In the United States there are two major umbrellas to the field of midwifery.
Certified Nurse Midwives and Direct Entry Midwives
A Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM) is an independent practitioner educated in the discipline of midwifery through apprenticeship, self-study, a midwifery school, or a college/university-based program distinct from the discipline of nursing.
Depending on the state you will see their licensure or credentials as Licensed Professional Midwife, Certified Professional Midwife, Certified Midwife, Licensed Midwife, Registered Midwife.
Typically: Direct Entry Midwives provide care out-of-hospital, home and community births.
A Certified Nurse Midwife is educated in the disciple of Nursing and Midwifery. CNMs are nurses who have completed a graduate-level nurse-midwife program and passed a certification exam from the American Midwifery Certification Board. They provide not only pregnancy, birth and normal newborn care but also reproductive through end of life well woman care.
Typically: CNMs provide care within the hospitals, often under the authority of an obstetrics practice.
Finally, there is a lesser-discussed,, but no less important, Midwife. A Traditional Midwife practices without official credentialing and may choose not to for religious, philosophical or cultural reasons. A Traditional Midwife may also be called a Community Midwife and feels accountable to the community and the clients served and that a birthing person has the right to choose who attends her.
Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing more information on midwifery across the 50 states, so you can narrow down you choices
Which type of midwife do you use for your care?
Certified Nurse Midwives and Direct Entry Midwives
A Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM) is an independent practitioner educated in the discipline of midwifery through apprenticeship, self-study, a midwifery school, or a college/university-based program distinct from the discipline of nursing.
Depending on the state you will see their licensure or credentials as Licensed Professional Midwife, Certified Professional Midwife, Certified Midwife, Licensed Midwife, Registered Midwife.
Typically: Direct Entry Midwives provide care out-of-hospital, home and community births.
A Certified Nurse Midwife is educated in the disciple of Nursing and Midwifery. CNMs are nurses who have completed a graduate-level nurse-midwife program and passed a certification exam from the American Midwifery Certification Board. They provide not only pregnancy, birth and normal newborn care but also reproductive through end of life well woman care.
Typically: CNMs provide care within the hospitals, often under the authority of an obstetrics practice.
Finally, there is a lesser-discussed,, but no less important, Midwife. A Traditional Midwife practices without official credentialing and may choose not to for religious, philosophical or cultural reasons. A Traditional Midwife may also be called a Community Midwife and feels accountable to the community and the clients served and that a birthing person has the right to choose who attends her.
Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing more information on midwifery across the 50 states, so you can narrow down you choices
Which type of midwife do you use for your care?
Birth is a very special time in your life, but it's one day out of the entire childbearing year. You are meant to have a positive experience. You can navigate all the challenges and concerns during pregnancy, birth and beyond with grace and ease.
I support you with personalized coaching, pregnancy health, childbirth education, breastfeeding/formula feeding preparation as well as preparing for postpartum and even returning to work!
Today we are talking about Midwives. What is a midwife? What do midwives do? Who should hire a midwife?
What is a Midwife?
A little history here, the word midwife dates back in a English to the 14th century, it literally means “with woman.” Modern language it means a person, typically a woman, who supports a woman during childbirth.
What do Midwives Do?
How that looks now is a midwife provides prenatal, birth, early postpartum care and newborn care. So when you work with a midwife, you are on the same schedule of appointments as your friends seeing OBs, your midwife will order and interpret lab works, ultrasound, etc.
The are variances in titles, scope of practice and licensure by state, but in general....a midwife provides complete wellness care for pregnant and birthing women.
Who Should Hire a Midwife?
Most women should hire midwives. At least according to the World Health Organization. The cite that across the globe 87% of pregnancy, delivery and normal newborn care can safely be provided by trained midwives. Of course there is a small minority of women and babies who require attention from an Obstetrician or Perinatologist.
Let me know in the comments if you learned something new here. If you have worked with a midwife, tell me about it. I would love to hear your experience.
Stay Tuned to the blog & my Instagram to learn more about prenatal care, particularly in the USA.
Birth is a very special time in your life, but it's one day out of the entire childbearing year. You are meant to have a positive experience. You can navigate all the challenges and concerns during pregnancy, birth and beyond with grace and ease.
I support you with personalized coaching, pregnancy health, childbirth education, breastfeeding/formula feeding preparation as well as preparing for postpartum and even returning to work!
