A midwife is a healthcare professional who provides compassionate, one-on-one attention and support during prenatal care, attends your labor, assists in the birth of your baby and provides postpartum as well as gynecological care. Midwives become a collaborative partner with you, and understand that you are the central decision-maker in matters regarding your general health and birth experience.
Some midwives are qualified healthcare providers who go through comprehensive training for certification. The practice and credentials related to midwifery differ throughout the United States. Wyoming midwives that carry the credentials as a CNM are few. Currently I am the only midwife at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, Wyoming. My expertise and scope of practice allows me to evaluate, diagnose and treat a wide variety of ailments from the common cold to hypertension. In addition, I perform minor procedures and prescribe pharmaceutical prescriptions. Along with performing childbirth assistance for my patients, I have also assisted in gynecological surgical procedures, and first assist for cesarean (C-section) deliveries.
The following descriptions are to help you clarify your understanding of the different types of Wyoming midwives and helps you make an informed decision on choosing a healthcare provider. Go 307 Midwives!
There are 5 different types of midwives:
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
An individual trained and licensed in both nursing and midwifery. Nurse-Midwives possess at least a master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education and are certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Certified Professional Midwife (CPM)
An individual trained in midwifery who meets practice standards of the North American Registry of Midwives.
Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM)
An individual trained in midwifery through a variety of sources than can include: self-study, apprenticeship, a midwifery school or a college program.
Certified Midwife (CM)
An individual trained and certified in midwifery. Certified midwives possess at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
Lay Midwife
An individual who is not certified or licensed as a midwife but has been trained informally through self-study or apprenticeships.
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