What is a Midwife?

We are experts in low-risk biological birth.  Our careful prenatal assessment is the cornerstone of our effective practice. Prenatal care really means wellness care and this involves nutritional counseling, exercise recommendations, non-allopathic healing options of herbology, homeopathy, and mind-body integration techniques, like yoga/stretching and meditation (no, not some hokey business, but calming down the mind). We call this holistic care because we tend to the person as a whole. 

 

We also include essential testing and procedures that screen for complications to make sure that you are baby are safe and stay low risk.  If significant abnormalities arise, medical consultation is sought for guidance and prognosis.

​Our main goal if for you to feel supported, connected, and to create a solid working relationship in which we call continuity of care.
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​We are trained in natural birth as well as for emergencies. We certify every 2 years in infant resuscitation and CPR as well as take classes to stay sharp in emergency care. We carry equipment that we use in these situations. (see list below). Transport during birth is really rare and home birth midwives, if they transport at all, transport because of maternal exhaustion. We also do not normally attend births alone but have a team (1-2 other people) to help serve you.

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The Midwives Model of Care

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.

 

This includes: 

Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support, minimizing technological interventions,
Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

The Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential and
the North American Registry of Midwives
 

• Not required to be nurses.

• Multiple routes of education recognized; direct entry midwives and certified nurse midwives can qualify for this credential.

• Education programs accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council prepare students to meet the requirements for the CPM.

• Out-of-hospital birth experience is required.

• Have met rigorous requirements and passed written exam and hands-on skills evaluation.

• Administered by the North American Registry of Midwives.

• Legal status varies according to state.

• Practice most often in homes and birth centers.​

 

The North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)

In 1987 educators, program directors and experienced midwives in the field of direct entry midwifery decided it was time to begin developing a national credential, the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential, which is administered through the North American Registry of Midwives and has rigorous standards for knowledge, skills and experience.

In 1994 the first CPM's were licensed and as of 2014 2,454 certificates were awarded.  As of October 1, 2019, CPMs are legally authorized to practice in 35 states which includes New York.

The North American Registry of Midwives has a free brochure. You can request more information about the CPM by contacting the North American Registry of Midwives at 1-888-84-BIRTH (eastern time), or look on their website here----> North American Registry of Midwives.

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Safety of Home Birth

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Here is a link to a study with over a 1000 participates that showed Home birth was just as safe if not more than the hospital setting for 'low risk' mothers. 

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Results from THIS study show that among low risk women who intend to give birth at home when labour starts there is no increase in perinatal and neonatal mortality or morbidity compared to similarly low risk women who intend to give birth in a hospital. There were no differences between intended home and intended hospital groups in other neonatal outcomes including NICU admission, Apgar scores, and the need for resuscitation.

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In THIS large, 16,000 + national sample of midwife‐led, planned home births in the United States, the majority of women and newborns experienced excellent outcomes and very low rates of intervention relative to other national data sets of US women.

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If you have any other questions about home birth please feel free to email below and I'd be happy to answer your questions or direct you to the proper websites. 

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