What Is a Midwife?
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Medically reviewed by Cordelia Nwankwo, MD
Pregnancy and childbirth are exciting and nerve-wracking experiences requiring proper medical attention to ensure a healthy parent and child. While most people think an OBGYN is the only healthcare provider who can care for a parent and baby, it is important to know the services other health professionals like midwives, can provide. The midwife profession has been around for centuries and tends to have a more natural approach to childbirth.
This article will explore who midwives are, their responsibilities, and their accessibility.
Not a Doula, So What Is a Midwife?
There are several different types of providers who practice midwifery. The three different types of midwifery professionals are:
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM)
Certified Midwives (CM)
Certified Professional Midwives (CPM)
A graduate-level degree is required for certification in CNM and CM. In contrast, a high school diploma and demonstrated competency in specified skill areas are required for a CPM.
The responsibilities of a midwife may vary from state to state within the United States and country to country. Traditionally, midwives deliver care during pregnancy, labor, the postpartum phase, and beyond.
Responsibilities: The Role of the Midwife
In addition to providing maternal and familial support during preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum phase, midwives can also provide primary care services to women. Both are qualified to care for newborns during the first month (28 days) of life. Some other responsibilities of midwives include but are not limited to:
Comprehensive assessments and physical examinations
Order and interpret diagnostic testing
Prescribe medications including controlled substances and contraception
Admit, manage, and discharge people
Deliver babies
Family planning, health promotion, disease prevention
CNMs and CMs can work in any setting, including hospitals, birth centers, and homes. While considering the roles and responsibilities of midwives, it is important to remember that certain roles, such as prescriptive authority, vary within the United States. Currently CNMs have prescriptive authority in all 50 U.S. states.
Certified professional midwives can provide counseling, education, and support to women and their families. They are trained to identify abnormal or dangerous conditions that can harm maternal or fetal health, requiring a referral to another healthcare professional. They do not often prescribe drugs.
OB-GYN vs Midwife
While both midwives and OBGYNs can deliver babies and provide extensive medical care to mother and child, the biggest difference between the two is educational training and experience. OBGYNs are graduates of four years of medical school, residency, and often fellowships.
Midwife Training and Professional Background
Since there are three different types of midwife professions there is some variation in their trainings. A graduate level degree is required for certification of CNMs and CMs, while a high school diploma or equivalent and demonstrated competency in specified areas of skill is required for professional midwives to become certified.
Certification of CNMs and CMs occurs through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). CPMs are certified by the North American Registry of Midwives. After meeting the initial requirements for certification to practice midwifery, recertification is required every five years for CNMs and CM and every three years for CPMs to ensure they are up-to-date on the most recent developments in the field.
Midwife and Insurance
National and private insurers cover many midwifery services. Medicaid is mandated to reimburse CNM care in the United States. In this case, calling the insurance provider directly and inquiring about covered services is best.
How to Find a Midwife
There are several ways to find a qualified midwife in your area, such as searching The America College of Nurse-Midwives' "Find a Midwife" tool or checking local and state health department websites. Another way is to check with your insurance companies to see which midwives are in-network to avoid additional medical costs.
Summary
A midwife is a healthcare provider who helps pregnant people with pregnancy corners and the birthing process. They receive formal medical training and work in any setting.
