Is a certified midwife a doctor?

Answer 1

A mid-wife is a RN that has had special training in dthe delivery of infants. A doctor is a MD who has completed 4 years of medical school and at least 5 years of residency in that specific field - there is a BIG difference between the two.

Answer 2

A midwife is simply a nurse that extends her education to being a CNM which is a Certified Nurse Midwife. AN Obstetrician is an actual doctor which has more training. This does not mean than an OB is more qualified than a midwife though. A lot of women who prefer a more relaxed birthing method (water birht, at-home birth etc) may prefer a midwife over an OB. This is simply because a OB usually delivers babies at a hospital so if a complication does present iteself during birth, you are already there at a hospital. If you use a midwife, they may have to call an OB, or an ambulance to bring you to a hosptial which might have more technology/equipment readily available if risks are presented. Women who are at high-rish or who have had a miscarriage before are not recommended to have a midwife, or if they do, to at least have their midwife help them deliver at a local rea hosptital.

Answer 3

A midwife performs clinical tasks. For example, she can take blood pressure, check cervical dilation, and catch the baby, among other things. She is also trained to recognize indications of possible complications and to handle medical emergencies that may arise, such as the need to resuscitate the infant.

A birth doula does not perform any clinical tasks. She is there to give emotional support to the laboring woman and her partner, assist with comfort measures such as massage and position changes, and to facilitate communication between the woman/couple and the medical staff. The doula is knowledgeable in normal childbirth and is able to encourage the mother and her partner by letting them know that what is happening is normal.

Numerous studies show improved birth outcomes with the presence of a doula, including 25% shorter labors, and a substantially decreased incidence of postpartum depression. Learn more at the DONA International website.

Answer 4

A gynecologist is a physician (MD or DO) who is a licensed and certified specialist in the field of women's health care and diseases of the female reproductive system. Some gynecologists are also obstetricians (physicians who are licensed and certfied specialists in the field of pregnancy and the delivery of babies). In the USA a gynecologist, obstetrician or obstetrician-gynecologist is licensed by the state in which he/she practices medicine. A midwife is a person trained to assist women during childbirth. Some midwives are trained and certified medical professionals, while others are lay persons who have attended midwifery instruction or are self-educated. There are many types of midwives including Direct Entry Midwives (DEM), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), Certified Midwives (CM), Certified Professional Midwives (CPM), Licensed Midwives (LM), Registered Midwives (RM) and Lay Midwives. Many states require midwives to be licensed.

Answer 5

A certified midwife is not a doctor, but a person who has undergone training and met educational requirements to care for a mom-to-be, and the newborn. There is a requirement for birth attendance and supervised deliveries. Then the certificate and independence.