(NAPSA)—Giventhe latest statistics on expectant mothers, the popularity of midwives is expected to grow—and experts say that’s a good thing for both mothers and babies. Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) currently attend almost 10 percent of the births in the U.S., a number that has more than doubled since 1990. There EEE are over 6,500 practicing nurse- midwives in the U.S. While midwives are probably best known for their care of women during pregnancy and childbirth, they serve womenof all ages. More than 50 percent of their patients visit them for primary care services. Certified nurse-midwives are registered nurses who have successfully completed an accredited graduate education program and passed a nationalcertification exam. They are licensed to practice and write prescriptionsin all states. There are many advantages to having a nurse-midwife as your care provider. Compared to obstetrician/gynecologists, research shows that CNMs can provide high-level quality care with comparable or better outcomes. Patients report high levels of satisfaction and lower costs due to fewer unnecessary, invasive and expensive technological interventions. A recent report by the U.S. Congress found that “certified nurse-midwives are more adept than physicians at providing services that depend on communication with patients and preventa- Nurse-midwives do more than deliver babies—they care for womenthroughouttheir lifetime. tive actions.” This model of preventative care and patient education is one reason women love their midwives. “Women love the high quality and sensitivity of the care they receive from their midwives,” said American College of Nurse-Midwies Executive Director Lorrie Kline Kaplan. “That’s why women visit their midwives for gynecologic care, primary care, and family planning, as well as care during pregnancyandbirth.” CNMs focus on primary care issues such as family planning and the gynecological needs of women, pregnancy, the postpartum period and care of the newborn. Midwives practice in hospitals, birth centers, managed care organizations, private offices, clinics, andpublic health departments. For more information, visit www.midwife.org, call (240) 4851800 or e-mail info@acnm.org.
