Parentpedia

What Experts Say^*

Reviewed by Steven Johnson, M.D.

Depending on where you live, finding a midwife you like probably won't be a problem. A good place to start is on the Web, where a plethora of sites can put you in contact with qualified midwives in your area. Your search may be easier if you live in an urban center, but the network of midwives continues to grow.

When considering using a midwife, you should ask yourself a few questions:

• Are you looking to give birth at home, in a birthing center, or in a hospital?
• What are the laws of your community that govern midwives?
• Am I having a "low-risk" pregnancy. Doctors strongly advise that a midwife be used only in low-risk pregnancies.

Training for Midwives

There are many different levels of training that midwives can have, and they are given titles according. The level of training a midwife has should be a very important factor to consider when making the decision to use a midwife. Varying ranges of midwife training include:

• Lay Midwife: A lay midwife is an uncertified or unlicensed midwife who was educated informally via self-study or apprenticeship rather than by attending a formal program.
• Direct-Entry Midwife: A direct-entry midwife has been educated in midwifery through self-study, apprenticeship, a midwifery school, or another program that is was not part of the nursing discipline.
• Certified Midwife: A certified midweife is educated in the discipline of midwifery and possesses evidence of certification according to the requirements of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
• Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): A certified nurse-midwife is an individual who has received both an degree in nursing (RN) and midwifery education.

Questions Worth Asking

The questions that you should ask when deciding on a midwife are just as important as the questions to ask when considering an ob/gyn. When interviewing a midwife, make sure to ask about their emergency procedures should something go wrong.

• Do you have an established relationship with an Ob/Gyn?
• What training for emergencies do you have?
• How far from the nearest hospital will you be?

If you're ready to find a midwife or even if you're just gathering information, here are some places to get started:

MANA (the Midwives Alliance of North America): Most members of this alliance are Certified Professional Midwives. A majority work in women's homes or at birth centers. You can e-mail the alliance to get a list of midwives. They can even help you decide what to do if your state prosecutes direct-entry midwifery.

ACNM (American College of Nurse Midwives): This is the regulating body for Certified Nurse Midwives, most of whom work in hospitals or hospital-affiliated birth centers. You can search for midwives, check on their credentials, and narrow your search to home births. It's a start.

Citizens for Midwifery: A national midwifery advocacy group, they have a page called "finding a midwife," that is also helpful.