Considering Midwifery

[Phantaja]

I'm in need of direction, ladies.

I'm almost done with a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, but I've always been interested in birth, woman, and maternity care.

The more that I educate myself, the more that I realize that I don't necessarily agree with Western medicines medicate, medicate, medicate philosophy and I don't want to become a part of that by working in retail or even clinical pharmacy. I also don't want my degree to go to waste.

I was wondering if any of you could help me figure out a way that I could become a midwife without an additional 6 years of school. I can accept four, because I would've done another four to receive my Pharm.D anyway, but no more.

TIA!

[onlyboys]

Welcome!

Well, first you have to decide which kind of midwife you'd like to be: a CNM or a CPM.

A CNM is a nurse that needs a masters degree in midwifery. For you, that would probably equal a minimum of 4 years--18 months for an RN degree, 2-3 years for midwifery. You may be able to do it in less than that. Some states have CNMs who provide homebirth, and some can only provide hospital births. Some states require that an OB sign protocols, with a varying degree of autonomy.

A CPM is a certified professional midwife, or a direct entry midwife, that has not had prior nursing education. Becoming a CPM is varied, and depends on your state. A CPM is an autonomous care provider for healthy, low risk women. CPM licensure is hugely varied, with some states being illegal for practice and some not having any regulatory body and some being very strict about schooling, and some vary relaxed. CPMs provide home and birth center births.

You can look here: http://mana.org/statechart.html for more info about your particular state. If you want some help, let me know where you are.

[Phantaja]

How can I say that that link confused the crap out of me without looking like an idiot? Hmmm....

Either way, I'm in Michigan.

[onlyboys]

Trust me, I know. I used to click on things like that, stare at it and then close it without having ANY idea what's up with it.

Let's see: It looks like MI is legal but not regulated. It's even more confusing than being illegal or legal. I think MI has it's own MW school--Michigan School of Traditional Midwifery. But, I don't think you have to be licensed to practice MW in MI. Whew.

Sorry I'm not too much help.

[Animal_Lady]

Originally Posted by onlyboys

It looks like MI is legal but not regulated. It's even more confusing than being illegal or legal.

I am in the same boat here in Nebraska. I wish that I could become a CPM and feel like I could participate in births as a MW without fear of prosecution. Does anyone here live in one of these "ambiguous" states and still practice as a CPM? I have settled on the *equally important* but not as personally satisfying future careers of Childbirth Education and Birth Doula.

[CNM2B]

Michigan

Hi! I don't know where in Michigan you live, but I know that the U. of M. has a CNM program and I am pretty sure that they have an option for those who have a BS but are not yet RN's. I know that they have some distance learning courses and are willing to help place you with a preceptor in your area. Try checking the ACNM (American College of Nurse-Midwives) site below--they list all of the accredited programs. CNM's are legal in all 50 states and now have prescriptive authority in all 50 states....that may be a good bet for you since you already are almost done with your BS. BTW, I'm a student at Ohio State.

www.midwife.org

[Phantaja]

That's wonderful! Im less than an hour from U of M and could easily commute...and make just as much money as a pharmacist while helping others and not feeling morally icky!

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Phantaja

How can I say that that link confused the crap out of me without looking like an idiot? Hmmm....

Either way, I'm in Michigan.

Please be aware that there are some gross inaccuracies in the MANA chart. For example, it lists Ohio and Pennsylvania as either "not prohibited" or "legal" even though there are ongoing criminal prosecutions against midwives in both states.

It is always best to look at the statute and case law in your own state if you are trying to determine the legal status of midwifery.

Valerie
Illinois

[Phantaja]

Originally Posted by Valerie

Please be aware that there are some gross inaccuracies in the MANA chart. For example, it lists Ohio and Pennsylvania as either "not prohibited" or "legal" even though there are ongoing criminal prosecutions against midwives in both states.

Valerie
Illinois

Really??? Why? Why would it be illegal for a woman to have birthing options and not be treated as if she were ill when giving birth? THAT's exactly why I don't want to go into pharmacy! EVERYTHING's an illness and needs drugs and intervention!

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by Phantaja

Really??? Why? Why would it be illegal for a woman to have birthing options and not be treated as if she were ill when giving birth? THAT's exactly why I don't want to go into pharmacy! EVERYTHING's an illness and needs drugs and intervention!

Because the AMA and medical doctors have deeper pockets than midwives and consumers, and they have the ear of many politicians.

Ridiculous, isn't it?

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Phantaja

Really??? Why? Why would it be illegal for a woman to have birthing options and not be treated as if she were ill when giving birth? THAT's exactly why I don't want to go into pharmacy! EVERYTHING's an illness and needs drugs and intervention!

Really. For more information about the legal issues facing U.S. midwives, you might want to check out From Calling to Courtroom (www.fromcallingtocourtroom.net).

The fact that there is no specific law which prohibits the practice of DEMs in a particular state does not imply that they are legal. If midwives are neither defined and regulated separately from the practice of medicine or nursing, nor exempt from the Medical or Nurse Practice Acts of a particular state, they are subject to prosecution for practicing medicine/nursing without a license.

It is a comforting myth to believe that midwives are somehow "legal" because their presence is being ignored (or because "there is a school in my state" or "there is a birth center in my state" or because "I file birth certificates/neonatal screening forms/etc.). Legal permission to practice is conferred by a specific law, and not by benign neglect or oversight. And what we have seen in increasing numbers over the past few years is an increased effort by states (most recently Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, and Illinois) to prosecute DEMs for the unlicensed practicing of medicine/nursing.

Valerie
Illinois

[Rockies5]

Originally Posted by Valerie

Really. For more information about the legal issues facing U.S. midwives, you might want to check out From Calling to Courtroom (www.fromcallingtocourtroom.net).

The fact that there is no specific law which prohibits the practice of DEMs in a particular state does not imply that they are legal. If midwives are neither defined and regulated separately from the practice of medicine or nursing, nor exempt from the Medical or Nurse Practice Acts of a particular state, they are subject to prosecution for practicing medicine/nursing without a license.

It is a comforting myth to believe that midwives are somehow "legal" because their presence is being ignored (or because "there is a school in my state" or "there is a birth center in my state" or because "I file birth certificates/neonatal screening forms/etc.). Legal permission to practice is conferred by a specific law, and not by benign neglect or oversight. And what we have seen in increasing numbers over the past few years is an increased effort by states (most recently Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, and Illinois) to prosecute DEMs for the unlicensed practicing of medicine/nursing.

Valerie
Illinois

Val, (and forgive me for derailing the thread a little) thank you for the link!! I'm looking at all my options and this is just what I needed to read

I agree that it's all very confusing at the beginning.

[Defenestrator]

One thing to consider about practicing in states with no licensing is that the status of midwives in those states is likely to be in flux in the upcoming years. There have been some states with some very hostile climates for midwives (like Virginia) which have recently become legal, and states where midwives were mostly allowed to practice freely where there has been an upsurge in prosecutions (like Pennsylvania). Until there are laws on the books, things are likely to change at any time.

I trained as a direct entry midwife and would be happy to chat with you about my experience. I also spent a lot of time researching the second career nursing options for becoming a CNM. I would guess that you are pretty well prepared, given your previous degree, for a second career nursing program (a program designed for someone who has a bachelors in another field). There are second career programs at University of Michigan and Wayne State, and, I think, UofD Mercy. There may be others in Michigan that I am not aware of. Wayne and Michigan have CNM programs, but you could also take your first year of work, which would give you a BSN, and go to another school. There are a lot of CNM programs that offer distance learning now, including the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in Kentucky. That is a well-respected program and, I believe, the oldest CNM program in the country.