Lylaine Gavette is a certified nurse midwife and co-founder of Bethany Womens Healthcare in Phoenix. BWHC follows a model in which patients benefit from the services of both physicians and nurse midwives, providing a holistic approach to health care. Gavette studied at the Good Samaritan School of Nursing, Grand Canyon University College of Nursing and the University of Colorado (midwifery education), according to her profile, but says she has learned far more about the childbirth process from the women she assists in labor. Part of her career has involved mentoring midwifery students and teaching childbirth classes. Gavette has also spent time in Alaska, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, learning from the mothers she encounters in those cultures. She is also one of three midwives from BWHC who writes for The Midwives of Bethany Womens Healthcare, a blog that shares birthing stories, information on nursing mothers groups and midwifery.

Why did you decide to pursue this career field?
I was working as a labor and delivery nurse and decided that I would enjoy caring for women and their families during the entire pregnancy rather than just while they were in labor.

What type of preparation did you do to get into this field?
I already had an RN diploma, so had to return to school to get a B.S., then midwifery is a M.S. program. I worked as a labor and delivery RN for about 15 years before becoming a midwife.

What types of classes and projects did you have to do?
Too long ago to remember much, but I do remember a special project I did that was lots of fun … flying with AirEvac to do maternal infant transports.

How did your education help you in your career?
It provided basic knowledge and opportunity for clinical practice of skills.

What was your career path like in this field? 
I actually began my career in health care as a nursing assistant in a nursing home, and then worked as a surgical tech and OB tech as I moved through nursing school. After working as a labor and delivery RN, I went back to school for midwifery and have been working there ever since.

What types of skills is someone required to have to work in your position?
You need a sound knowledge base, an ability to think quickly and rapidly assess situations, have openness and friendliness to work with a wide variety of personalities, be able to work well with colleagues, ability to work long hours and a sense of humor, to name a few.

What do you do on a typical workday?
Either see patients in the office or (on call days) attend women in labor and birth their babies with them (also known as "delivering babies"). However, women deliver their own babies. We just "attend" them.

What type of person do you think is best suited for a job in your field?
Compassionate, understanding, bright, personable.

Do you have any advice for those who are looking to launch a career in your field?
Visit and spend time looking on the Internet about midwifery options. It's a great resource. You also might think of asking to shadow a midwife to see what the day might look like.