Certified Professional Midwives: How A Lack Of Education Can Lead To The Loss Of Precious Lives

Gavin Michael died needlessly in a first-world country, a country with some of the best medical care in the world. Unfortunately, the US is also a country in which a tier of midwives that would not be allowed to practice in any other developed country exists.

Before being licensed, these midwives have to meet the requirements of NARM, the North American Registry of Midwives — an organization founded by the Midwives’ Alliance of North America (MANA). The requirements NARM sets now include the need to have a high school diploma. 

CPMs do not have to be qualified nurses, they do not have to have attended any type of formal midwifery school, they are not required to have had clinical experience with pregnancy complications, and they are only required to attend a minimal amount of births compared to Certified Nurse Midwives and OBGYNs. Certified Professional Midwives would not be able to deliver babies in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia. They do not meet the standards set by any other developed nation. Frankly, CPMs should not be able to call themselves midwives at all. 

"I would tell people to research both sides of homebirth. Don’t just listen to the beautiful, perfect stories that are out there. There are many things that people do not know about home birth that are covered up," she says.

"Do not hire a CPM or lay midwife," Danielle advises. "They are not educated enough to know if something is wrong and do not know the proper steps to handle it anyways. Also, they cannot be held accountable for their actions. If anything goes wrong, they have no one over them to file a complaint to or revoke them from practicing and they do not carry malpractice insurance. There is no way to go after them to pay for any medical bills for an injured child or funeral expenses." 

 

What does Danielle think of the CPM credential, now that she is aware of the lack of education these midwives have? "I think CPMs should have a certain level of training to call themselves CPMs — like a Certified Nurse Midwife does — or the US should get rid of this type of midwife. It is not educated or accountable so it seems like a pointless title." 

See Also: Natural Pain Relief Options During Labor And Birth

 

Danielle has a message for the CPM whose lack of action led to her son's death too. "I would love for Christy to admit what she did wrong and apologize to everyone publicly for her lies and deceit. She will never repay me the money I gave to her but if she could apologize for her slander and lies about me that would help to fix some of the damage that she has done."