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I'd like info on becoming a MW.

fannystuffsfannystuffs member
in Natural Birth
I want to work in a field that allows me to work with people and provide information that could be beneficial to their lives. I think more women need to know about birth centers and home births as well as the fact that they can receive personal care from someone who truly cares for them. I want to be someone who can provide exceptional, personal care to women and their families. I want to advocate for women and natural birth. :) My research on what steps I need to take begins now. Any info on the subject would be greatly appreciated! TIA! 
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"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Psalm 23:1
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Re: I'd like info on becoming a MW.

  • haleymay18haleymay18 member
    So do you want to be a professional midwife or a certified nurse midwife? A CNM needs a masters of science. What kind of education do you have now & how much are you willing to give? I think it is a lot more than just working with people. It is terrible hours, expensive business insurance, expensive education, stress, etc. It isn't just chattin' with pregnant women about quickening.
    someecards.com - I support Newt Gingrich's idea of colonizing the moon if it'll help me get away from Newt Gingrich.

    My baby is two!!! Baby girl 9/17/09

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  • abbyfp2324abbyfp2324

    I didn't know there was a difference between "professional midwife" and "certified nurse midwife"??

    Before you become a CNM, you have to complete a registered nurse program and become licensed as an RN (by taking the professional exam). A CNM has an advanced nursing degree (master's), which takes an additional 2+ years to complete. They have to graduate from a midwifery program and pass another exam to become certified in that field. 

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  • Mrs.GreekoMrs.Greeko

    I've played with the idea of becoming a MW and am currently taking pre-reqs to get into a BSN program.

    So first you need to get a BSN.  If you already have your B.S/B.A (I have mine in Chemical Engineering) then you need to see if you have the pre-reqs already (mostly biology, A/P, nutrition, etc).  Then you can apply for a BSN program.  If you don't have any of the pre-reqs then you start from scratch.  Then you get into a BSN program and complete that and then apply for an MS in Midwifery program.  Get in and complete that.  And there are boards and stuff along the way to get your RN and all that. 

    That's for a CNM.  No idea on the CPM path, but CPM's aren't recognized in a lot of states.  CNMs are.

    Mama to Lucy (7/06), Lexi (5/09), and Max (11/11) M/C 12/17/10
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  • mrsashkennedymrsashkennedy member

    You can become a midwife without the RN and the master's degree, it's just a direct entry midwife instead of a CNM. In my state(Oregon), at least, you can do this. I'm looking into this as well. Direct Entry midwives are generally the ones that do homebirths, though CNM's can too, but CNM's are schooled in a more clinical, hospital based way and it sets you up to either work in a hospital or a birth center. As my midwife put it, CNM's learn about more hospital procedure and how to use hospital style machines, whilst D.E. midwives are taught on how to resuscitate and facilitate without the fancy (but still some) equipment. She's a CNM but works at a freestanding birth center. She said she actually thinks that the direct entry training is superior to the CNM training just because they can cope better out of hospitals. So it depends on where you live, but mostly on where you wanna work and how much school you want to go through...etc.

     

    Birthingway.edu is a website for a school in my area, that does direct entry. If you want some more info in general.

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  • outnumberedoutnumbered member
    imagemrsashkennedy:

     She said she actually thinks that the direct entry training is superior to the CNM training just because they can cope better out of hospitals. 

     


    It frustrates me that there is bias and ego amongst providers trying to achieve the same goal.   Most of the CNM midwives at the birth center I went to worked for years in rural areas providing low cost services to women in their homes. 

    Smiley: April '05 Rocky: May '06 Tex: July '09
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  • mrsashkennedymrsashkennedy member
    Well she's the only CNM at the bc. The rest are CPM's. Having her there is pretty much the only way for them to get insurance reimbursement.
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