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When we talk about better laws for midwives, what does that mean? There are currently four different categories of midwives practicing in the United States.
Certified Midwives (CM) are primary healthcare providers to women of all ages throughout their lives. CMs focus on gynecologic and family planning services, as well as preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care up to 28 days of life. They also provide primary care such as conducting annual exams, and writing prescriptions. CMs are backed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. To become a CM, you must graduate from a master’s or higher-level certified-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and pass the national Certified Nurse-Midwife Examination through the American Midwifery Certification Board. Currently Certified Midwives aren't licensed in Ohio. Their scope of practice is the same and a Certified Nurse Midwife. American College of Nurse-Midwives wants to see Certified Midwives licensed in Ohio. If licensed, a Certified Midwife could provide midwifery services in hospital, home, and birth center settings provided they had a Standard Collaborative Agreement with a physician that allowed them to provide these services in home, hospital, or birth center setting.
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM/APRN) are primary healthcare providers to women of all ages throughout their lives. CNMs focus on gynecologic and family planning services, as well as preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care up to 28 days of life. They also provide primary care such as conducting annual exams, and writing prescriptions. CNMs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) backed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. To become a CNM, registered nurses must graduate from a master’s or higher-level nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and pass the national Certified Nurse-Midwife Examination through the American Midwifery Certification Board. All CNMs must hold state licensure and practice primarily in hospital settings. In Ohio CNMs aren't regulated to provide newborn care, except for immediate supervision of the newborn after birth (resuscitation). CNMs can legally provide services in home and birth centers in Ohio as long as their supervising physician allows it.
Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) are professional independent midwifery practitioners who have met the certification requirements of the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). Applicants can qualify to take the NARM exam by either apprenticing with a qualified midwife and completing an Entry-Level Portfolio Evaluation Process or by graduating from a midwifery program or school. If the program or school isn’t accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council, applicants must complete the Entry-Level Portfolio Evaluation Program. The CPM is the only NCCA-accredited midwifery credential that includes a requirement for out-of-hospital experience. You can read more about the requirements for education here Currently, Certified Professional Midwives aren't licensed in Ohio. CPMs in Ohio attend births as primary care providers in home settings and unlicensed religious care centers.
Traditional Midwives (DEM) also known as a "Direct-entry," "lay," or "community midwives", are uncertified or unlicensed midwives who often have informal education, such as apprenticeships or self-study, rather than a formal education from accredited institutions.
How would Buckeye Birth Coalition like to see midwives integrated in Ohio?
Our coalition seeks licensure for Certified Professional and Certified Midwives and legislation to allow Certified Nurse Midwives to provide newborn care up to 28 days of life.