Why Midwifery Care?

Midwifery is maternity care. It is practiced by skilled professionals who treat the pregnant person as the expert on their own body, and the model centers that relationship at every visit.

  • Individualized, relationship-based prenatal visits that typically run 30 to 60 minutes, compared to the standard 7-minute OB appointment
  • Education and informed consent woven into every decision point
  • Minimal intervention when pregnancy and birth are progressing normally
  • Continuity of care, so you often see the same provider from your first appointment all the way through postpartum

The evidence supports this approach. Countries with high midwifery utilization, including the UK, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, consistently report strong maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Understanding the Credentials

CNM: Certified Nurse-Midwife

A CNM starts as a registered nurse, then completes a graduate-level midwifery program accredited by ACME (the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education). CNMs are licensed in all 50 states and can practice in hospitals, birth centers, and homes. They prescribe medications, order labs and imaging, and manage most complications independently. If you want midwifery care inside a hospital system, a CNM is usually your path.

CPM: Certified Professional Midwife

A CPM earns certification through NARM (the North American Registry of Midwives). Their training is built around out-of-hospital birth, specifically home and birth center settings. CPMs are deeply versed in physiologic birth, and their scope emphasizes hands-off support for low-risk pregnancies. Licensure varies by state, so it is worth checking your local regulations before booking.

CM: Certified Midwife

A CM completes the same graduate-level ACME-accredited education as a CNM but enters from a non-nursing background. CMs are currently licensed in a smaller number of states, though that number keeps growing.

Midwife vs. OB: It Is Not Either/Or

Many families frame the decision as midwife versus OB, but it does not have to be binary. Some CNMs practice within OB groups, offering collaborative care. Others work independently with an OB available for consultation or transfer if complications arise.

The question that matters more is whether a given model of care fits your values and your pregnancy. If you want longer appointments, shared decision-making, and a provider who sees birth as a normal physiological event rather than a medical procedure, midwifery care may resonate.

What to Ask When Interviewing a Midwife

About Training and Experience

  • What is your credential (CNM, CPM, CM) and where did you train?
  • How many births have you attended as primary midwife?
  • Do you carry malpractice insurance?

About Philosophy and Practice

  • How do you approach pain management during labor?
  • What is your transfer rate, and what do your transfer protocols look like?
  • Under what circumstances would you recommend an induction or cesarean?
  • How do you feel about water birth, delayed cord clamping, and immediate skin-to-skin?

About Logistics

  • Will you be the person at my birth, or do you share call with other midwives?
  • What does your on-call schedule look like around my due date?
  • What is included in your fee, and do you accept insurance?

About Prenatal and Postpartum Care

  • How long are your prenatal appointments?
  • Do you offer home visits postpartum?
  • How do you support breastfeeding and newborn care?

Finding a Midwife Near You

BAABY's provider directory lets you search for midwives in your area, compare credentials, and learn about their approach before you even pick up the phone. Whether you are looking for a hospital-based CNM or an independent CPM for a homebirth, the right midwife is someone who makes you feel heard, respected, and safe.

Trust the Relationship

The best midwife for you is the one whose philosophy aligns with yours, whose communication style puts you at ease, and who you trust to hold steady when labor gets intense. Midwifery care at its core is relational. Take the time to find a provider who honors that.