Midwifery degree overview

A midwifery degree is a program that trains students to become midwives, healthcare professionals who specialize in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. In this degree, students learn about how to care for pregnant people, assist during labor and delivery, and support new parents and babies after birth. The program includes both classroom learning and hands-on training in hospitals, birthing centers, or home birth settings.

Midwifery programs focus on subjects like anatomy, prenatal care, newborn care, and medical procedures related to birth. Students also learn about natural childbirth, how to handle complications, and ways to provide emotional and physical support to mothers. Since midwives work closely with doctors and nurses, the degree also teaches how to collaborate with other healthcare professionals.

Midwifery programs offer a few distinct paths, each designed to meet varying career goals and levels of clinical practice in maternal care.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Midwifery: This undergraduate degree provides foundational training in midwifery, combining coursework in reproductive health, prenatal care, and natural birthing methods with clinical experiences. While bachelor’s programs in midwifery are rare in the U.S., some institutions offer pathways within nursing or related fields as a step toward advanced midwifery credentials.
• Master of Science in Midwifery (MSM): A Master’s Degree in Midwifery is a common route for those seeking advanced practice and certification. These programs prepare students to become Certified Midwives (CMs) or Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), including extensive clinical training in maternal health, childbirth management, and newborn care. Students generally need a bachelor’s degree for entry, often in nursing or a health-related field.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a Focus in Midwifery: For those aiming to practice at the highest level, a DNP program emphasizes leadership in healthcare, advanced clinical skills, and often includes training in healthcare policy and patient care improvement. This degree is suited to those seeking to influence maternal care practices, oversee midwifery programs, or lead initiatives in women’s health.

A midwifery degree equips students with essential skills to provide comprehensive, compassionate care for women and newborns throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Here are the core skills developed in midwifery training:

• Prenatal Assessment and Monitoring: Students learn to perform physical exams, track fetal development, and detect any potential health issues early on, ensuring the wellbeing of both mother and baby during pregnancy.
• Labor and Delivery Support: Midwifery students are trained in managing different stages of labor, providing emotional and physical support, and using techniques to facilitate safe, natural births when possible.
• Postpartum and Newborn Care: Graduates gain expertise in supporting mothers and families after childbirth, helping with breastfeeding, newborn health checks, and maternal recovery.
• Emergency Response: Midwives are equipped with emergency skills to manage complications, identify when medical intervention is necessary, and provide immediate care until additional help arrives.

A midwifery degree opens the door to several rewarding career paths in maternal and newborn health, allowing graduates to provide essential care and support to families. Here are some of the career options available to those with a midwifery degree:

• Midwife: Midwives provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. They support natural birth processes, offer prenatal and postnatal education, and assist in delivering babies, either at home or in birthing centers. Midwives focus on personalized care, helping families make informed choices regarding their childbirth experience.
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): CNMs are advanced practice nurses who provide comprehensive care to women throughout their reproductive lives, including prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. They can work in hospitals, birthing centers, or private practices and often collaborate with obstetricians for high-risk pregnancies.
• Certified Midwife (CM): CMs are trained to provide similar services as CNMs but do not need to have a nursing background. They can offer care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods, focusing on natural birth methods and holistic care. CMs typically practice in home birth settings or community health organizations.
• Labor and Delivery Nurse: Graduates can also work as labor and delivery nurses in hospitals, providing support to women during labor and assisting with the delivery process. They work alongside obstetricians and midwives to ensure safe childbirth experiences.