Midwives
Allied Health Professions
Midwives provide medical care and guidance to women during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and the postpartum period. They conduct prenatal examinations, attend and manage normal deliveries, provide newborn care, offer family planning counseling, and educate patients about maternal and infant health, often emphasizing natural childbirth and holistic care approaches.
Working conditions
These practitioners work in hospitals, birthing centers, community health clinics, and sometimes provide home birth services where they attend deliveries and provide prenatal and postpartum care. Work requires being on-call for deliveries at any time, attending births that can last many hours, and collaborating with obstetricians when complications arise.
Academic requirements
This occupation requires completion of an accredited midwifery education program, which may be a graduate-level program for Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) requiring a nursing degree first, or a direct-entry midwifery program for Certified Midwives (CMs). National certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board and state licensure are required.
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Typical salary range
$72K - 135K
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Years Higher Education
4 - 8
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Job Outlook
Very Good