Non-nurse midwives?

[cleback]

Does anyone in L&D know of the training for non-nurse midwives? And how that compares typically to a certified nurse midwife? I met a woman who stated she was a home midwife, and I ... foot in mouth... assumed she was a nurse. Has anyone worked with such a midwife professionally?

[LovingLife123]

There are very few states they are legal in.

[klone, MSN, RN]

There are direct-entry midwives, and there are certified professional midwives. Training varies. If an RN wants to become one of them, she generally has to forfeit her nursing license.

[klone, MSN, RN]

There are very few states they are legal in.

Not true. I believe CPMs are legal in 33 states.

[cleback]

There are direct-entry midwives, and there are certified professional midwives. Training varies. If an RN wants to become one of them, she generally has to forfeit her nursing license.

Interesting abut the forfeiture. Thanks. Are hospitals open to granting privileges to cpms?

[Emergent, RN]

Here is WA we have them. I had 2 children here delivered at home by certified midwives. They brought lots of equipment for resuscitation if needed, and pitocin in case of bleeding. They also had a midwife in training as an assistant.

They also delivered in a birthing center. I'm not sure about hospitals.

[Triddin]

Pretty common in Canada. It's a bachelors program and are covered under their own professional body. They get

[klone, MSN, RN]

Interesting abut the forfeiture. Thanks. Are hospitals open to granting privileges to cpms?

Nope. In fact, many don't give privileges to CNMs either.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

Here is a chart that may help:

Why AMCB Certification

-There are CNMs, who work in homes, birth centers, office practices, and hospitals.

-There are certified midwives (CMs), who have the same midwifery training as CNMs but do not have nursing backgrounds (however, you must have a bachelor's in something) and are only licensed/recognized in 6 states. In the states where they're recognized, they're interchangeable with CNMs---they can write prescriptions, work in hospitals, etc.

-Then there are CPMs, who work only in out of hospital birth, and whose training can vary widely (in my opinion, the regulating body that oversees them is not stringent enough). CPMs are licensed/recognized in 31 states.

-Finally, there are "midwives" with no formal background who possibly have apprenticed with another midwife in the out of hospital setting and just call themselves midwives. They are not licensed or recognized by anyone. I have never come across this but I know they exist out there.

Hope that helps!

[klone, MSN, RN]

-Finally, there are "midwives" with no formal background who possibly have apprenticed with another midwife in the out of hospital setting and just call themselves midwives. They are not licensed or recognized by anyone. I have never come across this but I know they exist out there.

Hope that helps!

We have one of those in our community. She was convicted in a newborn's death and ordered to not practice anymore, but she still does. If patients ever have to be transported to the hospital, they have been coached to say they were planning an unassisted homebirth with " a friend."

[cleback]

Interesting. Thank you everyone for their information and insight!

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

We have one of those in our community. She was convicted in a newborn's death and ordered to not practice anymore, but she still does. If patients ever have to be transported to the hospital, they have been coached to say they were planning an unassisted homebirth with " a friend."

How awful. Luckily I haven't encountered any outliers like that. Our issue at my current job at a freestanding birth center is a few wayward doulas who like to go way beyond their scope, giving medical advice, convincing their clients not to trust us or follow our recommendations, even keeping clients at home too long and then saying "oops" when the baby is born at home, even though it's pretty clear that they probably did it on purpose.