Midwife Myths and Misconceptions

MYTH: Certified Nurse-Midwives only deliver babies at home.

FACT: The majority of births attended by Certified Nurse-Midwives occur in hospitals. In 2002, 97 percent of CNM attended births were in hospitals, 1.8 percent in freestanding birth centers and 1.1 percent in the home.

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MYTH: Certified Nurse-Midwives patients cannot recieve pain medicationin labor.

FACT: Both IV pain medication and epidural anesthesia are available during boirths attended by CNMs.

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MYTH: Murse-Midwives only take care of pregnant women.

FACT: Of all visits to nurse-midwives 90% were for primary care which includes the yearly gynecological exam. Other examples are contraception counseluing exams, and annual physicals.

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MYTH: Midwives are not certified.

FACTL Certified Nurse-Midwives in Oklahoma are certified both by their national organization, The American Coollege of Nurse-Midwives, and by the state of Oklahoma. Training occurs at one of 43 schoold of Midwifery in the United States. Four of these are post-Bachelor degree, and 39 are Masters programs.

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MYTH: Insurance doesn't pay for midwifery services

FACT: All major insutance companies and Medicaid cover Midwifery services.

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MYTH: Going to a midiwfe is not as safe as going to a Dr for care.

FACT: Recent national studoies have shown that outcomes for midwifery care in the U.S. have exceeded the national average. Nurse-Midwives wotking in collaboration with physicians have achieved excellent outcomes, as evidenced by their low cesarean-section rates, and a low pre-term birth rate.

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