The Role of Midwives

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

Most people associate midwives with childbirth. While this is their main role, midwives perform other services as well. What they can do depends on the type of certification they have, the training they have received and where they work. The main types of midwives are Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Professional Midwives, Direct Entry and Lay Midwives.

Certified Nurse Midwives are also known as Nurse Midwives. They have received training as both a nurse and a midwife. Most have at least a Bachelors degree and some have a Masters. In addition to labor and delivery, they often do yearly exams, prenatal care and treat women in menopause. Most work in practice with a group of obstetricians. They can deliver in a birthing center or hospital. CNMs are certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Certified Professional Midwives are trained in midwifery, but not in nursing. They attend school for midwifery and hold at least a Bachelors degree. The main difference between these midwives and CNMs is they do not have a degree in nursing. This doesn't mean they are less qualified. They have received full training in prenatal care, labor and delivery.

Direct Entry Midwives are trained in a variety of ways. They can attend college, midwifery school or gain experience through apprenticeship. Many states do not recognize DEMs and there is no licensing procedure for this type of midwife. Direct entry midwives sometimes get a bad reputation that is often undeserved. Most have adequate training and work under an experienced midwife for years before going out on their own.

Lay midwives are not certified. The vast majority of lay midwives have not attended midwifery school. They receive their training through self study and by working as an apprentice to an experienced midwife.

All midwives, regardless of the type, believe in natural childbirth whenever possible. They believe in the woman's ability to birth her baby without too much interference or many interventions. In the event that something should go wrong, a midwife will refer the patient to a doctor for care. Midwives are found in birthing centers, hospitals and attend homebirths.

There are many benefits to having a midwife for prenatal care and in the delivery room:

* A more natural birth experience

* Lower cost compared to a doctor

* A lower rate of cesarean section

* Less interventions during labor and delivery

States have a variety of different positions regarding midwifery. Some only recognize Certified Nurse Midwives. Others also recognize Certified Professional Midwives. Most do not recognize direct entry or lay midwives. Various groups are working toward having all midwives recognized and accepted. Women who have used midwives have joined in this cause. After all, doctors have only been attending births for less than a century. For the rest of human history, this job was the role of the midwife.

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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