Midwives are healthcare professionals specializing in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and newborn care, known as Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM) when they’re also registered nurses. The practice of midwifery emphasizes a natural approach to childbirth and advocates for fewer medical interventions, often providing continuous care through pregnancy to delivery. Given their training, CNMs are qualified to deliver babies in various settings, such as hospitals, birthing centers, and homes.
Qualifications and Certification
A Certified Nurse‐Midwife is a person with dual education as a registered nurse and in midwifery and women’s health. CNMs are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) and focus especially on care for women and their families during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. CNMs obtain their education from programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), which includes university degrees and hands-on clinical training.
Finding a Midwife
To find a qualified midwife in your area, you can utilize search tools such as The America College of Nurse-Midwives’ "Find a Midwife" or consult local and state health department websites. Insurance companies can also provide information about in-network midwives to help avoid additional costs. As of the latest data, there are about 15,000 practicing midwives in the United States.
Summary: A midwife is a healthcare provider who assists with pregnancy and the birthing process in various settings, with formal medical training to support women’s health and delivery needs. If you’re interested in alternative birthing methods such as water birth or hypnobirthing and have a low-risk pregnancy, a midwife could be an ideal choice.