Becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife

Specialties CNM

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Hello everyone, I am sorry if this is in the wrong forum, I wasn't sure where to put it. I am sixteen years old and am ALSO male (shocker, huh?) and I want to become a midwife. I have felt that I wanted to study obstetrics but I feel that becoming a CNM would allow me more time with my patients and I would also get to birth babies, which is something I would really like to do. I was wondering what I should do whilst in high school to prepare for this career as I know it will be a struggle not only because of grades but because of some discrimination caused by my gender. I did not want to put this in the male nurse forum as I wanted everyones opinions. Thank you everyone!!!

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery Tech.

I would just try to get the best grades possible in nursing school. You will also benefit from labor and delivery experience as a RN. I think it is nice that you would want to be a midwife. There is a website something along the lines of "Mr midwife" if you google it it is a site maintained by a male midwife. I will tell you that one of the main issues you will run into maybe patients accepting you or finding a job. I work at a teaching hospital on labor and delivery and we had a male midwife apply, he was not hired because the majority of our midwife patients are midwife patients because they refused MD care, mainly because they were male. Usually our CNM patients do so for cultural reasons. i.e. they should not be seen by anyone that is not their husband. But overall this shouldn't discourage you. I'm in nursing school and many people don't believe men belong in nursing. Good luck.

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I also considered the path of a CNM.

I would read all the books on midwifery you can get your hands on (such as Ina May's Guide to Childbirth); many will be from, for and about Licensed or Certified Midwifes, who are not often nurses, but it will give you an idea about birth. It would be good to research the differences between different types of midwives (there are some serious political & philosophical divides and the different certifications/licensures also lead to very different practices).

I would research Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, the top nurse midwifery school in the country. Perhaps you could even set up an appointment to speak with an advisor (via phone or email) regarding what would make you a strong applicant to their program. If you can get in there, I imagine you could get in anywhere.

Call up some midwives in your area. Ask if you can shadow them or meet and talk about what they do and how they got to be where they are.

Try to volunteer in your local hospital in L&D.

And, perhaps most importantly, start attending births. Either by becoming a doula, or shadowing a midwife, or making friends with pregnant ladies... If you don't have any luck there, look into the birth clinics in El Paso, Texas, where you can go in as a total novice and see tons of births and get hands-on experience.

Good luck!

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Ahhh yes, I do know about this gender problem and I am willing to deal with it. I just want to be able to bring life into this world as that seems like a job I would really enjoy. Thank you very much for all of your helpfulness. I will definitely start searching for midwives and possibly even obstetricians just to hear their take on it. I know it'll be hard work, but it'll be worth it!!! In high school in Maine we can get our CNA with a few weeks training. Would that be worth my time? I was thinking it would look great on an application and it would get me experience.

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Specializes in OB/Women's Health, ER, Admin, Education.

Zack,

I've been a nurse-midwife since 1994 and I've enjoyed a fruitful and rewarding career ever since. I've delivered over 1,000 babies, have touched the lives of many, have worked many a night, weekend, and holiday, but have also been paid pretty decently for the work I've done as well. Don't let anyone stand in your way. I was you back in the 80's. I was fascinated with pregnancy and birth. I knew I wanted to be a nurse and care for pregnant/birthing women. I became a nurse in 1990 and started my nurse-midwifery program in 1992 finishing in 1994. I now teach nursing full-time and practice as a CNM very part-time (am finishing a shift as I type...things are "peaceful" tonight).

The advice of others is wise...do the best you can in school to get in the best undergraduate program you can. Take as much science and math as you're able. Learn to write, speak, and critically think well. Research your nursing school options. Take things one step at a time. This CAN and WILL happen if you want it to!

Feel free to contact me off forum if you'd like: [email protected]

All the best to you,

Darryn in Chicago,

Nurse of 20 years, Midwife of 16!

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Wow, I forgot about this thread! Thank you Darryn, I will send you an e-mail sometime!.

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