Provider Options
We All Deserve Safe Competent Care
We know how important it is to have the right provider during pregnancy. Once your search begin you will soon realize there are so many options to choose from. Rather you are choosing to birth in-hospital, out-of-hospital, with a midwife or with an physician, you should always be provided competent and compassionate care.
There are so many different credentials to understand when it comes to choosing a provider. Licensed midwife, OB-GYN, certified professional midwife, certified professional midwife, or nurse practitioner. Below is a breakdown of what each of these credentials are. When giving birth you can choose to birth in a hospital, at a birthing center, or at home. Below is a quick breakdown of in-hospital versus out-of-hospital birth.
We encourage you to please do your own research, visit the hospital, visit the birthing center, tour the maternal units, speak with someone about your birth plan, research the providers, and make an informative decision when choosing your place of birth.
Certified Nurse Midwife
A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse with advanced training in midwifery, holding a master’s or doctoral degree in the field. CNMs provide comprehensive care for women throughout their lifespan, including prenatal care, labor and delivery support, postpartum care, and routine gynecological services such as annual exams, contraception counseling, and menopause management. They are licensed healthcare providers who can practice in hospitals, birth centers, and homes, and in many states, including Texas, they have the authority to prescribe medications. CNMs focus on holistic, patient-centered care, emphasizing natural childbirth while being trained to handle complications and collaborate with physicians when necessary.
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Can practice in all 50 states
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Has a medical background and degree
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Is a Registered Nurse and have obtained a graduate degree and is specialized in midwifery
For more information and resources on CNM's click the links below:
Certified Midwife
A Certified Midwife (CM) is a trained healthcare professional specializing in midwifery care, similar to a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) but without a nursing background. CMs are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) and provide comprehensive care for pregnant women, including prenatal check-ups, labor and birth support, and postpartum care. They focus on holistic, patient-centered care, emphasizing natural birth and minimal medical interventions while monitoring maternal and fetal health. CMs also offer education on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and newborn care, and they collaborate with obstetricians when medical intervention is needed. While CMs practice in birth centers, hospitals, and home birth settings, their licensure is currently recognized in only a few states. Currently recognized in the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
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Can practice in 12 states
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Is not a Registered Nurse
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Have completed graduate level midwifery degree
For more information and resources on CM's click the links below:
Certified Professional Midwife
A Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) is a trained midwife who specializes in out-of-hospital maternity care, primarily attending home births and birth center deliveries. Certified through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), CPMs are skilled in providing prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum care with a focus on physiological birth and minimal medical intervention. They offer personalized, hands-on support, including childbirth education, breastfeeding assistance, and newborn care. While CPMs are trained to handle normal pregnancies and births, they collaborate with medical professionals if complications arise, ensuring safe care for both mother and baby.
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No medical background or education required prior to entering a midwifery program
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Currently can practice in 37 states
For more information and resources on CPMs click the links below:
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National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM)
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Direct-Entry-Midwives-50-State-Survey.pdf (networkforphl.org)
Licensed Midwife
Very similar to a Certified Professional Midwife, a Licensed Midwife (LM) is a midwifery professional who is trained to provide maternity care for low-risk pregnancies outside of a hospital setting. Licensed by the state, LMs specialize in natural, low-intervention birth and typically attend home births or birth center deliveries. They offer comprehensive care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum, including prenatal check-ups, monitoring fetal development, providing education on childbirth and breastfeeding, and offering hands-on support during labor. Their goal is to provide personalized, holistic care while ensuring the safety and well-being of both mother and baby.
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No medical background or education required prior to entering a midwifery program
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State specific license, typically will also have CPM credential
For more information and resources on CPMs click the links below:
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National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM)
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Direct-Entry-Midwives-50-State-Survey.pdf (networkforphl.org)
The 2 state approved courses neither MEAC accredited
Obstetrician-Gynecologist or OB-GYN
An OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist) is a medical doctor specializing in women’s reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth. They provide comprehensive care, including prenatal and postnatal care, labor and delivery management, routine gynecological exams, contraception counseling, menopause management, and treatment for reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis or PCOS. OB-GYNs are also trained to perform surgeries, including C-sections, and can address both routine and high-risk pregnancies. Their expertise covers all stages of a woman's life, from adolescence through menopause and beyond.
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Practice in all 50 states
Nurse Practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) specializing in women’s health or family care provides essential healthcare services for pregnant women. They offer prenatal care, monitor maternal and fetal health, provide education on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery, and help manage common pregnancy-related conditions. While NPs do not typically deliver babies, they collaborate with obstetricians, midwives, and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care. Their role focuses on preventive care, early intervention, and supporting the overall well-being of both mother and baby throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Out-of-Hospital Birth
Giving birth out of hospital with a midwife—whether at home or in a birthing center—offers a natural, personalized approach to maternity care for low-risk pregnancies. Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) or Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) provide hands-on support throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, focusing on minimal medical intervention and holistic care. Out-of-hospital births offer greater freedom in movement, birth positions, and pain management options like water birth, all within a calm, familiar setting. Midwives are trained to monitor both mother and baby closely and have protocols for hospital transfers if needed. This option is ideal for those seeking a supportive, family-centered birth experience outside a traditional hospital setting. This option is ideal for women that are considered low-risk. Not all birthing centers are equal and not all midwives are equal. Please do your thorough research on all of your options.
Here are some resources:
In-Hospital Birth
Giving birth at a hospital provides access to advanced medical care, making it the safest option for high-risk pregnancies or those who may need interventions such as epidurals, inductions, or C-sections. Hospitals are staffed with obstetricians, nurses, and anesthesiologists who can quickly respond to complications. They offer a range of pain management options, continuous fetal monitoring, and neonatal care for newborns who may need extra support. While hospital births can sometimes involve more medical interventions, they also provide peace of mind with immediate access to life-saving technology and specialists if needed. This setting is ideal for those who want a medically supported birth experience with the highest level of emergency care available. Not all hospitals have maternal care services, please ensure the hospital you choose have the services available for you.
What are the Levels of Maternal Care?
Levels of Maternal Care promotes collaboration among maternal facilities and health care providers so that women receive risk-appropriate maternal care, a key strategy to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity.
Below are important organizations and institutes concerning midwifery and maternal healthcare.
American College of Nurse-Midwives
To support midwives, advance the practice of midwifery, and achieve optimal, equitable health outcomes for the people and communities midwives serve.
American Associate of Birth Center
AABC promotes and supports freestanding birth centers and alongside midwifery units in all communities to achieve a high-value model of evidence-based care that is equitable, safe, and respectful.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
ACOG’s mission is to support our members to improve the lives of all people seeking obstetric and gynecologic care, their families, and communities.
Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice’s
The Certified Lactation Counselor® (CLC®) certification identifies a clinical lactation care provider who has demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to provide clinical support and management to families who are thinking about breastfeeding or who have questions or problems during the course of breastfeeding/lactation
Commissions for the Accreditation of Birth Center
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The only accrediting organization dedicated exclusively to the quality of the operation and services of all birth centers regardless of ownership, primary care provider, location, or population served.
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An independent not-for-profit organization that accredits developing and existing freestanding birth centers and Alongside Midwifery Units in the United States of America, according to established national standards for birth centers.
International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
IBLCE®, or the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners®, is an international credentialing body whose mission is to serve the global public interest by advancing professional practice in lactation consultation and support through credentialing.
North American Registry of Midwives
NARM’s mission is to provide and maintain an evaluative process for multiple routes of midwifery education and training; to develop and administer a standardized examination system leading to the credential “Certified Professional Midwife” (CPM); to identify best practices that reflect the excellence and diversity of the independent midwifery community as the basis for setting the standards for the CPM credential; to publish, distribute and/or make available materials that describe the certification and examination process and requirements for application; to maintain a registry of those individuals who have received certification and/or passed the examination; to manage the process of re-certification; and to work in multiple arenas to promote and improve the role of CPMs in the delivery of maternity care to women and their newborns.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) provides oversight for a broad range of occupations, businesses, facilities, and equipment. Currently overseeing Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs).
Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies
The Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB) is a multidisciplinary network made up of health professionals throughout the state. Our mission is to advance health care quality and patient safety for all Texas mothers and babies through the collaboration of health and community stakeholders as informed by the voices of the patients we serve.
American Midwifery Certification Board
The mission of AMCB is to protect and serve the public by leading the certification standards in midwifery.
Texas Board of Nursing
The mission of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) is to protect and promote the welfare of the people of Texas by ensuring that each person holding a license as a nurse in the State of Texas is competent to practice safely. The Board fulfills its mission through the regulation of the practice of nursing and the approval of nursing education programs. This mission, derived from the Nursing Practice Act, supersedes the interest of any individual, the nursing profession, or any special interest group.
Midwifery Education Accreditation Council
The Midwifery Education Accreditation Council’s mission is to promote excellence in midwifery education through accreditation. It creates standards and criteria for the education of midwives.MEAC’s accreditation criteria for midwifery education programs reflect the unique components and philosophy of the Midwives Model of Care.
International Confederation of Midwives
ICM has been the global voice of midwives and midwives’ associations for more than 100 years. The midwifery model of care is based on respect, dignity, compassion, and the promotion of human rights for all. This includes the right to access quality care from autonomous midwives. Midwives have a broad role in providing universal sexual reproductive health service according to the ICM Definition and Scope of Practice of a Midwife.