What is a Midwife?

“Midwifery as practiced by Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) and Certified Midwives (CM) encompasses a full range of primary health care services for women from adolescence beyond menopause. These services include primary care, gynecologic and family planning services, preconception care, care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, care of the normal newborn for the first 28 days of life, and treatment of male partners for sexually transmitted infections. Midwives provide initial and ongoing comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and treatment. They conduct physical examinations, prescribe medications including controlled substances and contraceptive methods; admit, manage and discharge patients; order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests, and order the use of medical devices. Midwifery care also includes health promotion, disease prevention, and individualized wellness education and counseling. These services are provided in partnership with women and families in diverse settings such as ambulatory care clinics, private offices, community and public health systems, homes, hospitals and birth centers.” ACNM, Division of Standards and Practice, Dec. 2011.

Midwives are most commonly associated with home birth, but home birth is just a very small piece of the greater whole. The mission of MidwifeBLUE is to bridge the gap between the physical/medical care that is offered in the typical healthcare setting and the emotional/mental care that women desire, require, and deserve by providing care, support and education for Any Woman. Anywhere. Anyime.