I love my CNM

[ayndim]

I think CNM's are the greatest. After watching several friends have babies with OB's I realize how lucky I am to have had a CNM for mine. I have been seeing my cnm since 1998 for the birth of my 3 children and for well woman checks. I have been inspired to be a l&d nurse and eventually a CNM. I thought about going back to school to be a OB but I have a problem in that I think obs should only deliver high risk pg/babies. So I am doing my nursing pre-reqs and should start the professional part in about a year and a half. My hat off to all of CNM. You are truly a blessing to women.

I have read that the highest rating of satisfaction of the birth process are when mom has a mw yet they are the least used practioner for delivery. Are the mw associations trying to let more women know about this great option. I only knew because I spent years in the UK and never imagined not having a MW or being cut down there. I swear I wold have kicked someone in the face for trying it (except for fetal distress. The drs at the practice don't even do it for assisted births). I also crossed through it on my admit forms. The nurse didn't like it but I knew I didn't have to consent to it. And my MW had no problem with that. I credit the care of my MW to 2 very painless births. My 2nd was induced for extended ROm (24+ hours) and I can't count that one as painless even though it was short (1 hour 45 mins).

A couple of questions for all of you. Is anyone an in-house MW? I would like to work in a hospital rather than private practice. Is that possible? How much is malpractice insurance? How do the drs treat you? The hospital?

Thanks from a CNM wannabe,

Andrea

[eirthjona]

Hi

Here in australia to work in deliverys you must of done your midwifery. I have 4 kids and all with the exeption of my 9 week premmie( 3 dr 2mw for me & 4dr and 2mw for him) all my children have been delivered by midwifes. I plan on doing my midwifery after finshing my Bachelor of nursing ( the only way you can do it here) I feel that there should be more mums/dads midwifes as we have been at the other side of things. Dr unless yound dont stand in the way of older midwifes here.

Just my thoughts

Eirthjona

[mitchsmom]

Andrea, I am current BSN student/future CNM also, I think if I remember correctly, the number of CNM deliveries has actually increased a lot in the last 10-20 yrs in the U.S., I think I saw that it's about 10% now. Have you looked around the http://www.acnm.org website? If you can afford to join you can get their journal also (I wish I could afford!). I have found it hard to find a really active midwifery forum to follow, some being closed to non-members or students, etc. The midwifery today website has an aspiring midwife forum that is active, I think it's mostly from a CPM/LM/homebirth perspective rather than CNM: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/forums/