Midwives Directory
Midwives (practitioners of midwifery) carry on an ancient tradition of assisting women through pregnancy and childbirth. "Midwife" is Old English in origin, and its meaning is "with woman." Midwives have assisted women at childbirty since prehistorical times. Ancient Hindu records refer to midwives, they are described in Greek and Roman manuscripts, and may even be found in the Bible.
Choosing a health care provider to care for mother and child during pregnancy and childbirth is one of the biggest decisions a woman and her family ever make. In the United States, choices have been limited for a long time to an MD, an obstetrician or a family practitioner. For some women with low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancies, midwives may offer an excellent alternative.
In Europe, midwives are much more common, helping at more than 70% of normal vaginal births. Though midwives delivered only 7% of American babies in 1997, that percentage has been increasing since 1975.
Midwives by state:
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