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A midwife is a
person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational
program, duly recognized in the country in which it is located, has
successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and
has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally
licensed to practice midwifery.
See
the United States Midwife FAQ
She must be able to give the necessary supervision, care and advice
to women during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period, to conduct
deliveries on her own responsibility and to care for the newborn and the
infant. This care includes preventative measures, procurement of medical
assistance and the execution of emergency measures in the absence of
medical help. She has an important task in health counseling and
education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and the
community. The work should involve antenatal education and preparation for
parenthood and extends to certain areas of gynecology, family planning and
child care. She may practice in hospitals, clinics, health units,
domiciliary conditions or in any other service.
(This definition was jointly developed by the International Confederation
of Midwives and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
- later adopted by the World Health Organization)
Midwives practice in different settings. They work in hospitals and in the
community. Midwives offer a variety of different services.
Services usually include:
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Preconception advise
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Pregnancy testing
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Prenatal care for the entire pregnancy
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Prenatal classes
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Care during labor at home
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Birth in home, hospital or birth center
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Postnatal care at home or hospital
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Care at home for up to six weeks
You can get the names of CNMs or CMs in your area by calling the
American College of Nurse-Midwives at 202/728-9860 or by using their
toll-free practice locator at 888/MIDWIFE. You can also visit the
ACNM web page at http://www.midwife.org.
If you want to deliver at a specific hospital, ask for the names of
midwives who practice there. If you're interested in delivering at a
birth center, call the National Association of Childbearing Centers
at 215/234-8068.
If you want a home
birth, check with ACNM or the Association for Childbirth at Home
International at 213/663-4996. For a direct-entry midwife in your
area, call the Midwives' Alliance of
North America at 888-923-6262.
At your first visit to a midwife, she'll take a comprehensive
medical history, perform a physical exam, and have laboratory
screenings done. If you have certain medical or obstetrical problems
— such as high blood pressure or triplets — you may be referred
to an obstetrician or a perinatalogist (a high-risk specialist
United States Midwife FAQ
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