Midwifery Options

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is the professional association representing certified nurse-midwives (CNM) and certified midwives (CM) in the United States. When we say midwives, we are referring to both CNMs and CMs.

Certified nurse-midwives are licensed, independent health care providers. Under federal law, certified nurse-midwives are defined as primary care providers. Certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives are educated and certified the same way. Certified midwives are not currently authorized to practice in Pennsylvania, because it is a newer pathway to advanced practice midwifery.

Midwives are well-known for attending births. In Pennsylvania, midwives also provide a number of reproductive and sexual health and primary care services. They perform women’s annual exams, write prescriptions, conduct basic nutrition counseling, parenting education, patient education, and other reproductive health visits.

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