Midwifery jobs can be very rewarding, but being part of a woman’s journey into motherhood takes a very special kind of person. When trying to decide how to choose the best midwifery jobs, there are several important aspects to consider. Depending on your location, you may have the option of being a midwife in a home birth setting, a birthing center, or in a hospital. Each of these midwifery jobs requires different educational and licensing requirements, and it is important to research these requirements prior to choosing your path. It also is important to note that midwifery is illegal in some places.
Lay midwives are women who practice outside of a hospital setting. Generally, the birth process happens in the new mother’s home, and the midwife is present to offer encouragement, support, guidance, and intervention in the event that problems arise with the birthing process. Lay midwives may acquire their training through a midwifery school or by apprenticing under an established midwife. Some regions do not permit home births, so it is very important to check with your local governmental health agency for the laws pertaining to being a lay midwife in your area.
Certified Nurse Midwives are legally licensed medical professionals that often work in birthing centers or hospitals under the supervision of a doctor. The educational requirements for being a Certified Nurse Midwife will vary from region to region, however most areas require the completion of a formal nursing school education lasting from four to six years. While a Certified Nurse Midwife focuses more on natural childbirth options than a traditional obstetrician, most midwives in a hospital setting must still uphold the hospitals policies in regards to labor and delivery procedures. Midwives working in a birthing center have more freedom to incorporate non-traditional means of pain management and can provide their patients with more alternative birthing options than their counterparts working in a hospital setting.
When choosing the best midwifery jobs, you also should consider your personal beliefs on childbirth as well as the income you need to support your lifestyle. While many lay midwives love their chosen jobs, payment for their services is most often paid by the patient rather than by an insurance company. Because of this, you may have periods where your workload is slow and your income suffers as a result. Midwives in birthing centers and hospitals are generally paid on a salary basis and make equal to or more than a licensed nurse in the same professional setting. As with many career choices, the level of education required for the position can have an impact on the salary you can expect to receive.