The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) are pillars in the professionalization of nurse-midwifery in the U.S. Their journey, from community-based care to nationally certified healthcare practice, illustrates the power of organization, advocacy, and …
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, has strongly returned to U.S. labor and delivery units after decades of decline. While epidurals remain the dominant form of pain relief, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are helping reintroduce this low-intervention alternative for patients …
More women across the U.S. are choosing certified midwives to guide them through pregnancy and childbirth, especially when their pregnancies are considered low-risk. Brandy Brey, founder of Wholesome Birth Services in Salem, Wisconsin, represents a growing shift toward natural, empowering …
Cynthia Jaffe, a licensed midwife and founder of the Greenbank Women’s Clinic and Birth Center in Greenbank, Washington, is celebrating a monumental milestone: 25 years of helping mothers bring new life into the world. With an estimated 1,200 births under …
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Ruth Cummings of Sacramento is awaiting a final decision from the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), following accusations of gross negligence related to a 2010 stillbirth. The incident stemmed from a phone consultation in which …
Cesarean sections (C-sections) are the most common surgical procedure in the United States. In California, however, a focused statewide initiative helped reduce the rate of first-time C-sections among low-risk pregnancies from 26% in 2014 to just 22.8% by 2019, below …
Licensing laws vary dramatically by state, affecting everything from where a midwife can practice to whether Medicaid can reimburse them. For expectant parents, the legality and availability of midwifery services can depend entirely on geography. For aspiring midwives, the complexity …
Why the Memorial Hospital Birthing Center May Close In late February, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, located in Pawtucket, announced plans to shut down its birthing center due to ongoing financial strain. The closure, part of a larger restructuring effort …
How Pop Culture Skews Our View of Nurse-Midwives Pop culture often reinforces inaccurate or outdated ideas about midwifery. Whether it’s a TV drama or comedy sketch, nurse-midwives are sometimes portrayed as mystical healers, fringe birth assistants, or obsolete relics of …