11They’re advanced practice nurses, trained as mid-

wives. You can’t become a certified nurse midwife

without the right education, training and experience.

Here’s what it takes:

22 Nurse midwives almost always deliver in hospitals.

Many people assume nurse midwives only do home

births. Not so! Here’s where they deliver:

33 Nurse midwives enhance the childbirth experience.

They offer personalized care that women find

empowering. Here’s what they do:

B S N

EXAM

C N M

M S N

R N

Master of science in nursing + training in inpatient & outpa-tient Ob/Gyn care (2 years)

Bachelor of science in nursing (4 years)

Exam to be licensed as a registered nurse

Exam to be licensed and certified as a nurse midwife*

Hospitals: 97% Birth Centers: 2% Home: 1%

• Spend time with you in prenatal visits

• Are experienced in low-intervention births

• Are skilled in natural childbirth but can order epidurals or pain meds if you wish

• Stay with you throughout labor (sometimes from admission to delivery)

• Care for you in the postpartum period

• Build a relationship with you

44Nurse midwives do more than deliver babies.

They also offer lifelong care in a solo practice or in

a group with physicians and other midwives. Here

are other things nurse midwives do:

• Perform annual exams (well woman care)

• Provide preventive care (contraception, nutrition counseling)

• Treat uncomplicated gyn problems (urinary tract infections, STDs)

• Prescribe medication

• Manage menopause

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Sources: American College of Nurse-Midwives: midwife.org

*The American Midwifery

Certification Board