Midwives...

There are different types of midwives and I got really confused with all of the letters behind their names - I had no clue what the letters meant and which one I would feel more comfortable with.

Below is a description of each of the types of midwives:

Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): an individual trained and licensed in both nursing and midwifery. Nurse-midwives possess at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and are certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): an individual trained in midwifery that meets practice standards of the North American Registry of Midwives.
Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM): an independent individual trained in midwifery through a variety of possibilities that include: self-study, apprenticeship, a midwifery school, or a college/university program.
Certified Midwife (CM): an individual trained and certified in midwifery. Certified midwives possess at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and are certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Lay Midwife: an individual who is not certified or licensed as a midwife, but they are trained informally through self-study or apprenticeship.

The midwives model of care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.

The midwives model of care includes:

    * Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
    * Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
    * Minimizing technological interventions
    * Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

Best Start Birth Center
3343 Fourth Avenue, San Diego 92103
619-299-0840

UCSD Birth Center
200 West Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 543-6222

Birth Roots Babies Birth Center
Darnyee Blount, Sarah Davis
236 F Street
Chula Vista, CA 91910
619.409.4900

Birth Matters
Michelle Freund
Office: (760) 757-8650
birthmatters@sbcglobal.net

Center for Natural Birth
Marla Hicks, Gerri Ryan,
Heather LeMaster & Sandi Villafana
4135 54th St. San Diego, CA 92105
619.814.0567

Sol Beginnings
Sunshine Chrispeels
(858) 245 - 9244

Mobile Midwifery
Karly Nuttall
(858) 427 - 1505