I am playing with the idea of pursuing my passion of childbirth and becoming a midwife. But I would like some more info on it. I can only seem to find information on being a nurse midwife (CNM, LNM, Etc)

I actually want to be a more traditional, licensed midwife. Not nurse.

Can I have more information on this?

American College of Nurse-Midwives

Certified Midwives, Home Birth, Prenatal Care and Other Midwife Information

I could be wrong but the vocation may be different but the training is the same(?).

Maybe. I think the vocation is the same but training is different.
It's a midwife without a nursing degree. Best way I can explain it is an apprenticeship rather than a college education.

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Originally Posted by akf_ngu

Maybe. I think the vocation is the same but training is different.
It's a midwife without a nursing degree. Best way I can explain it is an apprenticeship rather than a college education.

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That is going to depend on what part of the world you live in. Obstetrics is the most litigious specialty in medicine, therefore, a proper education is advised. People want a properly educated midwife, not someone who learned the practice with on-the-job experience.

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Originally Posted by J_9

That is going to depend on what part of the world you live in. Obstetrics is the most litigious specialty in medicine, therefore, a proper education is advised. People want a properly educated midwife, not someone who learned the practice with on-the-job experience.

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I agree and there are Licensed Midwives all over the country who are properly educated, but not nurses. That is what I am trying to go for.

What country do you live in? This is a global website.

United States.

Mostly I am just trying to find information on schools and which schools are the best.

Never mind. Seems I moved to a state that isn't approved by NARM. So I will probably have to take the Nursing Midwife route.

Thank you anyway!

As you have found, very few states are now NARM approved. This is primarily due to the litigious nature of this area of medicine. Of the states that are NARM approved, many facilities will not offer privileges to anyone with less than a CNM degree.

I currently work with a girl who lives in a NARM state, but due to legalities, licensure, differences in practice between CPM and CNM, she chose to go with the CNM.

Thanks J_9. I will start looking into nursing schools, hopefully I may find one that has a midwife program added on instead of having to find 2 different schools :P

Unfortunately, most CNM schools require a minimum of a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) prior to applying to the CNM school. This means that you will have to go to at least 2 possibly 3 different schools.

Oh how fun! *sarcasm* Thanks for raining on my parade haha.

Sorry about that, but that is the reality of the profession. Better to go in with your eyes wide open and with the facts.

Birthing babies isn't just about catching babies falling out of vaginas. There are life and death situations. Women die, babies die, and family sue for millions of dollars. This isn't a profession you decide to go into on a whim, this is a profession born from a passion at a young age.

I'm really not trying to rain on your parade, I'm just giving you the facts as I know them from being a labor and delivery RN myself.

Oh I know. I have wanted to be a midwife ever since I read a book about an Amish midwife when I was about 13. I just never thought I was good enough or smart enough. But I wanted to do it like she did, classically trained through apprenticeship (and certified, as you have to live with the times lol) But if I can't do that I have no problem going to school. Who knows, maybe I am smart enough after all :p

You may very well be smart enough! I used to feel the same way. Never thought I was smart enough. I enrolled at my local community college to take my prerequisites, when they were completed I applied to nursing school and was accepted the first time I applied. I was 39 when I first applied to college. I have been delivering babies for almost 8 years now. While it is mostly a very rewarding profession, at times it is heartbreaking. Losing a baby or losing a mother is all consuming.

Good of luck to you, it can be done if you put your mind to it.