Myths About Midwifery

Published

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Are you considering becoming a Nurse-Midwife? There is much confusion about this nursing specialty.

This nursing path is extremely rewarding for both midwives and patients, and midwifery ultimately results in better outcomes for mothers, babies, and public health. Since 1990, the countries around the world that have been most successful at improving maternal health have done so through the deployment of midwives.

If you'd like to learn more about the Nurse-Midwifery career path, check out this podcast from RN Radio that I came across, a podcast for nurses and students who are passionate about learning and staying informed. In the episode below, RN Radio interviews Julia Lange Kessler, DNP, CM, FACNM, Director of the Nurse-Midwifery/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program at Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies, to discuss myths and misconceptions that surround midwifery in the United States. For example, Dr. Kessler explains that some people ask her if midwifery is legal, and others don't know that midwifery requires higher education. Others still think that midwifery is restricted to only home births, when in reality midwives can deliver babies in hospitals, birthing centers, or private homes. What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you think about midwifery?

Lilsten to the full conversation...

[video=youtube;3eq-p-0Zyfg]

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

In writing a paper about global health and the UN, I got the distinct impression that in many parts of the world, midwifery is not an advanced practice nursing role, but a separate entity apart from nursing. One goes to school to EITHER become a nurse OR a midwife.

In other words, there are 'nurses and midwives' mentioned in many articles I read. Just curious about how many other countries require a 'midwife' to first be a 'nurse'?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.
In writing a paper about global health and the UN, I got the distinct impression that in many parts of the world, midwifery is not an advanced practice nursing role, but a separate entity apart from nursing. One goes to school to EITHER become a nurse OR a midwife.

In other words, there are 'nurses and midwives' mentioned in many articles I read. Just curious about how many other countries require a 'midwife' to first be a 'nurse'?

I'm pretty sure very few countries require it. I think in places like the U.K., it's somewhat common for a midwife to have a nursing background, but definitely not required.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for this article. On the Duggar show (19 kids and counting, yes I watched) I think several of the Duggar girls said they were training to become midwives. On a blog someone called them on it and it seems they backpedaled and said it was training to be a "midwife assistant." Then it seemed to be dropped altogether. It seems like they didn't have any of the higher education required to nursing training to be a midwife. I have not kept up with the story, but I was curious, especially since they have such a huge audience as reality stars. So are they truly still training to be midwives I wonder?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am not yet a nurse, but I have a friend who is a Certified Nurse Midwife and a friend who is a Licensed Midwife. Although the Licensed midwife is not a nurse, she is trained to deliver in a birthing center or a homebirth, but could never attend a hospital birth. I don't watch the Duggars show but perhaps they are referring to a Licensed midwife.

I lived abroad and I can tell you, that midwives overseas (Africa, Middle East) are not Nurses, they are trained only to deliver. What I experienced and witnessed was down right scary. My friend that is a CNM volunteered to go into the local hospital and help, the doctors there could not wrap their head around her level of education. She tried explaining a midwife in America is very different than a midwife there, they still didn't get it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you for this article. On the Duggar show (19 kids and counting, yes I watched) I think several of the Duggar girls said they were training to become midwives. On a blog someone called them on it and it seems they backpedaled and said it was training to be a "midwife assistant." Then it seemed to be dropped altogether. It seems like they didn't have any of the higher education required to nursing training to be a midwife. I have not kept up with the story, but I was curious, especially since they have such a huge audience as reality stars. So are they truly still training to be midwives I wonder?

I believe Jill Duggar just recently took an exam and officially became a CPM- a certified professional midwife. Happens to be, her announcement led to the publishing of several articles that were authored by OB-GYNs, aimed at educating the public about the safety(or lack thereof) of using CPMs, as opposed to the legitimate, educated, medical community- recognized CNMs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.
I'm pretty sure very few countries require it. I think in places like the U.K., it's somewhat common for a midwife to have a nursing background, but definitely not required.

When I trained (in the 1980's) all midwives were nurses first. After qualifying they went on and did midwifery training. Have had occasions of midwives talking about "when they were a nurse". Nowadays (I can't remember when it was introduced - irrelevant anyway) midwives are trained separately, they are no longer nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

In other words, there are 'nurses and midwives' mentioned in many articles I read. Just curious about how many other countries require a 'midwife' to first be a 'nurse'?

Here in Ontario (and perhaps all of Canada? not too sure), midwifery is a direct-entry baccalaureate degree distinct from nursing. They have to meet certain clinical and educational requirements and will then be eligible to write the national registration exam.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Thank you for answering my question!

PS: L&D is the absolutely LAST place I would want to practice nursing. Which is the great thing about nursing- something for everyone!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

Yes it's my understanding the Duggers are studying to become CPMs, a different kind of midwife with education that solely focuses on out of hospital birth. In some states they are actually recognized, like here in NJ where they are licensed (hence someone mentioning their friend is an "LM"), and in some states they are not. In states where they aren't recognized, if they did become involved in a bad outcome that faced legal scrutiny, they are treated the same as a layperson in terms of the law. The lack of strict educational standards in CPM programs, compared to CNM/CM programs, has been described here very well by the poster cayenne06, who used to be a CPM.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Proud graduate of Georgetown's midwifery program here! My father-in-law constantly has to tell people I do not practice witchcraft professionally when he tells them I'm a midwife. It's so crazy. We definitely need more education out there for the general public because midwives are awesome!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also to weigh in on the discussion in the comments, there are many different paths to becoming a midwife. There's certified nurse midwives (like myself) who have a bachelor's and master's both in nursing with a focus on midwifery for their masters. There's also certified midwives, who also have a masters degree but their bachelors are not in nursing. Then there are certified professional midwives who are certified by NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) but do not have to have any specific degrees (they can attend a program accredited by NARM or apprentice with an experienced midwife and assemble a portfolio of their experiences before taking their test ... I believe the Duggars are using the later). There are also lay midwives who do not have any kind of regulation or licensure and it feels like at least where I live that's what people think of when they think of midwives.

Where you are allowed to practice depends on your certification. Those with masters degrees have more freedom as to where they can practice, including home births, birthing centers, or hospitals. Other midwives are more limited and it varies by state. Hope this helps clear things up a little!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion