What Type Of Midwife Do You Have?

You’re already probably aware of the critical role that your midwife will play in the delivery of your newborn baby but did you know there are a number of different types of midwives?

In this article, we will unbundle the CNM’s from the CPM’s and explain the differences between your DEMS and your LAYS.

Though the terminology we use will focus on midwives in the United States. Many of the terms you’ll see below can be linked to similar midwife positions in other countries.

So lets get onto our list

Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM)⁣⁣

• A CNM is a registered Nurse who receives additional training in pregnancy & birth. Offers complete prenatal care as well as attending births ⁣⁣
• Has a degree in nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited institution, & a Master’s degree in nurse-midwifery
• Certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
• Eligible to become licensed in all 50 states
• Can practice in hospitals & OB offices, but scope also allows to provide care in any birth setting ⁣⁣
• Cannot perform c/s, & most cases do not perform assisted births, generally care for low-risk pregnancies. Most deliver in hospitals & are affiliated with an MD

Certified Midwives (CM)⁣⁣

• A CM Offers complete prenatal care & attend births⁣⁣
• Has a bachelor’s degree – but not in nursing. Master’s degree in nurse-midwifery
• Certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
• Relatively new speciality – Currently only NY, RI, DE, HI, ME and NJ license ⁣⁣
• Similar scope of practice to CNM

Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)⁣⁣

• A CPM fffers complete prenatal care & attends births. Works independently w/ women at home/birth centres
• Do not have to hold a specific degree or be a Registered Nurse. A high school diploma is the min requirement. ⁣⁣
• Experience may be gained through formal programs, apprenticeships, or a combo of both⁣ ⁣
• Is the only midwifery credential that requires knowledge about & experience in out-of-hospital settings
• Must pass a competency test by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)⁣⁣
• Licensed & regulated in 31 states (in the US)

Direct Entry Midwives (DEM)⁣⁣

• A DEM offers complete prenatal care & specialize in homebirth & birth centres⁣
• Practices independently & have learned midwifery through a midwifery school, apprenticeship or college program
• No national licensing or certification is available. Each state has its own legal requirements for education and licensing (if any)⁣⁣
• Traditional/Lay/Empirical/Community-Based Midwives⁣⁣
• Not certified or licensed as a midwife but has received informal training through self-study/apprenticeship
• Training not regulated, therefore abilities may vary
• Generally do not deliver babies in hospital

LAY Midwives (LAY)

• A LAY is generally not considered a medical professional.
• The training, certification and ability of lay midwives may vary since most states have no single, established curriculum, training, or uniform certification process.
• Lay midwives are generally not viewed as part of the mainstream medical community and often work with people who practise alternative medicine.
• With few exceptions, lay midwives don’t deliver babies in hospitals. Most may deliver babies in peoples homes.

Doulas

We’ll include Doulas on our list as although a doula is generally not considered a midwife, they still play an important role in assisting the mother right before the birth and during labour and delivery.

• Doulas provide emotional and physical support to the mother and can also help educate them. However, they don’t provide medical care.
• Doulas are available to the mother before birth to help come up with a birth plan and answer any questions the mother may have.
• During childbirth, they will provide comfort to the mother by helping with breathing and relaxation.
• Doulas will provide massage and help with labour positions.
• After childbirth, the doula will help the mother with breastfeeding and may help during the postpartum period.

So there we have it. Who thought there could be such an interesting mix when it comes to midwifery! 🤗 You can read more on this topic if interested in midwidfery here.

For our own moms who have already given birth to little ones. Do you have any more experiences you can share?

Please let us know in our comments below.

Originally posted 2021-03-05 08:43:30.