A home birth with a certified, licensed midwife is considered a safe option for low risk women. When low risk women are cared for by a competent, trained provider there are less interventions and excellent outcomes.
Is Homebirth Safe?
Certification
There are two types of certified midwives, Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs). To become a CPM or CNM, one must complete hundreds of hours of study in order to pass a written and skills exam. They must also experience a variety of birthing situations while being supervised by a licensed midwife. By the time a midwife is certified, they have had years of study and in-field training.
Certified professional midwives are also CPR and Newborn Resuscitation certified and are required by the North American Registry of Midwives (the certification agency) to complete annual continuing education credits in order to ensure providers faithfully provide safe and competent care.
Licensure and Safety
The state of Wisconsin determines what a safe home birth looks like and has written into law what are called the Standards of Practice for CPMs. The law determines what tests and medications CPMs can offer, when they need to consult with a CNM or physician, how and when to transfer a patient and how to care for a mom and baby in each stage of pregnancy and delivery.
The state also provides licenses to practice. The “LM” after a midwifes name stands for Licensed Midwife and means the provider is bound by state law.
Midwives with certification and a license are extensively trained and home births they attend are considered safe for low risk women.
Midwifery Model of Care
The Midwifery Model of Care is a universally accepted standard of practice that focuses on nurturing care during pregnancy and delivery. Relationships between client and midwife are built on trust and allow the client to labor and give birth in confidence and support.
