Learn more About Certified Professional Midwives with answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Midwives Are Growing in Popularity. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Several experts discuss the state of midwifery in the U.S.
Interactive Maps
from the MISS Study and how to use them. You are invited to explore the maps yourself here and see how your state ranks. Click the picture to access all the information.
Mapping integration of midwives across the United States: Impact on access, equity, and outcomes: The Midwifery Integration Scoring System (MISS)
The MISS Study
North Carolina is last in the nation in regards to midwifery integration into the larger healthcare system.
Abstract: Poor coordination of care across providers and birth settings has been associated with adverse maternal-newborn outcomes. Research suggests that integration of midwives into regional health systems is a key determinant of optimal maternal-newborn outcomes, yet, to date, the characteristics of an integrated system have not been described, nor linked to health disparities. Click the image to read the full text as PDF.
Smooth Transitions:
The purpose of the Washington State Perinatal Collaborative was simply, "to study and improve the process of transferring women and their babies from a planned home or birth center location to an acute-care hospital when a higher level of care becomes necessary."
This common goal and the willingness for all involved in perinatal health to work together to find solutions resulted in dramatically improved safety outcomes and greater integration of midwives into the healthcare system.
Enhancing the Safety of Planned Out-of-Hospital Birth Transfers ~ A Quality Improvement Initiative of the Washington State Perinatal Collaborative
Why Smooth transitions works in washington state and how it can work in other places
Smooth Transitions: A Quality Improvement Initiative
NCMERA plans to bring aspects of the amazingly successful Smooth Transitions project to Communities around NC. If you are interested in joining our collaborative, please reach out using the Contact Us form on this website.
Creating the Future of Midwifery in the US
US MERA ... The National Midwifery Collaboration
By supporting the work of NCMERA and adopting the Principles for Model U.S. Midwifery Legislation & Regulation recommendations made by USMERA, NC can become a leader in the nation and improve maternal-child health outcomes.
ACOG Endorsement
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) endorses the ICM education and training standards and strongly advocates the ICM criteria as a baseline for midwife licensure in the United States, through legislation and regulation. Women in every state should be guaranteed care that meets these important minimum standards.
A March 2015 consensus document, Levels of Maternal Care, developed jointly by ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, calls for systems-level improvements, including implementation of a new uniform classification system for how maternal care is delivered across the US, and specifies new regional criteria for facilities including birth centers. While Levels of Maternal Care references certified professional midwives, ACOG holds firm that all midwife providers must meet or exceed the ICM education and training standards. Read the text here.
College Statement of Policy on Midwifery Education and Certification
Birth center care improves population health, patient experience, and value. The model demonstrates the potential to decrease racial disparity and improve population health. Reduction of regulatory barriers and implementation of sustainable reimbursement are warranted to move the model to scale for Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide.
The Home Birth Summit
The Home Birth Summits brought everyone to the table and through that collaboration, many useful documents and recommendations were created. Including Best Practice Guidelines: Transfer from Planned Home Birth to Hospital, read the pdf of these guidelines here
Click here to access the Home Birth Summit Library
Promoting Women’s Health to Improve Birth Outcomes
