Really impressed by CNM

[NeuroNP]

I have to say, I had my first experience with a CNM yesterday and was VERY impressed. Our good friends had a baby last night and my wife and I were there. They used a midwife. When we got to the hospital, there was a lady sitting next to my friend's bed talking to her and I assumed that she was another friend. Then I noticed she was wearing scrubs. I thought, "I didn't know they had another friend in healthcare." Then I thought that she was my friend's nurse and maybe the unit was slow and she'd had a chance to pull up a chair a sit with her. Then she introduced me. She was their midwife.

I was very impressed because she had already been there for hours and stayed late into the night, sitting there with her and encouraging her, going over everything with her etc. At about 9:00pm, my friend still wasn't progressing (active labor for >24 hrs, only 6cm...and had been for the past few hours) and the decision was made to go c-section. Of course, the CNM called the OB from her practice that was on-call who came in to do the section, but the CNM then masked up and took grandma-to-be's camera in the OR and took pictures for the family staying several more hours to make sure that everything went great and they got settled in for the night.

I have to admit, I've got a little MD bias (despite wanting to be an APN myself!) - maybe it's because I'm male...but I've NEVER seen a doc give that kind of care to a patient. I think my wife and I are considering a CNM now! I am interested in NNP, but meeting someone like that makes me think about CNM. I used to think it would be greatest job ever to deliver babies. I think I'll stick with NNP as I'm much more interested in the baby than the mom though!!! :-)

[Selke]

Hooray! Another convert! I want to assure you there ARE male CNMs out there. There are also male pediatric nurse practitioners. Go for it!!!