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Promoting excellence in midwifery education!
HomeAspiring Midwives

For Aspiring Midwives

Midwives take care of individuals during pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum. When delivery takes place in the home or birth center setting, the midwife is also responsible for taking care of the newborn. Midwives may also provide gynecology services.


MIDWIVES MODEL OF CARE

“ The Midwives Model of Care™ is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.


The Midwives Model of Care includes:

  • Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well­-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
  • Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands­on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
  • Minimizing technological interventions
  • Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
  • The application of this woman­-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section”

TYPES OF MIDWIVES

There are two types of midwives in the United States:


Direct­-Entry Midwives are educated or trained as midwives without having to become nurses first. They may be Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) or Certified Midwives (CMs). The legal status and requirements for direct­-entry midwives vary from state. They are usually licensed in individual states as Licensed Midwives (LMs) or Registered Midwives (RMs). The Midwives Alliance of North America tracks the  laws and regulations in each state for direct­-entry midwives.


Nurse­-Midwives are educated and licensed as nurses first, and then complete additional education in midwifery. They are known as Certified Nurse­-Midwives (CNMs). CNMs are licensed to practice in all 50 states. They are usually licensed in individual states as Nurse Practitioners (NPs). 

Read on for more information: