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"... if Louisa is an example of the quality of students at Seattle Midwifery, I am truly impressed."
Read more from this Washington mother
What is a Midwife?
Since the beginning of human history, women have helped other women in the transition to motherhood. Midwives are the primary health care providers in most countries where birth is an integral part of family life. Countries with the highest rate of midwifery care today—emphasizing prenatal care, education, and empowerment for the woman giving birth—also have the best outcomes for mothers and babies. The World Health Organization declared in 1990 that birth was actually safer for mothers and babies when utilizing midwifery for pregnancy and childbirth. In fall 2001, the American Public Health Association passed a resolution supporting increased access to out-of-hospital maternity care services through state-regulated and nationally-certified direct-entry midwifery.
The midwifery profession is in transition across North America. National professional associations have set standards for the certification of direct-entry midwives and for accreditation of direct-entry midwifery education programs. Many states and provinces have adopted legislation favorable to midwifery in recent years. Public and private insurance plans in some areas are required to cover midwifery services. Navigating this changing landscape and advocating for women’s choices in maternity care requires skill and dedication beyond the clinical practice of midwifery. Bastyr University provides education about these issues and prepares graduates to be informed players in the health care system.