job prospects - existant or not?

beckinben, CNM · Feb 12, 2008

In NJ, both hospitals where I saw midwives in my pregnancies have shut down their programs.
There are just about no actual CNMs posting on this site - it's people who are interested in becoming one. So are the CNMs too busy or whatever to post, or aren't they out there?

I am an actual CNM. And honestly, yes, most of the time I am too busy to post. I am having a little bit of a slow morning this morning in clinic and have actually had time today to get on the internet, but I was up most the night due to babies.

Does anyone have data on what percentage of CNMs are actually delivering babies?
Data on percentage of babies delivered by CNMs by state?

My understanding is that about 2/3rds of CNMs deliver babies. The rest do other things like GYN only care, teach, and research. State statistics may be found on the ACNM site. Or state departments of health may keep those statistics too.

A list of job postings for CNMs?

http://www.midwifejobs.com

I have seen, though, that many jobs are filled by word of mouth and emailing listservs. I get about an email a week with a job being advertised - sometimes more. I do think there is a lot of regional variation in job availablility, and new grads especially might need to move to get a job.

Is there a CNM forum somewhere where they actually discuss patient care and technical issues, instead of schools and programs?

The ACNM has listservs for members. There are usually very interesting topics being discussed by midwives all over the country - what's new in birth control, gestational diabetes, morbidly obese women having babies, home birth. You have to belong to ACNM to join their listservs, though.

Pregnancy has been a passionate interest of mine for years, but I'm beginning to think if I really want to deliver babies, I should go to medical school, insane as that is at my age.

I thought about med school too. But, honestly, the idea of spending 4 years learning how to do surgery was not at all appealing. I love being a CNM, and I love my job. And I love catching those babies. :redbeathe

mommy2boysaz · Feb 14, 2008

beckinben pretty much said it all, but I will just add my 2cents.

I am a student. The reason I am a student is because of the tremendous success I have witnessed the 2 CNM's enjoy, where I work. We are in a rural area and had never heard of midwives until 5 years ago. Our hospital is still very much "Doctors know all" and not very interested in "change". Our first midwife had a huge uphill battle to even get in the door. As soon as she did, the patients came in floods! Of course, this particular midwife is passionate about what she does and that comes through in her care so her patients love her. But, strictly through word of mouth, she is busier than she ever dreamt. We do about 450 deliveries per year at our hospital and in her first 5 years, this midwife did 500 deliveries. She brought in a partner after her first 2 years. Now, I'm hoping to be partner number 3!

You won't find a more "anti-midwife" environment than our hospital was and yet, she has changed almost everyone's minds.

I guess it just depends on your environment and how determined and passionate you are about what you are doing.

Good Luck.

Britte