Certified Professional Midwives
A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a
knowledgeable, skilled and professional
independent midwifery practitioner who has met
the standards for certification set by the
North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and
is qualified to provide the Midwives Model of Care.
The CPM is the only midwifery credential that
requires knowledge about and experience in
out-of-hospital settings.
Both Midwives Karen and Natalie are Candidates
for the NARM CPM. They have completed training
and are waiting for confirmation of CPM status.
Most CPMs own or work in private home or birth
center based practices throughout the United States,
Canada, and Mexico. Providing continuous care for
women throughout their childbearing cycle, CPMs
generally carry a relatively low client load (averaging 3-6 births per month) which allows for more personalized and comprehensive care than typical obstetrical practices. The scope of practice of the CPM is derived from the NARM Job Analysis, state laws and regulations, and individual practice guidelines developed by each midwife according to her skills and knowledge.
Based on the MANA Core Competencies, the guiding principles of the practice of CPMs are to work with women to promote a healthy pregnancy, and provide education to help her make informed decisions about her own care. In partnership with their clients they carefully monitor the progress of the pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period and recommend appropriate management if complications arise, collaborating with other healthcare providers when necessary. The key elements of this education, monitoring, and decision making process are based on Evidenced-Based Practice and Informed Consent.
For more information regarding the above CPM discription, please visit www.NARM.org.
For information regarding Homebirth Safety, please visit The BMJ international
peer reviewed medical journal. For information regarding Trends in U.S. Homebirth,
please visit the CDC Data Brief.
