A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a direct-entry midwife who has completed a nationally standardized certification process administered by the North American Registry of Midwives.  This certification documents the midwife’s education (either through an accredited school or through an extensive portfolio evaluation process), clinical experience, skills and knowledge through standardized skills and written examinations.  The Certified Professional Midwife is the only nationally administered credential that requires training specific to the out-of-hospital birth.  It is also the basis for licensure in most of the states that license direct-entry midwives, including Utah.

At least 80-85% of pregnancy women will give birth without significant complications.  If you are basically healthy and have no chronic illnesses, a homebirth is something you should look into.  If you have had complications with previous births, a homebirth might still be an option to consider since most complications either are not likely to repeat themselves or can be avoided with good nutrition during pregnancy.   If you have specific concerns, I would be happy to discuss them at a free, no-obligations consultation visit.

The education of a direct-entry midwife focuses exclusively on providing midwifery care.

Academic programs are typically three years in length and require an additional clinical training component which can last anywhere from one year in length to several years.  In Utah direct-entry midwives practice autonomously and attend homebirths only.  They are the only providers that attend homebirths.

By contrast, a Certified Nurse-Midwife typically has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and then has advanced practice nursing training focusing on midwifery.  The advanced practice degrees, typically take 18-24 months to complete, including the clinical component.  A large part of the nurse-midwife’s clinical experience is expected to come from time spent working as a labor and delivery nurse in a hospital setting.  Nurse-midwives are only able to attend births if they have a written practice agreement with a physician.  Sometimes this limits the type of care they are able to provide and varies from practice to practice.  At this time there are only two nurse-midwives practicing outside of the hospital.  They practice at Utah’s only birth center.  All of the other nurse-midwives either practice in a hospital or are not currently attending births.

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BirthWise Maternity Care, LC

Bringing Birth Home    

Most birth complications can be predicted before the birth.  This is one reason prenatal care is so important.  High-risk births may be more appropriately managed in a hospital setting.  For the complications that cannot be predicted, your midwife is trained to either manage them at home or stabilize mom or baby until medical help can be obtained.  Usually transport to the hospital is done by car.  Only in rare circumstances would the transport occur by ambulance.                                                    More info?

Your midwife will file a birth certificate for you with the Utah State Bureau of Vital Records.  In about 3 weeks you can mail in an order form to receive your certified copy of the birth certificate.  You can also have a social security number assigned and a social security card mailed to you automatically.

With plenty of protective pads and waterproof barriers for your bed or other furniture, your baby can be born at home without risking your mattress, carpet or any other furniture.  Part of the midwives’ job is to leave your house as clean (or cleaner!) than when we got there.

All About Homebirth

Contrary to popular opinion, hospitals have never been shown to be the safest place to give birth nor obstetricians the safest providers.  Every reputable study ever done has shown that a planned homebirth with a trained attendant is at least as safe as a hospital birth for low-risk women.                                                                     More info?

Is it safe?

What about the mess?

How do I get a birth certificate?

What happens if there are complications?

My rate of transfer to the hospital is 7% for mothers.  This is higher with first-time moms and lower if you have already had a vaginal birth.

My rate of cesarean sections is 3.5%.  All of these, of course, are included in the hospital transfer rate.                                                                  More info?

How often do you have to go to the hospital?

Is it legal?

Yes,  Direct-entry Midwifery is clearly legal in Utah including a specific scope of practice.  Licensed midwives are able to carry medications for emergencies and other situations such as suturing and RhoGam for Rh negative mothers.                                                                                                                                             More info?

What is the difference between a Direct-entry Midwife and a Certified Nurse-Midwife?

Am I a good candidate for home birth?

What is a Certified Professional Midwife?

Can you deliver in the hospital?

No.  I only attend planned home births.  If my clients need to transfer to the hospital, I accompany them to support and advocate for them. If a hospital birth is planned for medical reasons, I provide doula services (labor support) in the hospital.