Nurse-Midwives

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts 7 percent employment growth, faster than the average, for nurse midwives through 2033. As certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs) gain a reputation as highly trained and compassionate professionals, they will become an integral part of the health care community. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2022, CNMs/CMs attended 10.9 percent of all births in the United States. That year, they also were present at 90 percent of all midwife-attended births. Currently, there are more positions than there are nurse-midwives to fill them.

There are two factors driving the demand for nurse-midwives. The first element is the growth of interest in natural childbearing techniques among women. The number of midwife-assisted births has risen dramatically since the 1970s. Some women have been attracted to midwifery because of studies that indicate natural childbirth is more healthful for mother and child than doctor-assisted childbirth. Other women have been attracted to midwifery because it emphasizes the participation of the entire family in prenatal care and labor.

The second factor in the growing demand for nurse-midwives is economic. As society moves toward managed care programs and the health care community emphasizes cost-effectiveness, midwifery should increase in popularity. This is because the care provided by nurse-midwives costs substantially less than the care provided by obstetricians and gynecologists. If the cost advantage of midwifery continues, more insurers and health maintenance organizations will probably direct patients to nurse-midwives for care.