Nurse midwifery programs prepare registered nurses to deliver babies and take care of mothers in deliveries. Students learn to advise mothers during the prenatal months. They learn to screen patients, refer them to doctors as needed, and take care of infants.

Did you know that worldwide, two-thirds of all babies are delivered by midwives? In the U.S. alone, currently about one in ten babies is delivered by a midwife. The American College of Nurse-Midwives predicts that this rate will increase as more expecting mothers choose to receive their primary care from nurse midwives.

Nurse midwives function as the primary physician to pregnant woman and newborns. They care for women during pregnancy, making sure they are eating well and that the pregnancy has no complications. As a nurse midwife, you help the mother deliver her baby safely and comfortably. You also care for the baby and mother once the delivery is over. In some cases, midwives are the primary caregiver for the mother and baby long after the child is born.

Nurse midwives usually work independently but also coordinate care with physicians if necessary. They are qualified to give medicines and perform medical procedures. They also help people plan their families and provide basic gynecological care.

As a nurse midwife, you can work in hospitals, birth centers, and private homes. You can also work in clinics and health departments. You can have your own private practice or work with doctors and other healthcare professionals.

You can become a nurse midwife by completing a one- or two-year master's degree or certificate program. In many cases, you get your master's in nursing with a concentration in nurse midwifery. Certificate programs are usually for people who already have a master's degree in nursing. There are several nurse midwife programs in the U.S.

Several schools also offer doctoral degrees in nursing. Most people with a Ph.D. become professors, researchers, or administrators.