How does one become a midwife?

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SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

rofl even an OB nurse like me can appreciate those....

I am a wanna-be midwife, who will likely never realize that dream...sigh

ayndim

462 Posts

Not sure if anyone put this up but if I decide to be a mw this is where I will go. http://www.midwives.org/

Most of it is distance learning.

I still have doubts due to the hours and liability issues. But I really feel this is my calling. After I start RN school (doing last prereqs now!) I am going to ask my CNM if I can shadow her. I figure I will know more after my clinicals. I might hate l&d. Or maybe I will love it and decide to stay a l&d nurse. I just don't know. But the whole reason I decided to go after nursing was because I wanted to be a CNM. But the more I look into nursing the more I realize how much opportunity there is. I also love cardiovascular systems and think the Cardiac ICU would be fun.

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Just know the marketability where you live. In some places, midwives can hardly scrape a living....hardly worth it, after spending all the time, money and skill it takes to get that sort of specialized training. I wish there were more midwives, personally. I think we could use a real swing back toward that trend in healthy pregnancy situations.

ayndim

462 Posts

I never thought of marketability. It seems like they are growing in my area. I am in the metro Phoenix area. When I had my first (1999) I could only find one. Seems to me there are a couple now. I think more women are catching on. Plus, so many OB's are leaving it seems to me someone has to deliver these babies. Women aren't going to stop having them. I mean how many women find a provider before they get pg (unless they have been seeing one for years for regular ckups).

I personally would never see anyone but a MW (even for well checks). Thankfully I am done with the birthin' part. :uhoh3:

parteiranagua

59 Posts

Just know the marketability where you live. In some places, midwives can hardly scrape a living....hardly worth it, after spending all the time, money and skill it takes to get that sort of specialized training. I wish there were more midwives, personally. I think we could use a real swing back toward that trend in healthy pregnancy situations.

We have to increase the market and increase public awareness...ex: lobby day for NY MW is coming on April 12th. go to NYSALM web site and take a look!!

ACNM will have a national lobby day on Capitol Hill in June during its 50th convention, go to their website!!

Ginny Doula RN SNM

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Oh I hear you. That is a good point; there has been a strong lobby and interest on the part of the AMA to make labor/delivery their own-----and a steady squeeze out of midwives of all sorts. The midwives I see who are most "prosperous" (for lack of a better word), are often the CNM's who practice in huge hospitals, often are affiliated with medical doctor groups, in a medical of model. I think that is a shame.

parteiranagua

59 Posts

Oh I hear you. That is a good point; there has been a strong lobby and interest on the part of the AMA to make labor/delivery their own-----and a steady squeeze out of midwives of all sorts. The midwives I see who are most "prosperous" (for lack of a better word), are often the CNM's who practice in huge hospitals, often are affiliated with medical doctor groups, in a medical of model. I think that is a shame.

yes, This is the heart of the problem, If we are bound to be dependant on OBGYN pratices in order 1. to have hospital privililedges and 2. to have a clientele and 3. to be able to pay exorbitant , then we are not an autonomous profession as we are willing to be.

we should be able to refer clients and not to be attached by agreement protocols as the law mandates currently, as any other provider would.

Ginny Doula, RN, SNM

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
yes, This is the heart of the problem, If we are bound to be dependant on OBGYN pratices in order 1. to have hospital privililedges and 2. to have a clientele and 3. to be able to pay exorbitant liability insurance, then we are not an autonomous profession as we are willing to be.

we should be able to refer clients and not to be attached by agreement protocols as the law mandates currently, as any other provider would.

Ginny Doula, RN, SNM

and you are right where "they" want you to be. I agree. Keep up your good fight!

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