Midwifery
Certified nurse-midwives (CNM) are licensed healthcare practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery and are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.
They provide primary healthcare to women of childbearing age including prenatal care, labor and delivery care, care after birth, gynecological exams, newborn care, family planning, preconception care, menopausal management and counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention. CNMs attend almost eight percent of the births in the United States. Ninety-six percent of these births are in hospitals.
A certified midwife (CM) is an individual educated in the discipline of midwifery, who also possesses evidence of certification by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Like CNMs, the CM provides primary healthcare to women of childbearing age. The overwhelming majority of midwives are either CNMs or CMs. Still, a variety of titles are used to label midwifery practice so it can be confusing for consumers.
A CNM believes that, in the United States, all midwives should graduate from an accredited midwifery education program that is affiliated with an institution of higher education. All CNMs and CMs have earned at least a bachelor's degree, while over 80 percent hold a master's degree or higher. A CNM also believes that midwives should be licensed to practice and should provide their clients with a safe mechanism for consultation, collaboration and referral if needed. Because standards for the education and practice of midwifery may vary, clients should carefully evaluate credentials and look for a well-educated provider who allows direct access to medical care if needed.