1.
Nurs Womens Health
; 22(5): 387-400, 2018 Oct.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30194924
ABSTRACT
Certified nurse-midwives are usually recognized as independently practicing advanced practice registered nurses because they provide maternity care to pregnant women in various states. In the United States, certified nurse-midwives are historically underused. Culture favors physician-led care, with 90% of all births attended by physicians. Midwifery-led care is considered high-touch/low-intervention and is guided by a philosophy of care that regards pregnancy and childbirth as normal life events for most women. Evidence from the literature supports midwifery-led care as being safe, effective, and associated with fewer interventions.