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Need a Doctor?

Choosing a Pregnancy Health Care Provider

By Ginny Hermann

For those seeking a more "natural" approach, a midwife may be the answer. For many, the mention of a midwife brings to mind a sandal-wearing, granola-eating, incense-burning hippie who delivers babies in the wilderness. Today's midwives have little in common with these outdated stereotypes. Most are highly-trained professionals who provide excellent care to mother and baby.

Unlike most OBs and FPs, the majority of midwives maintain an extremely close relationship with the mother and are present throughout her labor and birth. There are two types of midwives practicing today: certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and lay midwives (also called "direct-entry" midwives). They vary in experience and training, but both consider the safety of mother and child their top priority.

Certified nurse-midwives are nursing degree graduates from university-based programs with at least one year of specialized training in labor and delivery. They are required to pass a national exam in order to be certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. CNMs are licensed by the state in which they practice.

With her fourth pregnancy, Michelle Pearson of Leaf River, Ill. chose a CNM to see her through. "I wanted a gentler kind of care, which I believed a midwife could offer," she says. Pearson and her husband were "very happy" with the care they received from their CNM. "The labor and delivery were the most non-invasive I've ever experienced: no enema, no IVs, no episiotomy, no drugs. And it was also the most relaxing birth, despite the fact that Sean's shoulders were so wide, he got stuck in the birth canal. The OB/GYN that our CNM is in practice with assisted her with that complication. It was definitely the most positive birth experience I've ever had."

Want to see more?

• Guide to Common Pregnancy Tests and Procedures
• So, You Want to Have a Homebirth
• The Homebirth Hype
• The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative

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