Question about some things a midwife can and cannot do?

Specialties CNM

Published

I know that midwives are only able to care for women with healthy pregnancies, but there's still some things I need clarified...

1) Can a CNM do a vacuum or forcep delivery?

2) Can a CNM deliver twins? I'd hate to have to pass over a woman I was seeing to an OB because she's having twins. I do however know triplets and the like is a different story.

General question: When do you think they'll change the requirements from a MSN to DNP?

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Why would a midwife want to get into all the machines that go ping? Isn't the point of being a midwife to NOT be an OB?

Even in midwifery care, there are patients who become high risk, or have complications during labor/delivery. In those situations, it's good when a midwife has the necessary training, or the presence of a collaborating physician.

At one of the facilities I worked, the midwives and physicians had a great relationship. If a midwife patient develops pre-eclampsia, it's great that the midwife can still manage the woman's labor, while the physicians manage her comorbidity.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Also interesting - we have a FSBC in our city, run by CNMs. They risk out patients to their facility even if they take SSRIs. It's nice that there are great midwifery practices out there where even patients who take anti-depressants, or have a really high BMI, or have twins, can still see a midwife. That's what's great about having midwifery practices that have collaborative agreements with physicians.

And my final thought on the matter....sometimes a woman REALLY DOES need a vacuum or forceps. Sometimes she REALLY DOES need Pitocin. Sometimes an epidural makes the difference between birthing lady partslly and having a C/S. Acknowledging that fact does not make one a "medwife" or a slave to "the machines that go ping."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.
Also interesting - we have a FSBC in our city, run by CNMs. They risk out patients to their facility even if they take SSRIs.

Wow really??? That's the strictest guideline I think I've ever heard for risking out of midwifery care.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.
I know that midwives are only able to care for women with healthy pregnancies, but there's still some things I need clarified...

1) Can a CNM do a vacuum or forcep delivery?

2) Can a CNM deliver twins? I'd hate to have to pass over a woman I was seeing to an OB because she's having twins. I do however know triplets and the like is a different story.

General question: When do you think they'll change the requirements from a MSN to DNP?

I think these questions would depend on what type of license you have and what your state mandates for that license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment