Resources
What is a Midwife?
Midwife means “with woman”. A midwife is a health care professional who cares for women throughout their lifespan. Midwifery care includes but is not limited to preconception care, prenatal care, delivering babies, newborn assessments, annual exams, prescribing birth control, and gynecological care. Midwives typically care for low risk woman, however in some settings midwives collaborate with doctors and can take care of more high-risk women.
There are different types of Midwives. A Nurse Midwife is a licensed registered nurse who has obtained a master’s degree in Midwifery. Nurse Midwives typically practice in hospitals, birth centers, or in-home births.
Certified Professional Midwives and Licensed Midwives focus primarily on normal birth as well, however practice in out of hospital location.
Myths about Midwives
Myth: Midwives only do natural birth.
Midwives support whatever the woman wants to do for her birth plan. A woman may have pain medication with a midwife. Midwives do not perform cesarean sections.
Myth: Midwives do not deliver in the hospital.
Midwives work in a variety of setting including hospitals, birth centers, and home births.
Myth: Midwives only deliver babies
Midwives provide a variety of care options for women.
