What is a midwife?
Certified nurse-midwives are health care providers who specialize in caring for women of all ages and backgrounds throughout their lifetime. With a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health, midwives focus on what is most important to each woman’s unique situation to provide her with personalized, evidence-based care. Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are the most common type of US midwife. CNMs have graduate-level degrees, have passed a national certification exam, and are educated to safely prescribe a full range of medications and treatments. In Arizona, CNMs are independent practitioners who do not require physician supervision.
What are the different types of midwives?
There are different kinds of midwives that practice in Arizona. Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses that completed a Master's or Doctoral degree from a university. They pass a national board exam and are licensed to prescribe medication, order lab tests, and admit and discharge from hospitals. They can practice in homes, birth centers, medical offices, and hospitals. Licensed midwives (LMs) and certified professional midwives (CPMs) completed an apprenticeship training in midwifery and are licensed and regulated through the Department of Health. They practice at home or in birth centers.