What is a Certified Nurse Midwife?
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are licensed healthcare practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery. They provide primary healthcare to women of childbearing age including: prenatal care, labor and delivery care, care after birth, gynecological exams, newborn care, assistance with family planning decisions, preconception care, menopausal management and counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention. CNMs attend over 10 percent of the births in the United States. Ninety-six percent of these births are in hospitals.
The philosophy of nurse-midwifery care "focuses on the needs of the individual and family for physical care, emotional and social support and active involvement of significant others according to cultural values and personal preferences."
Midwives listen to women, and always provide the information you need to make informed and educated decisions about your healthcare.
Today's CNM is a skilled healthcare professional who provides primary healthcare to women. This includes evaluation, assessment, treatment, and referral to a specialist, if required. CNMs and emphasize health promotion, education, and disease prevention. CNMs provide preconception counseling, care during pregnancy and childbirth, normal gynecological services, and care of the peri- and post-menopausal woman. With health education as a primary focus, CNMs help prevent problems and assist women in developing and maintaining good health habits.
CNMs must graduate from an accredited education program and pass a rigorous certification exam. Because of the high standards established for education and certification, CNMs are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They are experts, held to the rigorous standards of practice set by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and by state licensing organizations. They attend continuing education programs offered by hospitals, universities and ACNM.
Certified Nurse-Midwives Provide Quality Care
According to a 1998 study of birth certificate data comparing outcomes for physicians and nurse-midwives in 1991.*
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the risk of neonatal mortality was 33% lower for births attended by CNMs
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the rish of delivering a low birth weight infant was 31 percent lower for CNM attended births
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the mean birth weight was 37 grams heavier for CNM attended births
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the infant mortality rate was 19 percent lower for CNM attended births
*Source: MacDorman MF, Singh GK. Midwifery care, social and medical risk factors, and birth outcomes in the USA. J. Epidemiol Community Health, 1998: 52:310-317.
Source: http://mymidwife.org
