The Best Providers for Your Baby's Arrival: A Deep Dive with CNM Julie Pyle -- Episode 204

ered that this was her true passion (as she had suspected since having her own children) and quickly gained a reputation for professionalism, compassion and expertise among colleagues and patients. She then returned to Frontier Nursing University to complete a Master's degree in Nursing with an emphasis in midwifery. In 2020, she graduated and began as a certified nurse-midwife at a small community hospital in central Pennsylvania where she has been since that time. Her focus as a CNM is to provide evidence-based education to all birthing families, give true autonomy and informed consent throughout their time with her and to share love, understanding, empathy and true shared-decision making. When not immersed in the birthing world, she enjoys spending time refinishing furniture, gardening, raising and breeding different types of chickens, hiking and vacationing with her family.

Links for you:

My post on the benefits of using a midwife.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Podcast discusses different providers for pregnancy and delivery.

[00:05:28] Licensed midwives provide medical care; some work in birth centers. CPMs are licensed and have credentials. CNMs are similar to CPMs.

[00:08:22] Midwives mostly work in hospitals, not homes.

[00:12:39] Consider midwife for pregnancy provider; clear misconceptions.

Key Points:

• Introduction to the podcast episode topic: Different providers that can assist during pregnancy and delivery
• Introduction of guest: Julie Pyle, a certified nurse midwife in Pennsylvania
• Sponsorship mention: Free hospital bag checklist created by a nurse with 20 years of experience
• Discussion on the four main providers that can deliver a baby
• Mention of "free birth" option, but the speaker does not recommend it
• Emphasis on the importance of having a knowledgeable provider present during birth
• Mention of the doctor's role in supporting but not actively participating in delivery
• Expressions of fear and uncertainty regarding the training and qualifications of healthcare providers
• Reference to the difficulty of finding midwives
• Discussion of the spectrum of education and certification among midwives
• Explanation of the absence of regulations preventing individuals from calling themselves midwives
• Mention of fees charged by lay midwives
• Acknowledgment of the value of traditional knowledge but emphasis on the lack of medical training
• Reference to historical portrayal of midwives, such as "Ma on a little house on the prairie"
• Mention of midwives working in birth centers and home births depending on state regulations
• Explanation of the licensing process for midwives in Arizona as certified professional midwives (CPMs)
• Importance of inquiring about a midwife's experience and number of deliveries performed
• Introduction of certified nurse midwives (CNMs) as having similar credentials to CPMs
• Clarification that the majority of CNMs practice in hospitals rather than at home or in barns
• Mention of outdated stereotypes about midwives lacking proper training and education
• Discussion of limitations of midwives in the hospital setting, such as not performing forceps deliveries or surgical procedures
• Acknowledgment of midwives' role as surgical first assistants in c-sections
• Emphasis on the collaborative practice between midwives and obstetricians in the hospital
• Appreciation for the hospital setting and collaborative experience for patients
• Advocacy for considering a midwife as a pregnancy provider
• Encouragement to see a midwife at the next appointment or for the next delivery
• Expression of love for certified nurse midwives
• Call to support the podcast by reviewing, sharing, and subscribing
• Importance of using the full title "certified nurse midwife" to clarify their profession
• Explanation of the education and qualifications of certified nurse midwives
• Counteracting the misconception that all midwives have the same level of training
• Introduction of certified professional midwives (CPMs) as having formal training but no medical or nursing degree
• Explanation of the board certification process and licensing for CPMs
• Mention of potential future requirements for nurse practitioners to have a doctorate
• Variation in midwives' ability to administer drugs based on state regulations
• Mention of tasks that certified nurse midwives can perform, such as prescribing medications
• Importance of having options for delivering in a hospital, including a good midwife and a doctor
• Overview of the education and training required for doctors, including residencies and specialization options.

Producer: Drew Erickson