Nurse-midwives who work in hospitals or as part of a physician's practice work indoors in clean, professional surroundings. Although most nurse-midwives perform checkups and routine visits alone with their patients, a number of other health care professionals are on hand in case the midwife has a question or needs assistance in an emergency. Nurse-midwives often consult with doctors, medical insurance representatives, and family members of their patients, as well as other midwives in order to determine the best care routine for the women they serve.
In a hospital, nurse-midwives usually wear professional clothing, a lab coat, and comfortable shoes to allow for plenty of walking during the day. They often wear hospital scrubs during delivery. In a free-standing birth center, the nurse-midwives may have a more casual dress code but still maintain a professional demeanor.
Midwives try to make their offices and birthing areas as calm and as reassuring as possible so their patients feel comfortable during checkups and delivery. Soft music may play in the background, or the waiting area may be decorated like a nursery and filled with parenting magazines.
Although most nurse-midwives work a 40-hour week, these hours may not reflect the typical nine-to-five day, since babies are delivered at all hours of the day and night. Many hospitals or clinics offer nurse-midwives a more flexible schedule in exchange for having them "on-call" for births.
Finally, although there are no gender requirements in the profession, nurse-midwifery is a field dominated by women. Approximately 98 percent of nurse-midwives in the United States are female. Women have traditionally helped each other through pregnancy and delivery. Just as women who became doctors 100 years ago had to overcome many barriers, men considering entering midwifery should be prepared for hurdles of their own.
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