Question for the midwife? Part 1

I have recently received emails regarding midwives. Most women were asking why we were making hospital gowns if I deliver babies at home in the bathtub? Well, there is a slight misconception within the general public about what midwives are and what we do.

There are different types of midwives. There are "lay midwives" with no formal training whatsoever- these were important back in the old days when it was really just someone who watched someone give birth once and they helped- since women during the old days didn't always have someone to help- but these lay midwives are generally considered unsafe now.
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Another kind of midwife is a "licensed midwife" they go through formal training and they deliver babies at home during an apprenticeship. Many are fabulous but they almost always deliver babies at home. They do have to meet certain criteria in order to get licensed.
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"Certified Professional Midwives" (CPMs) have further training and take the LM a step further. Each state has different rules on how these midwives may practice, but most also deliver at home or at birth centers.
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and finally, "Certified Nurse Midwives" (CNMs) are Registered Nurses to begin with who usually go on to get their masters degree with a specialty in midwifery. They delivery babies at the hospital, possibly in the home, and at birth centers. The majority can write prescriptions and work together with physicians. They are trained in normal, but good ones can very quickly identify when medical interventions are necessary. This is true with the other types of midwives as well.
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As you can tell, I am somewhat biased in believing CNMs are the best kind of midwives, but please when selecting your care providers for your general women's health or your pregnancy trust the person you decide to go with. I have seen AMAZING licensed midwives and not so amazing certified nurse midwives. So just because of the initials after the name doesn't mean one is better than the other.
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However, CNMs deliver babies in the hospital- and since I am selling hospital gowns--- well, you get the picture.