If you care about women and babies, and want to be able to provide medical support during pregnancy and birth in a caring supportive way, then midwifery may be for you. Read on to learn how to become a midwife.

State laws requiring how and where midwives can practice vary, so the first step you'll need to take is to investigate the specific requirements of the state you are looking to practice in. There are many different training options available, but you'll want to make sure that the training you select will satisfy your state's medical board. Most midwives receive their most valuable training during an apprenticeship, while they are assisting an experienced midwife.

A midwife is a woman who assists with the birth of babies outside of a hospital. Midwifery is considered a more traditional way to approach childbirth, as drugs and technology are used judiciously. Midwives take a more holistic approach to childbirth than physicians, and focus on providing support in a natural and personal way.

Midwives guide mothers through the birthing process, and they also help out during the pregnancy phase in order to ensure a healthy baby and a safe labor process. In addition, midwives may work with doctors to stay knowledgeable about drugs and technology should they need to be used.http://www.washingtonmidwives.org/midwife_define.shtml

• Not all states license midwives. In some states, midwives can only practice under the supervision of a certified nurse midwife (a registered nurse trained to supervise births) or an obstetrician, while in other states, midwives can supervise low-risk at-home births. The North American Registry of Midwives' (NARM) certified professional midwife designation (CPM) is required in most states that license midwives, and in all the states that license midwives for out-of-hospital births.

• Aspiring midwives can either graduate from a program accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC), or they can meet the educational equivalency requirements laid out by NARM. MEAC accredits both classroom-based and distance education programs.

• Hands-on training with experienced midwives is an important part of an aspiring midwife's training. NARM certification requires:

1. Attendance at 20 births as an active participant with 10 of these taking place within three years of application for certification
2. Attendance at 20 births as primary midwife, under supervision
   1. 10 of these must be out of hospital
   2. Three of these must be for women for whom you have done four prenatal visits, a newborn exam, and a postpartum exam
3. Performance of 75 prenatal exams, including 20 initial exams, as primary midwife under supervision
4. Performance of 20 newborn exams as primary midwife under supervision
5. Performance of 40 postpartum exams as primary midwife under supervision

• Caring for women throughout their pregnancies and assisting them as they deliver their babies can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Be sure you are familiar with state law, and seek out MEAC-approved training to prepare you to work as an apprentice, and eventually to begin your career as a midwife.

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