Ilana Kresch, CNM

Ilana’s journey towards midwifery began with her own birth, and then through the births of her four younger sisters who were all born into the gentle hands of Certified Nurse Midwives. Though Ilana studied Spanish and World Religion at Kalamazoo College, her senior thesis was a full-length documentary on birth. After spending time in a birth center in Texas, she completed her midwifery and nursing education at Columbia University. Ilana has attended births at home, in a free standing birth center, in a New York City hospital, and now, is very happily attending births at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital.
 
Ilana is energized by watching women transform into mothers both during prenatal care and the birth itself; she loves seeing the empowerment that comes from doing the hard work of bringing a baby to this world. Ilana strives to always involve a woman’s partner and children in the care she provides, as it lays strong groundwork for what lies ahead.
 
 Ilana’s practice also encompasses a full range of primary health care services for women from adolescence to menopause. These services include annual gynecological visits, comprehensive family planning counseling, preconception and postpartum care.
 
Ilana believes in trusting normal health processes, and the appropriate use of intervention for current or potential health problems. She believes in a woman’s instinct, and sees her role as providing all the best and most current information so that people can make the best decisions for themselves. She also appreciates consultation and collaboration with her physician colleagues, as needed, to provide her clients with optimal health care.

In her spare time, Ilana enjoys getting to know her new town in Ohio, traveling the world, walking and spending time with her family.