Midwifery in Minnesota
In Minnesota, there are currently two different types of certifications for midwives: Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) and Licensed Traditional Midwives (LTM or LM).
Scope of Practice for Certified Nurse-Midwives
Midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) encompasses the independent provision of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period; sexual and reproductive health; gynecologic health; and family planning services, including preconception care. Midwives also provide primary care for individuals from adolescence throughout the lifespan as well as care for the healthy newborns during the first 28 days of life.
Midwives provide care for all individuals who seek midwifery care, inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Midwives provide initial and ongoing comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. They conduct physical examinations; independently prescribe medications including but not limited to controlled substances, treatment of substance use disorder, and expedited partner therapy; admit, manage, and discharge patients at the hospital; order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests; and order medical devices, durable medical equipment, and home health services.
Midwifery care includes health promotion, disease prevention, risk assessment and management, and individualized wellness education and counseling. These services are provided in partnership with individuals and families in diverse settings such as ambulatory care clinics, private offices, telehealth and other methods of remote care delivery, community and public health systems, homes, hospitals, and birth centers.
Midwifery Education
Certified Nurse-Midwives are licensed healthcare practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery. CNMs become nurses first, then attend a graduate school program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME). A CNM is eligible for licensure after earning a masters or doctoral degree and after passing the national board certifying exam administered through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). CNMs are licensed by the Minnesota Board of Nursing as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) and must maintain their certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) with continued education or testing required every 5 years.
If you’re interested in finding a certified nurse-midwife in Minnesota, please visit our Find Care page.
Licensed Traditional Midwives (LTM or LMs) are licensed and regulated by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and practice “traditional midwifery services” outside of the hospital and hold a Traditional Midwife License. Minnesota requires all Licensed Traditional Midwives to have earned certification as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) through the North American Registry of Midwives. There are several routes to become a CPM, including receiving formal education from midwifery programs or through apprenticeship education.” and then remove “All CPMs must pass the NARMs examination. All CPMs must pass the NARMs examination. If you’re interested in finding a certified professional midwife in Minnesota, please visit the Minnesota Council of Certified Professional Midwives at https://mccpm.org/.
MN Midwifery Facts
- Certified nurse-midwives have been practicing in Minnesota since 1971 with the first midwifery practice established at Hennepin County Medical Center in 1975
- There are nearly 500 CNMs currently practicing in Minnesota
- MN legislation mandates third-party reimbursement for nurse-midwifery care, provides for joint underwriting authority for CNM malpractice insurance, and gives CNMs autonomous practice, including prescription writing privileges
- Board-certified midwives practice authority is Minn. Stat. § 148.171, which was most recently revised in 2017.
- Board-certified midwives are regulated by the Board of Nursing.
- Minnesota has two midwifery programs located at Bethel University and University of Minnesota
- Midwives are licensed for independent practice (Minn. Stat. § 148.171)
- Minnesota midwives are licensed for independent prescriptive privileges (Minn. Stat. § 148.235)
- Midwives receive 100% of the fee a physician receives for the same service
Frequently Asked Questions
Nurse-midwives believe that every individual has the right to safe, satisfying care with respect for human dignity and cultural variations. CNMs support each person’s right to self-determination, to complete information and to active participation in their health care. CNMs believe the normal processes of pregnancy and birth can be enhanced through education, health care and supportive intervention. Clients and their families are partners with the nurse-midwife in the provision of health care. Nurse-midwives believe that medical intervention should be used only when necessary. They also believe that each person should be treated as an individual and in a holistic manner.
No, in fact, most midwife-attended births occur in hospitals. In 2006, 93% of all midwife-attended births were in a hospital setting according to the most recent information from the National Vital Statistics Report.
- CNMs have low rates of Cesarean Sections.
- CNMs have high rates of successful VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean).
- CNMs are highly skilled in labor support and non-pharmacological comfort measures.
- CNMs may also offer pain medication in labor, including epidurals.
- CNMs work toward creating a safe and satisfying birth experience for women, with minimal intervention unless it is medically necessary.
- CNMs offer holistic, family-centered care.
- CNMs can diagnose and treat many common health care problems including vaginal infections.
- CNMs are knowledgeable about birth control methods and determining which is the best fit on an individualized basis
- CNMs focus on education and spend time during each visit to provide information and allow time to answer questions.
- CNMs consider the individual and family as partner-in-care and provide individualized, patient-centered care.
Physicians are trained in both medicine and surgery to care for disease processes. Nurse-midwives focus on pregnancy and birth as natural, healthy processes. CNMs assist birthing individuals through the challenges and joys of pregnancy and birth in the context of their spiritual, cultural and personal values. Midwives believe that unless medically necessary, interventions should be kept to a minimum. If, however, there are any complications with your pregnancy, or if any develop while you are pregnant and under the care of a midwife, the midwife will work with their consulting obstetrician or you will be referred to an obstetrician.
Yes! CNMs perform a wide scope of services other than prenatal care and childbirth. They offer well-person care throughout the lifespan. These services include contraceptive services and birth control counseling, annual exams and pap smears, gynecological exams and treatment, perimenopause and menopausal counseling and treatment, preconception counseling, and sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment.
