The Truth About Nurse-Midwives
The word “midwife” comes from the Old English and means “with woman.” Midwives have helped women give birth since the beginning of time. A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse with specialized training in caring for women and their families. CNMs must complete an accredited program of study and clinical experience in obstetrical and routine gynecological care and they must pass national and state licensing exams to become certified. The services they provide include gynecological and breast examinations, obstetrical care, education and counseling about reproductive health and personal care.
Myths of Nurse-Midwifery
Over the years, several myths about nurse-midwifery have surfaced and have created some preconceived notions about what utilizing a nurse-midwife involves. This may be in part because people use the term “midwife” to refer to all types of midwives. The focus of this article is nurse-midwives and does not refer to “lay” midwives. The myths and their truths below illustrate some common misconceptions.
Myth #1:
Midwives only deliver babies at home.
Truth:
The majority of deliveries by certified nurse-midwives actually occur in a hospital. Midwives believe that childbirth is a natural event, requiring medical intervention only in special circumstances. In a hospital environment, medical intervention is available in situations where it is needed. In addition, some nurse-midwives work in birthing centers which are affiliated with a hospital.
Patients of a midwife cannot receive pain medication in labor.
Truth:
When it comes to using pain medication during labor, the choice is that of the laboring woman, not the nurse midwife. While midwives are skilled at supporting a drug-free approach to birth, they also respect the right of the woman to choose the pain relief method she desires. Nurse midwives assist a woman through the physical and emotional changes experienced during labor and birth and help them create their own unique birth experience.
Myth #3:
All midwives are the same.
In the United States, midwives are not all the same. There are “lay” midwives, who have training to deliver babies mostly through apprenticeships. Their background and education varies greatly and they do not deliver babies in hospitals. “Certified nurse midwives” (CNM) are registered nurses, who are further educated in both the science and the art of midwifery, and licensed by the state in which they practice. Nurse-midwives are also licensed by their state and the federal government to provide prescription medications. About 11,000 nurse midwives in the United States delivered more than 317,000 babies in 2006, a 33 percent increase over 1996, according to the American College of Nurse-Midwives
Myth #4:
Nurse-midwives only provide prenatal care and perform deliveries.
Truth:
CNMs are licensed to provide prenatal care and perform deliveries, but also provide gynecological care from adolescence to menopause. Teaching women how to prevent disease and maintain good health throughout their lives are hallmarks of nurse-midwifery care. Nurse-midwives work in collaboration with physicians who can provide the care in the event of a medical complication or need for surgery.
Don’t let the common misperceptions about nurse-midwives prevent you from learning more about the unique care they can provide women through all stages of life.
