Is the field of midwifery dying in the states?

[rhiannonwolf]

Hello,

I just got into the midwifery program at the University of Kansas Medical center which I know now is ranked 12th in the nation. I have always wanted to be a midwife. It is exactly what I have wanted to do since the first day of nursing school. However, after doing extensive research, I am finding that there is a possibility that this career field is dying. What do you all think? I am scared that I made the wrong choice. Otherwise I think I will also get me FNP so that I am more marketable for my family.

Rhiannon

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

"In addition, I will continue to do whatever I can to introduce women to the idea that birth is a joy and an event to be experianced and celebrated...not avoided at all costs through technology. I want women to believe that they are capable and strong and ready for this challenge of being a Mother. It is a culture shift and we are the generation who will need to rock the boat in order to change it's course."

Hear, hear!

[rhiannonwolf]

AMEN!! Perhaps it is just the midwest that seems to be void of midwives with only a select few hired and they must have experience. Oh well, my husband and I are looking at moving to Seattle in 2011 after I graduate, so we will see, I think I will have a much better chance at getting a job out there than here in Kansas.

[clhRN2b2010]

I will say that on the east coast, you could find a "job" in almost any city up or down the seaboard. Ofcourse, as my MW friends would call it, you might be "working for the man" in a hospital setting since free standing, MW run birth centers can be scarce.

Seattle has a great climate for MW's and even lots of CPM and homebirth MW's running around out there. Good collaboration possibilities! That sounds awesome! Enjoy!

[ktliz]

Ofcourse, as my MW friends would call it, you might be "working for the man" in a hospital setting since free standing, MW run birth centers can be scarce.

Definitely, the overwhelming majority of midwives practice in hospitals. This is true even in the most midwifery-friendly areas of the country. But, I look at it as an opportunity-- a chance to get into the current infrastructure and promote change from the inside out. As much as I'm sure I would/will love to practice in birth center and homebirth settings, I kind of feel like these are preaching to the choir regarding birth choices. A hospital position is a special challenge for midwives to introduce normalized birth to a different population.

Personally my goal is to practice in a hospital as long as I can without burning out!

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I think ktliz makes an excellent point about hospitals being a great place for midwives to start changing ideas and integrating the midwifery model of care. While I wish that all women wanted a natural birth with a midwife at home or in a birthing center (as long as they're not high risk, obviously), that's not the case, and ingrained ideas are difficult to change overnight. Women should be able to access the personal, one-on-one care of a midwife who uses less intervention, and still be able to do this in a hospital, even with an epidural. It's a unique challenge that we face to try to change the current tides of thought, and I think there are many ways to approach it.

[CEG]

Midwifery is a growing field in the US. In the 60-70s there were virtually no midwives. There has been huge growth over the past 20-30 years with now more than 10% of babies in the US delivered by midwives and growing. Check out the ACNM website for more info.