| A nursing midwife, or a nurse midwife, is basically a | | | | provide care to the woman and the child after birth. |
| nurse who helps women with birthing. These nurses | | | | However, there are limitations as to what kinds of |
| specialize in prepartum, birth and postpartum care. | | | | pregnancies can be handled suitably by nursing |
| The profession of nursing midwifery has been around | | | | midwifery. Usually, midwives handle all cases of |
| since the 1920s, though it has highly developed of | | | | normal and low-risk pregnancies. However, when the |
| late. Today, there are special courses to become a | | | | pregnancy is complicated, such as when the birth |
| nursing midwife and there are specific ways in which | | | | needs to be effectuated through a Caesarean |
| certifications can be sought. | | | | section, then midwives don't intervene. In such cases, |
| Are All Nursing Midwives the Same? | | | | the client is referred to an obstetrician. |
| No. There are different kinds of nursing midwifes, | | | | There are also some supplementary responsibilities |
| based on various factors. A lot of these professionals | | | | that nurse midwives handle. One of these is coaching |
| in the US are registered nurses. These are the ones | | | | couples for family planning. They tell couples options if |
| who have gone through a complete training program | | | | they don't want to have a baby at the present. |
| and work in places such as birthing clinics and in | | | | They also conduct examinations on the women and |
| hospitals. They are also known as Certified Nurse | | | | also their children on a regular basis. In most cases, |
| Midwives (CNMs). At the same time, there are also | | | | nurse midwives will be working under a senior health |
| some unregistered nurses who work as midwives. | | | | professional such as a doctor who will handle the |
| These have more or less the same duties as the | | | | actual delivery, while these nurses act as their |
| registered nurses, but their unregistered status | | | | assistants. |
| becomes a deterrent for them in getting jobs in | | | | What Kind of Training Do Nursing Midwives Need? |
| bigger hospitals and maternity clinics. | | | | Nursing midwives need to be trained in obstetrics and |
| Then, nursing midwives are also classified on the | | | | gynecology. Their profession demands that they |
| basis of where they work. The major bulk of them | | | | have excellent knowledge of these subjects. |
| work with hospitals, private maternity clinics and | | | | Courses for nursing midwifery are easily available |
| birthing centers. However, there are also a lot of | | | | through many esteemed institutions nowadays. In |
| them who work in the client's home. They will | | | | order to qualify for this course, the candidate must |
| typically stay with the woman during her pregnancy, | | | | have a bachelor's degree in science. The nurses can |
| help with the delivery and will also provide assistance | | | | pursue postgraduate courses and acquire a master's |
| when the birth has been done. | | | | degree in midwifery as well. Some of these nurses |
| What Are Their Responsibilities? | | | | opt to continue studying ahead. They learn more so |
| Their responsibilities are to help women with the | | | | that they can get specialized qualifications in |
| entire phase of pregnancy and childbirth and also | | | | gynecology and obstetrics. |