Discover Your Power Birth & Baby

05/20/2026

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What types of midwives are there? In many countries, the term midwife describes one or two types of providers.

***This is a BRIEF graphic designed to help families understand there are different types of midwives and that terms overlap. Parents seeking midwifery care should ask specifically about training, experience, etc., and choose the provider that feels right for them.

ETA: NARM is exam, MEAC accreditation is for midwifery schools. Each program type of midwifery could have multiple pathways. And "birth keepers" are NOT midwives but included so parents who are marketed to understand that. And finally, Licensed Midwife was missed on our end (LM) as it's not used in all states including where we're located, a mistake which was brought up in comments.

In the US, we have several types of providers and the way they practice can vary significantly state to state. Each state has unique licensing, laws, etc. Even when it comes to Certified Nurse Midwives with state licensing, their level of autonomy varies.

The lack of well integrated midwifery care in the US influences access and overall US maternal child health stats.

Some terms overlap, might be used interchangeably, and definition can vary with context. NOT LISTED IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER:

✨️ Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) - has a bachelors in nursing and an advanced practice degree in midwifery
✨️ Certified Midwife (CM) - has a bachelors, but not in nursingn complete the same advanced degree CNMs complete
✨️Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) - complete an accredited midwifery school and take the NARM exam or complete self-study and apprenticeship and take the NARM exam
✨️Direct Entry Midwife - might be used to refer to any non-nurse midwife, or describes a midwife who trained but did not pursue NARM accrediation
✨️Traditional Midwife - might be used to describe any midwife based on practice style, or might mean a midwife trained through apprenticeship only
✨️"Birth Keeper" - a term that is sometimes used by non midwives who attend births. There's no formal midwifery training, may not have any birth emergency skills training, and might have attended only a few births

A birth keeper is not a midwife, but might market themselves as an alternative to a midwife. It is important for anyone seeking home birth care to make informed decisions and know the education, skill level, and experience of anyone they hire.

While CNM are a little more integrated into the US system in some states, this is not necessarily due to increased formal education = better care. It is simply a different type of midwifery training.

All qualified and well trained birth attendants can safely play a role in maternity care.

The challenge in the US is there are not always clear terms, state laws, etc., so parents must do their due diligence.

👇🏽 did you use a midwife?

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

05/09/2026

Had such a great time being interviewed by Kryssa Marie Bowman! We talked about hypnosis, the mind-body connection, and how vital partners are during pregnancy and birth. The conversation naturally flowed into discussions about choices and self-advocacy too.
Enjoy!

Kryssa sat down with Maria Lernerman, founder of Discover Your Power Birth and Baby, to discuss hypnobirthing and birth experiences. Maria shared her persona...

05/06/2026

I do not like to share articles that scare, but the importance of vitamin K shots at birth seemed important enough to break that rule.

The vitamin K shot, a lifesaving injection given to newborns to prevent uncontrollable bleeding of the brain and intestines, has become collateral damage of the anti-vaccine movement.

04/30/2026

So many wishes to make! :)

04/29/2026

Came across a quote that resonated today: “The soul does not want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed—seen, heard, and companioned exactly as it is” (Parker J. Palmer)

04/21/2026

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Join the PMAD full day training on May 7th in Livingston, NJ! If you are a perinatal mental health provider, this is going to be a very informative full day training also part of Mind the Gap NJ. Email Jennifer to register!

04/05/2026

Planned obsolescence—does it chip away at our mental resilience?

When I was young, possessions were repaired. I remember my mom stitching socks that had worn through, building up layers of crisscrossed thread with the sock stretched over a lightbulb, and my dad taking apart the clock at the kitchen table; the smell of hot solder. I don’t seek to romanticize it. I doubt that was how my parents wanted to spend their time, getting by. I do wonder, though, whether there was something valuable in witnessing that process of things falling apart brought back to “life” with effort and patience.

So, I fix things together with my youngest and I let her do the fixing. This morning she carefully taped up an old puzzle box, which was coming apart in the corners. It wasn’t the best taping job, but she was pretty proud. “Look, I fixed it!” she beamed. “Yes, you did, you can fix things!” Will this realization stay with her? Who knows. Perhaps, if we do it often enough, it will.