Midwifery

jesscardona · 05-17-2006, 11:45 AM

I have a question about the midwifery I have been seeing a lot in some of the threads here...

I know that to be a midwife you have to be an RN first and then you spealize to become a midwife and who knows what else...
I'm not any of that... I wish I was! that is my dream to be a midwife...
but is there a school or somewhere you can certified to become a midwifery probably not to do the same role but to asist in a labor? I know this is a really dumb question but I'm just wondering...

capandcradle · 05-17-2006, 12:26 PM

Jessica-- Depending on the state you do not have to be a nurse first. There are plenty of schools www.midwiferytoday.com

Otherwise you might consider being a doula -- but your clients sometimes use interventive care providers and there is a chasm between doulaing and midwifery --

MothertheMother · 05-17-2006, 01:13 PM

I am sure others with more info (who plan to become midwives) will answer this with more detail but there are different levels of midwifery. CNM (certified nurse midwife) does require you be an RN first. Other options include DEM (direct entry midwife) and uh, I just had a brain pause...anyway there are a few different midwife routes you can take. Plus you could train to be a midwife assistant! As I said, you will get more detail from others considering the schools. Check the acronym list for the different midwife acronyms.

MothertheMother · 05-17-2006, 01:14 PM

CPM= Certified Practicing Midwife
LM= Licensed Midwife

these were the other acronyms I was trying to come up with

jesscardona · 05-17-2006, 01:23 PM

Thanks Christy... but it's just for information for the future... b/c I can't do a bunch of things at a time... I have a 2yr. old and she's in the terrible 2phase right now!!
So, I'm starting out with the doula training first and going about that for now...

DL · 05-17-2006, 01:32 PM

You could check out the Alldoulas Resources (click here) section. There's a category titled "Midwifery Education".

Gentlebirthmama · 05-17-2006, 04:55 PM

You do not need to be an RN first to become a midwife unless you are a CNM. These midwives usually work in hospitals, although some will run birthing centers and some do homebirths depending on the state requirements.
CPMs and LMs do not require you being an RN.

There are several midwifery schools around the country for all routes of midwifery training.
I'm currently a distance midwifery student through a school in OR. This is a great route if you are wanting to train as a midwife because you can go at your own pace and you don't have to be onsite constantly.
You could contact a midwife in your area and see if she would be willing to let you attend births with her, observing at first and then maybe taking more assistant responsibilities.

Another great way to keep your hand in birth while raising a family is to become a childbirth educator...I've done this for 14 years since my first was a year old...my boys have grown up attending classes with me.

Being a doula or midwifery assistant can be a challenge with young children because of being on call, but teaching classes is a great way to get experience with birth and is doable with a family.

Just some thoughts.

motherwise · 05-17-2006, 06:30 PM

Many midwifes do take on assitants in addition to apprentices as part of their birth team. I know MCU offers a course in midwife assisting, I will try to find the link for you if I can. Otherwise, becoming a doula is a great way to become seasoned in the labor room and you will more than likely develop contacts in the midwifery community therefore opening doors for you. Call the midwives in your area and ask! Also, you do NOT need to become an RN to become a midwife. You only need an RN if you are becoming a Nurse-Midwife (CNM) as others have mentioned. The other option is to become a certified professional midwife and/or licensed midwife-depending on your state laws. Check out the California Association of Midwives page regarding education and licensing at http://www.californiamidwives.org/licensing.html although this is the process in California, most other states that license midwives are quite similar. There is also a link at the bottom of the page where you can check out midwifery schools (all direct-entry). It provides you with information on the school and a link to their homepage. HTH!

Marilyn

P.S. Also there is a great book called 'pathways to becoming a midwife' that is sold by Midwifery Today, I highly recommend it!