Here are links for the remaining nurse-midwife resources in Tucson:

• TucsonNurseMidwives.org
• Birth and Women's Health Care Center
• Resource Links

A number of full service CNM practices have closed or discontinued offering birth services due to the increasing problems with physician unwillingness to offer collaboration as required for hospital privileges and issues with insurance contracts required for reimbursement of midwifery services. These problems have been devastating road blocks for nurse-midwifery in Tucson over the last several years.

A CNM is a midwife educated in the two disciplines of Nursing and Midwifery and cares for women throughout a woman's life. To become certified, a nurse-midwife is first a registered nurse (RN) and further completes an accredited educational program in midwifery. After completing the midwifery program, accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, (ACNM) the nurse must pass the national examination administered by the ACNM. The ACNM also administers the Continuing Competency Cycle for all CNMs, a system whereby continuing education of all CNMs is verified.

In the State of Arizona Nurse-Midwives are governed by the AZ State Board of Nursing as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. Certified Nurse-Midwives attend births in hospitals, birth centers or at home, or they may only provide gynecology, family planning, womens non-pregnancy care.

CNMs are independent practitioners but do work with one or more physicians and collaborate with them as may be needed. CNMs would collaborate with a physician when a client is in need of surgery or develops a medical condition that puts her pregnancy or general health at increased risk. In certain pregnancy situations such as insulin dependent diabetes, or a persistent breech presentation where a cesarean delivery is required the client would actually be transferred to the physician for continued care. Most often, clients stay under the care of the midwife but the midwife may consult with an obstetrician-gynecologist, perinatologist, or other specialist regarding some aspect of additional testing or plan of care.

Midwifery philosophy is about listening to women.
Midwives believe in personal, individualized, family centered care. Midwives trust women to define their owns needs during pregnancy, labor and birth and to actively participate in their own care, in all situations.
Physicians are trained to focus on pregnancy and birth as a medical event.
Midwives focus on pregnancy and birth as normal life processes that can be expected to be normal.
If a complication arises, a midwife is trained to recognize and manage complications and may consult with a physician if necessary.

Studies have shown that birthing women, who are under the care of midwives, have less chance for:

• Cesarean birth
• Forceps to assist delivery
• Episiotomy to enlarge the vaginal opening.

Mothers who choose midwives also have:

• Fewer low birth weight or premature babies
• Generally healthier outcomes
• More satisfaction with their care.

 

Midwives believe in listening to women.

Midwives believe in birth as a family experience.

Midwives are committed to personal, individualized care, at all stages.

Midwives encourage family participation in the birth process.

Midwives provide labor support through one-on-one communication.

Midwives trust women to define their own healthcare needs.

Midwife means 'with woman.'