Midwifery Fundamentals

Study Notes

Midwifery is a healthcare profession that focuses on the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Midwives are trained professionals who provide medical, emotional, and social support to women during this time.

Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): A registered nurse with advanced education and training in midwifery.
Certified Midwife (CM): A non-nurse midwife with a degree in midwifery.
Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): A midwife who has completed a training program and has passed a certification exam, but may not have a degree in nursing or midwifery.

Antenatal care: Providing routine check-ups and screenings during pregnancy.
Intrapartum care: Attending births and providing medical care during labor and delivery.
Postpartum care: Providing care and support to women and newborns after birth.
Education and support: Educating women and their families on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
Referral and collaboration: Referring women to other healthcare providers when necessary and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.

Hospital-based midwifery: Midwives work in hospitals, often as part of an obstetric team.
Birth center midwifery: Midwives work in freestanding birth centers, providing a more homelike environment for birth.
Home birth midwifery: Midwives attend births in the woman's home, providing a more personalized and intimate experience.
Collaborative care model: Midwives work alongside obstetricians and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.

Woman-centered care: Focus on the woman's needs, preferences, and autonomy.
Physiologic birth: Supporting the natural process of birth and minimizing interventions.
Holistic care: Addressing the physical, emotional, and social needs of women and their families.

Midwifery is a healthcare profession that focuses on the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Midwives provide medical, emotional, and social support to women during this time.

Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse with advanced education and training in midwifery.
Certified Midwife (CM) is a non-nurse midwife with a degree in midwifery.
Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a midwife who has completed a training program and has passed a certification exam, but may not have a degree in nursing or midwifery.

Antenatal care involves providing routine check-ups and screenings during pregnancy.
Intrapartum care involves attending births and providing medical care during labor and delivery.
Postpartum care involves providing care and support to women and newborns after birth.
Education and support involve educating women and their families on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
Referral and collaboration involve referring women to other healthcare providers when necessary and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.

Hospital-based midwifery involves midwives working in hospitals, often as part of an obstetric team.
Birth center midwifery involves midwives working in freestanding birth centers, providing a more homelike environment for birth.
Home birth midwifery involves midwives attending births in the woman's home, providing a more personalized and intimate experience.
Collaborative care model involves midwives working alongside obstetricians and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.

Woman-centered care focuses on the woman's needs, preferences, and autonomy.
Physiologic birth involves supporting the natural process of birth and minimizing interventions.
Holistic care involves addressing the physical, emotional, and social needs of women and their families.