Choosing a Midwife: What You Need to Know

In most states there are other midwives who have various levels of formal or informal education. For example, a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) completes a certification exam administered by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). There are two primary pathways for CPM education with differing requirements: apprenticeship training alone or an accredited formal education program. The health care services provided by CPMs are not as broad as those of CNMs and CMs. CPMs provide pregnancy, birth and postpartum care for women outside of the hospital—often in birth centers and homes. CPMs are not able to prescribe most medications.

Other midwives who are not certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board or NARM may be practicing in some states. These midwives may or may not have formal education and have not passed a national certification exam. They may or may not be licensed. Their services are usually focused on pregnancy and birth, and they are unable to prescribe most medications.

3.  What is the difference between a midwife and a doula?
Doulas are trained to provide continuous support to women and their partners during labor and birth. They are an excellent addition to the labor team.
Unlike midwives, doulas are not health care providers and do not provide medical care. While they provide support during labor and birth, they do not deliver the baby or give health advice.

The combined midwife and doula team provides a wonderful array of care for a woman in labor. If a woman strongly desires a natural childbirth, choosing to have both a midwife and doula at the birth will provide her with uninterrupted labor support. Having a care team comprised of both a midwife and doula will allow you to experience the midwifery philosophy, which supports normal, physiologic birth. Together midwives and doulas create a supportive environment for woman-centered care.

4. What kind of women are best-suited for using a midwife during pregnancy?