Certified Nurse Midwife Services
What is a certified nurse midwife (CNM)?
A CNM is a specific kind of advanced practice nurse that specializes in women's healthcare services. CNMs are licensed, independent health care providers with prescriptive authority in all 50 states. CNMs focus on participating as partners in a woman's care and generally take a low-intervention, holistic approach to healthcare.
Read more about certified nurse midwives.
What's the educational background of a CNM?
CNMs first complete a bachelor's in nursing and pass a licensing exam to become a registered nurse. After successful acquisition of a nursing license, registered nurses may go on to complete a Master's or Doctorate of Nursing Practice. While completing the academic requirements, the nurse logs at least 1000 clinical hours in women's health services and labor/delivery experiences and takes a national certifying exam specific to certified midwives and certified nurse midwives.
Can a certified nurse midwife see me throughout my lifetime?
CNMs see women across their entire lifespan, much like an OB/GYN physician. A CNM can take care of pap smears, STD screenings, infections, hormone replacement therapy and many more issues beyond prenatal care and deliveries.
What is the scope of practice of a CNM?
Midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) encompasses a 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 during the first 28 days of life and treatment of male partners for sexually transmitted infections.
If I have a CNM, can I have an epidural or pain medicine during labor?
You can absolutely still have pain medication or an epidural in labor if that is what you decide. The job of a midwife is to empower and advocate on the patient's behalf. Whether you are determined to have a "natural childbirth," just curious about trying but not necessarily committed to the idea, or certain you want an epidural from the get-go, the goal of a midwife is to help you achieve the birth experience you are looking for.
Will midwives only deliver at the hospital?
Yes, the midwives with privileges on the medical staff of Eastern New Mexico Medical Center.