What is a Midwife?

If you’re expecting (or hoping to be soon), you may be hearing the word Midwife — and you might also wonder: “Isn’t that, like, something from medieval times?” You’re not wrong that midwifery has ancient roots. 

Many People Associate the word Midwife With:

•     Fief
•     Midwife
•     Vassal
•     Apprentice
•     Knight
•     Abbess

Instead Of:

•   Registered Nurse
•   Nurse anesthetist
•   Medical Doctor
•   Midwife (Certified Nurse Midwives – CNMs, Certified Midwives – CMs, Certified Professional Midwives – CPMs)
•   Physician Assistant

Midwives are modern healthcare professionals — highly trained, certified in midwifery education programs, and recognized by major medical organizations around the world.

Midwifery is one of the oldest and wisest professions still in existence. In many parts of the world, Midwives are a normal, household name. In the U.S., however, midwifery has sometimes been misunderstood — either seen as outdated, or only for “granola-eating, home birthing hippies.”  

But midwifery is no fringe choice. It’s a well-supported, evidence-based model of care backed by both research and real-world results.

Here’s what the data says:

Women cared for by professional Midwives experience:

• FEWER hospital admissions during pregnancy.

• LOWER rates of hypertension in pregnancy and labor.

• FEWER episodes of abnormal fetal heart rates.

• LESS need for pain medication (including epidurals).

• FEWER cases of shoulder dystocia.

• LOWER rates of forceps and vacuum-assisted deliveries.

• FEWER retained placentas and postpartum hemorrhages.

• FEWER serious perineal tears (3rd- and 4th-degree).

• MORE vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC).

And Their Babies are:

• LESS likely to be born preterm or with low birth weight.

• LESS likely to suffer distress during labor.

• LESS likely to require NICU care.

• MORE likely to room-in with their mothers and breastfeed successfully.

Meanwhile, under standard OB-GYN care, outcomes often swing in the opposite direction, with higher rates of interventions and complications. (Yes, really.)

And it’s not just anecdotal:

In 2014, The Lancet — one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals — published a major series on midwifery. It concluded that expanding access to midwifery care could prevent more than 80% of maternal and newborn deaths worldwide, including stillbirths.

Midwives play a pivotal role in improving outcomes for moms and babies in all kinds of settings — from rural clinics to hospitals and birthing centers.

So, what exactly IS a Midwife?

A Midwife is a highly educated, well-trained health professional whose presence is backed by scientific studies and endorsed by the World Health Organization.

The word “Midwife” literally means “with woman” — and that’s what Midwives do. We walk with you through your pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum journey. We support you — not “save” you — because we trust birth and we trust you.

Midwives follow a holistic Model of Care that includes:

• Monitoring the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the mother.

• Offering individualized education, counseling, and pregnancy care.

• Providing continuous hands-on support during labor and delivery.

• Minimizing unnecessary technological interventions.

• Recognizing when specialized medical care is needed — and coordinating it seamlessly.

• Supporting your birthing experience whether it takes place in a hospital, birthing center, or even at home.

(Source: Citizens for Midwifery)

Midwives are not a thing of the past. We are the bridge between ancient wisdom and modern medicine.

Choosing a Midwife means choosing personalized care, empowerment, education, and support every step of the way. 

Midwives are here — and we’re some of the best care providers you could have. So if you’re planning for the moment when someone will help you deliver your baby, consider who will be with you when it matters most. A midwife just might be the perfect fit.

Let’s keep talking about Midwives. Let’s shout it from the rooftops: Midwives are AMAZING!

Curious to know what it’s like to have a Midwife on your team? Check out our online orientation to learn more.