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A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is an independent practitioner who provides care to women and their babies from the time they learn they are pregnant through the postpartum period. The women who choose CPMs intend to have their babies at home. A CPM is an expert in normal, healthy pregnancy and birth, gaining skills through academic study and clinical apprenticeship.
A CPM typically practices independently of a physician, but many CPMs have doctors who serve as ‘back up’ care if a pregnancy or birth becomes a medical event. CPMs are trained to recognize and respond to these situations to provide a smooth transfer of care to a doctor.
A CPM differs from other non-nurse midwives. CPMs are certified through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). The NARM certification process involves the verification of the midwife’s skill and expertise through the completion of a written exam and a skills assessment. The status of CPMs varies from state to state, and at this time not recognized by the state of Indiana.
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