But did you know that the care and counseling midwives do extends from pre-conception through the post-partum period? In fact, midwives also provide gynecological services, whether it’s routine care, reproductive health care or peri-/post-menopausal care. They write prescriptions and provide patient education and counseling.

ertified nurse-midwives/certified midwives are skilled health professionals who practice in a wide variety of clinical settings, diagnosing and treating patients as well as referring them to a specialist, if required. They are a vital part of the health care team and collaborate closely with physicians. While many work in the United States, others provide care in other countries. Many midwives who work in the United States provide care for women in underserved communities.

You likely know one part of what midwives do: assisting with births. Midwife-attended births accounted for 12.1% of all spontaneous vaginal births in the United States and 8.3% of all U.S. births in total in 2014. Of these deliveries, 94.2% occurred in hospitals, 3% in freestanding birth centers and 2.7% at home.