How to Become a Midwife
Midwives are part of a health care profession who provide prenatal and postpartum care to mothers and their infants in low-risk cases. There are two kinds of midwifery in the United States, namely Certified Nurse Midwives and direct-entry midwives. Here are the ways you can become either type of midwife:
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
What differentiates CNMs from other midwives is that they are actually Advanced Practice Nurses, meaning that they are licensed nurses with an advanced knowledge, experience and specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Read more on how to become a nurse. They commonly provide medical attention to women who are considered low-risk and are expected to have uncomplicated births.
Most states require CNMs to have a graduate or a Post-Master’s degree in Nursing or Obstetrics and Gynecology.
CNMs must also hold active Registered Nurse licenses in whatever state they are practicing in.
The scope of a CNM’s practice also depends on the state they are practicing in, so be sure to check your state’s regulations on the matter.
Direct-Entry Midwives
Direct-entry midwives are called as such precisely because being one does not require a nursing education nor a nursing license.
Start your education in high school. Take up biology, chemistry, health and behavioral sciences that may be offered in your school.
You have to complete a year’s worth or a minimum of 1,350 hours of clinical training in midwifery under the supervision of a registered midwife. Under this training, you will be participating in all stages of childbearing, namely the prenatal, postpartum and healthcare phases. You might also be directly participating in actual childbirth, so be prepared.
To become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), or a professional and independent practitioner, you will have to prepare, study and pass the written and skills assessment exam of the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). To pass the NARM’s licensure exam, you must have had attended a a program of preparation accredited by the Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council (MEAC)
A Licensed Midwife must also hold a license, but he or she can only practice within a particular state.
A Certified Midwife is a midwife with an accreditation provided by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and are recognized in three states. The certification exam is also administered by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
A Lay Midwife is the term used for midwives who do not hold certifications nor licenses. These midwives were educated informally, either through self-study or apprenticeship. These midwives are still recognized even without formal education, as most of them either choose not to pursue a formal training or no formal training was available.
Your professional skills and practical experiencer will be subject to re-certification every three years. The re-certification will require 30 continuing education units and five hours of peer review, within those three years.
If your primary training has been informal or apprenticeship, the NARM actually has an evaluation process that will grant you a midwife certification, which will change your status from Lay Midwife to Certified Midwife.
Create networks with obstetricians, as midwives typically work close to obsetricians in the practice of their profession. When a pregnancy becomes high-risk, you must pass on your expecting mother to obsetrician for a more specialized primary care.