Is midwifery care safe?
In the largest study of its kind internationally to date, researchers analyzed over 5000 home births with the care of Certified Professional Midwives across the US and Canada in 2000. The study compared outcomes and medical interventions between home births and low risk hospital births. The research indicated lower rates of medical intervention in the home birth group but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality rates to that of low risk hospital births in the United States.
Why choose a midwife?
The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. The Midwives Model of Care includes:
- Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the pregnant person throughout the childbearing cycle
- Providing the pregnant person with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
- Minimizing technological interventions
- Identifying and referring people who require obstetrical attention
The application of this person-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
Copyright (c) 1996-2008, Midwifery Task Force, Inc.
How do I find a midwife?
Visit the Find a Midwife section for midwives in your area.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
- Doulas are trained professionals who provide non-clinical emotional, physical, and informational support for birthing people, before, during, and after labor and birth. During the prenatal period, doulas share resources and information about the labor process, facilitating positive communication and self-advocacy. During labor and birth, doulas provide hands-on comfort measures to assist with pain management. Doulas may also provide postpartum support to help with the transition into parenthood.
- A midwife is trained to provide primary reproductive care to low risk people throughout pregnancy, labor and birth, and the first six weeks following the birth. The midwife also provides emotional and physical support to a laboring person and partners, as well as well-baby care through the first 6 weeks of life.
What is the difference between a Licensed Midwife, a Traditional Midwife, and a Birthkeeper?
- A Licensed Midwife is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) or Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) who holds a license in the state of Wisconsin to practice midwifery.
- A Traditional Midwife is an uncertified or unlicensed midwife whose education and training is often done in apprenticeship with another Traditional Midwife or self-study and based on cultural practices and traditions.
- A Birthkeeper is someone with experience around pregnancy and birth, who may or may not have any formal training or education, that offers non-clinical support in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
