Southern New Hampshire Health

Join our virtual "Meet the Midwives" event! Take some time to connect with our experienced certified nurse midwives, receive helpful guidance, and ask any questions you may have as you prepare for your birthing journey. In our "Meet the Midwives" class, you will discuss topics such as:

· Comfort options during labor

· Understanding hospital care

· What early labor looks like

· What to expect at the hospital

· How to prepare your home for after baby arrives

· Helpful resources to help you get ready for labor

Our monthly Zoom sessions are a great opportunity to connect with an experienced certified nurse midwife, get helpful guidance, and prepare for your birthing journey. These sessions are:

· Accessible by Zoom

· Free for all patients and their partners

· Include a Q&A time for your questions

Meet our Midwives-

Ritamarie Testa, CNM, MSN

Rita returned to her home state of New Hampshire after practicing as a nurse and nurse-midwife in Massachusetts, joining the Southern NH Medical Center team in October of 2024. She learned early in a high school job-shadow experience the magic of caring for families in the perinatal period. Working as a labor and delivery nurse in Boston launched her career path forward toward midwifery. Rita has worked as a Certified Nurse Midwife for eight years in the outpatient and inpatient settings, and has special interests in substance use disorders in pregnancy, mental health, trauma-informed care, teen, and LGBTQIA+ care. She strives to continue learning as health care evolves, while partnering with patients to make informed care decisions. Outside of work, Rita can be found adventuring outside with her pups Ripley and Charlie, painting, or on the couch drinking coffee, curled up with a good book.

Briana Orrico is a compassionate and experienced advanced practice registered nurse, board-certified in both nurse midwifery and women’s health. With over a decade of experience in maternal-child health and a background in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, she brings dedication, clinical expertise, and a calm presence to every patient interaction. As a midwife at The Birth Place at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Briana provides comprehensive care to women across all stages of pregnancy and beyond. She’s passionate about empowering patients through evidence-based, inclusive care and is especially passionate about supporting women’s mental health. Briana is also actively advancing her education to become a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), further expanding her ability to care for women across the lifespan.