Stamford Health opened its first Oula provided by Stamford Health clinic in Norwalk, marking its first midwifery-led care offering. The exciting new partnership with Oula, the midwife-led, collaborative care-based model out of New York City, responds to the increasing demand for care that integrates midwives and OB-GYNs.

Read on to learn more from Tirana O’Banyoun-Organ, certified nurse midwife, about this person-centered approach to women’s health.

What is a midwife exactly?

Tirana O’Banyoun-Organ: A midwife is a health care professional who takes care of women in the prenatal, gynecological, and menopausal phases of life.

Our goal is to approach all aspects of women’s health from a holistic and compassionate place. We’re active listeners to women’s concerns so we can help them understand all the options that are available for them. Then, together as partners, we choose the right path. And if that involves an OB-GYN or a sub-specialist, we will involve them so that it becomes a collaboration.

What sort of training did you have to become a midwife?

TO: From a young age, I was always drawn to helping people. I was a nurse for about 10 years, and that experience in labor and delivery and with women’s health drew me to midwifery so I could take care of women even more. I wanted to help them learn about their bodies and empower them to understand their health care.

While there are different post-graduate degrees to become a midwife, I obtained a Master’s of Science in Midwifery while working as a nurse. And then I, like other midwives, became board-certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

When should patients see a midwife instead of an OB-GYN?

TO: Every woman can benefit from a midwife. I don’t think it’s an either-or situation, because we’re very collaborative with physicians. Information is power, and our goal is to make sure women understand every option. And if those options are beyond our scope, we include and consult with a specialist so that we have a management plan that benefits the patient. So, say a woman has gestational diabetes, we then work alongside the physician so that she receives high-quality, compassionate, and patient-centered treatment every step of the way.

What is the biggest misconception of midwives?

TO: I think that a major misconception of midwifery is that we only offer home births without pain management. The reality is that we work in all types of settings: hospitals, birth centers, and at home. We offer all different types of pain management options as well.

Our job is to explain all of the options available and then make a decision with the patient that’s best for her pregnancy. There’s never just one way and we should explore all of them together. All Oula provided by Stamford Health patients will deliver at Stamford Hospital.

In addition to pregnancy, we also help women with pre-conception and through menopause. We provide evidence-based information, medication, and care for every stage of womanhood – and those options are in line with the advice she would receive from physicians.

How have patients responded to Oula provided by Stamford Health so far?

TO: Honestly, it’s been incredible. With social media, we have such an informed population about their health care options. Patients were so excited and said they were waiting for the doors to open during our first week.

This type of care model has been something that’s been missing from the Fairfield County community, and Stamford Health recognized that absence. The decision to partner with Oula to fill that gap is just amazing, and I believe it will continue to flourish.