*** Correction: I realized that I said in here that CMs get a graduate degree in Nursing, they actually get a graduate degree in Midwifery and are not nurses, sorry!
I also wanted to mention-although I don't talk about it in here- that most CNMs practice in a hospital setting, not in a birth center or doing homebirth. When you are at a hospital with a CNM you have the same pain management options as anyone else. So, although a CNM is an excellent choice if you want to have a medication free birth, having a CNM does not mean that you cannot have medication or an epidural if that is what you want or need.
Surveys:
Hospital Admin Survey: http://freeonlinesurveys.com/s.asp?sid=8frves9yojjmfbf102853
Again, Thank you all so much for your support and feedback! Feel free to comment with and questions!
Here are some links to check out!
Hallmarks of Midwifery (www.midwife.org)
1. Recognition of pregnancy, birth and menopause as normal physical and developmental processes.
2. Advocacy of not intervening if there are no complications.
3. Incorporating scientific evidence into clinical practice.
4. Promoting family-centered care.
5. Empowerment of women as partners in health care.
6. Facilitation of healthy family and interpersonal relationships.
7. Promotion of continuity of care.
8. Health promotion, disease prevention, and health education.
9. Promoting a public health care perspective.
10. Care to vulnerable populations.
11. Advocacy for informed choice, shared decision-making, and the right to self-determination.
12. Cultural competence.
13. Familiarity with common complementary and alternative therapies.
14. Skillful communication, guidance and counseling.
15. Therapeutic value of human presence.
16. Collaboration with other members of the health care team.
Philosophy of Midwifery (www.midwife.org)
We believe every person has a right to:
· Equitable, ethical, accessible quality health care that promotes healing and health
· Health care that respects human dignity, individuality and diversity among groups
· Complete and accurate information to make informed health care decisions
· Self-determination and active participation in health care decisions
· Involvement of a woman's designated family members, to the extent desired, in all health care experiences
We honor the normalcy of women's lifecycle events. We believe in:
· Watchful waiting and non-intervention in normal processes
· Appropriate use of interventions and technology for current or potential health problems
· Consultation, collaboration and referral with other members of the health care team as needed to provide optimal health care
We believe the best model of health care for a woman and her family:
· Promotes a continuous and compassionate partnership
· Acknowledges a person's life experiences and knowledge
· Includes individualized methods of care and healing guided by the best evidence available
· Involves therapeutic use of human presence and skillful communication
Links:
That Quiz I was telling you about: www.delivermybaby.org
The American College of Nurse Midwives: www.midwife.org
American Association of Birth Centers:
American Association of Birth Centers: http://www.birthcenters.org/for-parents
The Research from the ACNM- "The latest birth data from the National Center for Health Statistics (2009) [pdf]"
Some interesting blogs to check out:
The Unnecesearean - www.theunnecesarean.com/blog
Evidence based birth- www.evidencebasedbirth.com
Videos:
Every Woman Deserves A Midwife-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJVQaOBkoMU&feature=context-gch
“Why Choose A Midwife”
-http://youtu.be/cHX76msrnvw
