What is midwifery?
Midwifery care is a unique blend of science and art, rooted in history and a traditional attendant at births through the ages. While many births in the United States today are attended by an obstetrician in the hospital setting, midwives are becoming increasingly popular options. More and more women approach pregnancy as a normal part of life, and not as a season of disease or sickness.
The Midwifery Model of Care monitors the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother during the childbearing cycle. Midwives provide the mother with individualized education, counseling, prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support. Legacy Midwives is proud to support and embody the ideals and principles of the Midwifery Model of Care. We believe that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. When we come together to create a partnership between mother and care-givers, wonderful outcomes will bloom and flourish, leaving behind a lasting legacy.
What is a Certified Professional Midwife?
A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a knowledgeable, skilled and professional independent midwifery practitioner. She has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and is qualified to provide the Midwives Model of Care. The CPM is the only midwifery credential that requires knowledge about, and experience in, out-of-hospital settings.
Based on the MANA Core Competencies, the guiding principles of the practice of CPMs are to work with each woman to promote a healthy pregnancy, and provide education to help her make informed decisions about her own care. In partnership with their clients, they carefully monitor the progress of the pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period. They recommend appropriate management if complications arise and collaborate with other healthcare providers when necessary. The key elements of this education, monitoring, and decision making process are based on Evidence-Based Practice and Informed Consent.
