Celebrating National Midwifery Week

October might bring thoughts of pumpkins and trick-or-treating to mind, but it's also a time to contemplate the roles of some dedicated nursing professionals. That's right: every year, National Midwifery Week is celebrated from October 5 to 10. The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)--the oldest women's health care association in the USA--explains that the week is intended to raise awareness of the profession of midwifery.

According to ACNM's website, special events during National Midwifery Week 2009 included a community birthday party held by Irwin Army Community Hospital nurse midwives (Fort Riley, Kansas), a news interview with a certified nurse-midwife and a second-time new mom at St. Luke Hospital (Kentucky), and a "Women's Walk for Wellness" created by Albemarle midwives (North Carolina).

During the week, nurse midwives were also hard at work dispelling myths about midwifery and encouraging women to proactively seek out realistic information about childbirth. For example, the Community Alliance for Birth Options (CABO) aired public service announcements on local radio in Laguna Hills, California. CABO also used the week to continue ongoing efforts to promote the film Laboring Under an Illusion, which explores the role of the media in creating popular beliefs about pregnancy and birth. After seeing the film, one seventeen-year old commented, "If I was ever unsure about the realities of giving birth, now I am not. Birth is a beautiful thing."

The efforts of midwives to increase public awareness, concerning childbirth itself as well the role of nurse midwifery, are not limited to a single week. Midwives encounter all sorts of myths and misunderstandings in the course of their work, such as the belief that midwives are only used for home births. In fact, only 1 out of 100 midwife-assisted births happen at home, with the majority taking place in hospitals.

"The midwifery model of care is a unique model, as it provides a personalized approach for each woman. Nurse Midwives are experts in women's health, and care for women throughout their lifespan," said Lorrie Kaplan, executive director of American College of Nurse‐Midwives, as quoted on the Medical News Today website. "Once I started working with a midwife during my second pregnancy, I realized I had met my ideal health care provider for life. It's exciting to see that the word is getting out."

Although there is still plenty of misinformation out there, the tide is turning for the popularization of midwifery in the United States, thanks to the rising quality and accessibility of formal nursing education. Although the first US school for Nurse midwives was started during World War II, accredited master's programs for students of midwifery did not exist until the late 1990s.

Today, however, there are dozens of excellent accredited programs from which aspiring nurse midwives can choose. Midwifery programs span the bachelor's, masters and PhD levels, and offer a range of competencies--students can become midwives, nurse midwives, or certified nurse midwives, depending on the specific degree and certification they pursue.

Students of midwifery combined fun with education during National Midwifery Week celebrations. For example, student nurses at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, enjoyed an all-day workshop on alternative models of care. Meanwhile, students at the University of Kansas School of Nursing listened to Sheila Roth, CNM, as she described her experience starting out as a homebirth midwife and becoming a certified nurse-midwife in the mid-90s. The University website quotes Terrah Stroda, CNM, ARNP, clinical instructor and midwifery program faculty, as saying, “We chose Sheila to speak to our students because of her dynamic personality, devotion to the profession and willingness to teach the next generation of midwives.”

As student nurses and aspiring midwives continue to hone their skills, the future looks bright for nurse midwifery in the USA. "Twenty-five years ago I had to work nights to be able to attend midwifery classes, and I got blank looks when I told people what I did," says one nurse midwife from Texas. "Now I'm getting my master's online--no hassle. My family and friends are supportive and I am helping women make good decisions every day. I love my job."

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