What is a Midwife?What is a Certified Nurse Midwife? Certified Nurse Midwives are registered nurses with a master's degree, and have education in two disciplines, Nursing and Midwifery. CNMs are board certified, independently licensed, and have prescriptive authority in all 50 states. They primarily work in clinics and hospitals, and in addition to attending over 10% of the births in Colorado, provide pregnancy and gynecological care from puberty to menopause. They are able to collect for insurance reimbursement with private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Certified Nurse Midwives are experts in understanding the normalcy of birth, and recognizing potential complications early. They collaborate with physicians if complications arise. They care for women who desire either a natural labor or a medicated labor (including epidurals), and can first assist during a cesarean section. CNMs provide support during labor, and are open and respectful of birth preferences. They have similar safety outcomes as obstetricians for mothers and babies, while having low rates of induction, cesarean section, and episiotomies. What Does A Certified Nurse Midwife Believe? A Certified Nurse Midwife affirms the power and strength of women and the importance of their health in the well-being of families, communities and nations. We believe in the basic human rights of all persons, recognizing that women often incur an undue burden of risk when these rights are violated. Our Midwives believe every person has a right to:
A Midwife believes in the best model of health care for a woman and her family:
Our Midwives honor the normalcy of women's lifecycle events. We believe in:
We affirm that midwifery care incorporates these qualities and that women's health care needs are well-served through midwifery care. Finally, we value formal education, lifelong individual learning, and the development and application of research to guide ethical and competent midwifery practice. These beliefs and values provide the foundation for commitment to individual and collective leadership at the community, state, national and international level to improve the health of women and their families worldwide. |
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Midwife Scope of Practice  Diana Alisa South Denver Midwives Midwifery as practiced by Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) encompasses primary care for women across the lifespan from adolescence beyond menopause, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health. Midwives perform comprehensive physical exams, prescribe medications including contraceptive methods, order laboratory and other diagnostic tests, and provide health and wellness education and counseling. The scope of practice for CNMs includes treatment of male partners for sexually transmitted infections, and care of the normal newborn during the first 28 days of life. Our Midwife Credentials The American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) is the professional association that represents certified nurse midwives (CNMs). Certified nurse midwives are registered nurses who have graduated from a nurse midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and have passed a national certification examination to receive the professional designation of certified nurse midwife. CNMs have been practicing in the United States since the 1920s. Certified Nurse Midwives are individuals who have or receive a background in a health related field other than nursing and graduate from a midwifery education program accredited by ACME. The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) administers the national certification examination for CNMs. CNMs are legally authorized to practice in every state in the United States and in the District of Columbia.  Call 303.738.1100 to schedule an appointment, or |