Certified Nurse-Midwives and Obstetrical Care
One in seven babies born in the State of Massachusetts is delivered and welcomed by a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM). Every year since 1977, babies delivered in the Commonwealth by Certified Nurse-Midwives has increased. According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), there are over 250 Certified Nurse-Midwives in the State of Massachusetts. The Board of Registration under the Nurse Practice Act regulates their practice and they have had prescription writing authority since 1991.
Highly Skilled Care
Today's Certified Nurse-Midwives are specially trained and highly skilled health care professionals, who provide obstetrical and gynecological care to women of all ages. They are registered nurses who have had advanced post-graduate education in obstetrics, gynecology and midwifery, obtained through accredited programs, most of which are affiliated with universities or medical schools across the United States. The average Nurse-Midwife has 20 years of clinical experience. Most CNM's hold advanced graduate degrees in health related fields.
To meet national standards, Certified Nurse-Midwives must successfully pass a comprehensive board certification examination from the ACNM Certification Council, Inc. They must also meet stringent requirements for licensure by the individual state in which they practice.
A Wide Range of Services
Nurse-Midwives independently manage all aspects of normal pregnancy, labor and birth. In addition, they incorporate education, guidance, and support into the care that they render. They deliver babies, provide postnatal and well woman gynecological care, including providing a wide range of family planning services.
Hallmarks of Nurse-Midwifery Care
Care provided by Nurse-Midwives is characterized by distinctly low rates of infant mortality, technological intervention, induced labor, episiotomies and cesarean and forceps births. It is also distinguished by high rates of return visits and consumer satisfaction.
An Empowering Birth Philosophy
Interwoven throughout the care that Midwives render, is a philosophy that believes in each woman's freedom to experience pregnancy and birth in a safe, enjoyable, and non-interventive manner. They practice preventive care and believe that client awareness via childbirth education, reading, good nutrition, and family support results in healthy babies. They also believe that given appropriate support, each individual has the potential to grow from every situation.
Midwives Offer Choices in Childbirth
Midwives are best known for their exceptional support of the natural process of childbirth but what many do not realize is that they also provide women with the option of pain medication or epidural anesthesia in labor. During pregnancy, time is spent discussing options for pain management and developing an optimal plan that is based on the particular needs of each woman.
Benefits of a Team Approach
Nurse-Midwives practice in collaboration with physicians. The degree of collaboration depends on the medical needs of the individual woman and the practice setting. CNM's are well trained in the use of technology when needed and highly skilled in identifying situations which may lead to complications. Consultation is sought in a timely manner and care is transferred when appropriate.
Birth Settings Used by CNM's
Of the three settings in which Nurse-Midwives attend births, the hospital is the site most often used. The following are estimated percentages.
Hospital.......................................................................94%
Birth Center...................................................................4%
Home.............................................................................8%