Certified nurse midwife (cnm)

Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) are advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in women's reproductive health and childbirth. They provide a range of healthcare services for women, encompassing gynecological exams, family planning, and prenatal care. In addition to these, CNMs offer care during labor, birth, and the postpartum period, and may also provide neonatal care in the immediate aftermath of birth.

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Pregnancy Check Up

Scope of Practice

CNMs practice autonomously and in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Their role may encompass:

• Primary Care: Including health screenings, physical exams, and immunizations.
• Gynecological Care: Including annual exams, pap smears, and breast exams.
• Reproductive Education: Covering menstrual cycle, fertility, contraception, and menopause.
• Prenatal and Postpartum Care: Monitoring the health of the mother and fetus, offering advice on diet and exercise, and providing postpartum support.
• Labor and Delivery Support: Assisting during childbirth and providing pain management strategies.
• Neonatal Care: Initial newborn assessments, promoting breastfeeding, and educating parents about infant care.

Midwife checks on a mom

Educational and Certification Requirements

To become a CNM, individuals must:

• 1. Obtain a registered nursing (RN) license.
• 2. Complete a graduate-level program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME).
• 3. Pass the national certification exam administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
• 4. Obtain state licensure, which varies by state but generally requires maintaining the AMCB certification.

Benefits of CNM Care

• Holistic Approach: CNMs emphasize the natural processes of childbirth and provide a holistic approach to care.
• Lower Intervention Rates: Research indicates lower rates of cesarean births, episiotomies, and the use of forceps or vacuums during deliveries attended by CNMs.
• Patient-Centered Care: CNMs often spend more time with patients, offering personalized care and education.

Settings and Collaborative Practice

While CNMs can practice independently, they often collaborate with obstetricians, gynecologists, and other healthcare professionals. They provide care in diverse settings, including hospitals, private practices, birth centers, clinics, and patients' homes.

FAQs:What do certified nurse midwives do?

• CNM's deliver babies, manage emergency situations during labor
• They also repair lacerations, and may provide surgical assistance to physicians during cesarean section births.
• Certified nurse midwives may act as primary maternity care providers for women.
• CNM's also provide wellness care, educating their patients on how to lead healthy lives by discussing topics such as nutrition and disease prevention.
• Certified Nurse midwives also provide care to their patients’ partners for sexual health or reproductive health issues.

See also

• Mary Breckinridge, Founder of Frontier Nursing Service
• Childbirth
• Doula
• Nurse practitioner
• Obstetrical nursing
• Obstetrics
• Gynecology
• Family planning
• Prenatal care

References

• "Scope of Practice for Nurse Midwives" - American College of Nurse-Midwives, 2020. [Link to ACNM].
• Declercq, E., et al. "Midwifery care measures in the second stage of labor and reduction of genital tract trauma at birth: A randomized trial" - Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 2005. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmwh.2005.05.011.
• "Becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife" - American Midwifery Certification Board, 2019. [Link to AMCB].
• "Certified Nurse-Midwives in the United States" - American College of Nurse-Midwives, 2021. [Link to ACNM].

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