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Florida Midwifery Laws
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The word midwife simply means "with woman". There are many types of midwives. The following are definitions of some of the different types of midwives.
Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM) Direct-entry"midwives, who are licensed in some states, are not required to become nurses before training to be midwives. The Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council (MEAC) is currently accrediting direct-entry midwifery educational programs and apprenticeships in the United States. Direct-entry midwives; legal status varies according to state, and they practice most often in birth centers and in homes.
Florida Licensed Midwife (LM) Florida recognizes the World Health Organization model of midwifery, acknowledging midwifery as an independent profession, separate from obstetrics and nursing. Midwives are specialists in normal pregnancy and birth. Over 80 percent of all babies in the world are born into the caring, skillful hands of a midwife. Florida Licensed Midwives undertake three years of academic and clinical education, covering the core competencies of MANA (Midwives Alliance of North America) and the ACNM (American College of Nurse-Midwives). They then sit for the NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) Exam to become licensed. Practicing under Florida Statute Chapter 467, Florida's Licensed Midwives are serving women and families in birth centers and homes, providing safe and satisfying care.
Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is an independent practitioner who has met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and is qualified to provide the Midwifery Model of Care. The NARM certification process recognizes multiple routes of entry into midwifery and includes verification of knowledge and skills and the successful completion of both a Written Examination and Skills Assessment. The CPM credential requires training in out-of-hospital settings.
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM) Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are educated in both nursing and midwifery. After attending an educational program accredited by the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council (ACC), they must pass the ACC examination and can be licensed in the individual states in which they practice most often in hospitals and birth centers.
Supporting midwives has been a concentrated grassroots effort. It is people that get out and speak for what they believe that make a difference in our nation...for the good or the bad! Remember that right now there are alot of legal issues that are steming from our right to have a natural birth in the hospitals that we pay. Please help support the choices of yorself as well as others by viewing the Citizens for Midwifery site and getting involved.
Think you are interested in a career in midwifery? Do your research for this rewarding lifestyle. Below are Florida midwifery programs:
MEAC accredited midwifery program.
Jana Borino, Administrative Director
725 Northeast First Street
Gainesville, Florida 32601 USA
Primary Phone: 352-338-0766
Shari Daniels Rosenbaum, Director
1259 Normandy Drive
Miami Beach, Florida 33141 USA
Primary Phone: 305-866-1095
MEAC accredited midwifery program.
Marilyn Quinn, Director
PO Drawer 2248
Bonita Springs, Florida 34133 USA
Primary Phone: 941-992-1211
Fax: 941-992-8149
MEAC accredited midwifery program.
Justine Clegg, MS, LM
Midwifery Sciences
950 NW 20th Street
Miami, Florida 33127-4234 USA
Primary Phone: 305-237-4234
Emmah Eastwind, Program Director
702 West adalee Street
Tampa, Florida 33609 USA
Primary Phone: 813-274-6404
As of May 1999 there are almost 80 midwives licensed by the state of Florida and actively practicing primarily in out-of-hospital settings. Practicing midwifery without a license is a felony. Licensing is authorized by the Midwifery Practice Act updated in 1995. For an up-to-date listing of Florida Midwives, visit the Florida Health & Human Services website http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqaservices/ .
What is a Florida Licensed Midwife? (from MAF's INTRODUCTION TO FLORIDA LICENSED MIDWIFERY)
Licensed Midwives are autonomous maternity care providers for women with low risk pregnancies. They work to meet their communities' needs in a variety of settings: clients' homes, birth centers, clinic and hospital facilities. In collaboration with a physician they may also provide care for women whose pregnancies require medical supervision. Licensed Midwives are eligible for reimbursement by private insurers and by Medicaid.
MIDWIVES PROVIDE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MATERNITY CARE
The wellness oriented model of care utilized by the licensed midwife promotes good pregnancy outcomes and the acquisition of good health habits, with continuity of care from early in pregnancy through the first weeks after the baby's birth. Utilization of midwives is safe and cost effective maternal health policy, recommended by the World Health Organization.
The state of Florida has licensed midwives since 1931. In 1982 and again in 1992, The Midwifery Practice Act, www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0467/ch0467.htm was updated, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standards and on successful European direct entry midwifery programs. To become licensed in Florida, an applicant undertakes an intensive three-year program of academic and clinical education and then passes the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) national certification examination for state licensure. The educational programs are founded upon the core competencies of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA). [See schools listed below]
Council of Licensed Midwifery
Refer to the web site for listings of Florida midwives.
Pamela King, Executive Director
Florida USA
Midwives Association of Florida
MAF is active in state and national politics, welcomes the membership of supporters of midwifery, but reserves voting rights for Florida Licensed Midwives. LM's are active in many facets of Florida's maternal child health support services, with several LM's now in the executive branch of Florida's Healthy Start program and FL Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies, as well as other organizations/agencies with the ability to influence maternal health care policy.
PO Box 557342
Miami, Florida 33255
Email: MAFnews@aol.com
Website: http://www.maf.cc
Midwife-wanna-be Molly getting first hand training at the birth of her newest baby brother. We use warm compresses during pushing and these compresses virtually make that "ring of fire" disappear!
Florida Licensed Midwife performing a newborn exam at a homebirth.
The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.
The Midwives Model of Care includes:
- Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
- Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
- Minimizing technological interventions
- Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
