What is a Midwife?
A Midwife is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, a specialization known as Midwifery. A Midwife’s philosophy looks at childbirth as a healthy, normal and natural process.
Generally, there are three different types of midwives, and they are as follows:
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM)
Registered nurses who graduated from an accredited nurse-midwifery education program and passed a national exam. All states in the US have CNMs and these Midwives usually care for moms with low to moderate risk pregnancies and deliver babies mainly in a hospital setting, and collaborates with OBs if and as needed.
Certified Midwives (CM)
Non-nurse Midwives with a Bachelors degree or higher in the health field, completed an accredited midwifery education program and passed a national exam. Again, these Midwives usually care for moms with low to moderate risk pregnancies and deliver babies mainly in a hospital setting, and collaborates with OBs if and as needed.
Certified Professional Midwives (CPM/LM)
Non-nurse Midwives who underwent training and clinical experience in childbirth, including outside of hospital births and passed a national exam. These Midwives are experts in physiologic birth and care for moms who deliver outside of a hospital setting, like home and birth center births.
Consider treating with a Midwife if....
If you have a moderate to low-risk pregnancy and want more support and less interventions, we would strongly encourage you to consider treating with a Midwife. In the countries with the best pregnancy outcomes, midwives are the primary providers of care to pregnant women. Lastly, did you see and feel reassured that Midwives usually work and consult with Obstetricians if further evaluation is needed?
Midwives CAN...
- Help with family planning and preconception care;
- Perform prenatal exams and order tests;
- Watch your physical and psychological well-being;
- Help with your Birth Plan;
- Provide guidance with your diet, exercise and medication routine;
- Support and educate you through pregnancy and childbirth;
- Provide newborn care;
- Provide emotional and practical care;
- Deliver your baby; and
- Provide referrals.
From all of us at How 2 Mom, thank you to each and every Midwife. This week we celebrate you and all of your hard work and efforts.
You are truly making a difference in birth outcomes and experiences for families. We can say for most midwifery-lead births we have attended, Midwives create such a beautiful and safe space for our clients!
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