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Nurse Midwives: The Beauty and Challenges of Bringing New Life Into This World
By April Rowe, BSN, RN
I’ve delivered lots of babies in San Francisco, and I absolutely LOVE what I do.
GIVING BIRTH is an immensely powerful, most often joyous, yet utterly challenging, life-changing experience, and nurse midwives witness firsthand the beauty and miracle of bringing new life into this world. They tirelessly expect the unexpected while they guide women through one of life’s most significant moments.
Midwives support mothers and families through the entire pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. They relentlessly provide unconditional support and education while managing fears, pain, and endless uncertainties, navigating parents through the unpredictable complexities of childbirth.
BECOMING A CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE
Nurse midwives bear the title of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and specialize in women’s reproductive health, prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, their studies continue to receive a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) followed by national certification and state licensure as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). A master’s degree is the minimum education required, but practitioners may also choose to continue their studies and obtain a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
Nurse midwives work in various healthcare settings like hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, birthing centers, private practices, and home environments. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual income of a nurse midwife is about $130,000, but this number can vary significantly according to location, workplace setting, credentials, and prior experience.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE NURSE MIDWIFE
Per the American Midwifery Certification Board, there are nearly 14,000 certified nurse midwives in the U.S., and of them, less than 1% are males. After reaching out to John Fassett, MSN, RNP, CNM, from San Francisco, California, we heard firsthand the truly inspiring and unique nursing role of being a male midwife.
John has lived in the fabulous Castro District in San Francisco for the majority of his life and has been a nurse for 43 years. He served in the Navy and Air Force and then worked for 10 years in Labor & Delivery before going back to school to become a midwife. Even today, it’s rare to encounter a male midwife, so one can imagine the challenges John faced starting out in his career, but he persevered to achieve his dream of becoming a midwife.
“I was the first male ever to be admitted into the nurse midwife program at UCSF [University of California, San Francisco]. A few women in the program had a real problem with a man being there, which was a challenge for a couple of years. Once I finished the program, I found a maternal transport flight nurse position with UCSF, and then I got my foot in the door working in a private practice office. Now, I’ve worked in my current practice for the last 25 years. I’ve delivered lots of babies in San Francisco, and I absolutely LOVE what I do,” John explained.
He currently works for a large medical foundation in San Francisco. “Our hospital delivers about 300 babies a month. I’ve even helped my friends deliver their babies. I’ve probably done about 4,000 births in 30 years,” said John.
THE CHALLENGES & REWARDS OF MIDWIFERY
It can be challenging as a male midwife, and as John described, “It has its ups and downs. The challenges started back in the nursing program when some of them didn’t want a male there, and in Labor & Delivery, the moms didn’t want a male nurse in the room. As a midwife, it’s happened here and there, but now, if someone comes to our group, they know it's a potential [to have a male midwife]. I've been around for a long time, so I’m kind of famous in San Francisco.”
John recalled the challenges he’s faced over the years, “Back in nursing school in ‘78, I was told that I would never see a delivery because that’s not where I belonged, but it didn’t make sense because all of the obstetricians were males. It was a weird setting in the beginning, but it has transitioned a bit. But even today, it can be hard for guys to get into this field. Most men do ER or ICU nursing.”
Despite some of the pitfalls he’s encountered, John makes the most of it and tries not to take anything personally. “I think the biggest challenge for me is being told by the nurses that the patient doesn’t want me involved in their care because they prefer a female or it’s a religious or ethnic preference. It’s a challenge not to take it personally. I think the only way you can make changes in this type of nursing is one birth at a time. The more births you do, the more people you touch, and it helps people realize what midwives do.”
John explained the most rewarding aspect of nurse-midwifery is “meeting that person or couple at the first visit where you see the 7-week ultrasound, and then months later you hand that baby off to them. You spend all that time with them. I’ve taken care of patients for over 25 years, and now I’m taking care of their daughters, whom I delivered. And I love it when the siblings who I delivered come in at the visits or the deliveries. I love that I’ve helped them develop this family and have really made a difference in their lives.”
Learn More
For more information about this unique nursing role, visit the American Midwifery Certification Board website at
www.amcbmidwife.org
PROUD TO BE PROUD!
As a gay nurse, John takes pride in serving all members of his community, no matter their sexuality, race, or how they identify. He said, “In my group, we have quite a few same-sex partners who come to see us. We are known in San Francisco as a gay-friendly and queer-friendly group.”
To care for mothers equally, regardless of whether they are single, married, divorced, have same-sex partners, or serve as surrogates, should be the top priority for midwives. Nurses must follow the Code of Ethics, so being impartial when caring for others is a must. Embracing a mother and her journey through pregnancy and childbirth is what makes midwifery so magical. Each patient has their own story and unique experiences in life, and helping them attain their birth goals, whatever they may be, is what makes being a midwife so special.
“It still blows my mind when the baby finally comes out after all the challenges during labor. It's just that moment of amazement when you hear that cry; it does something to your heart. It’s so amazing,” John boasted. What an honor it must be to bring new life into this world as a nursing career. The role of a nurse midwife is definitely unique and undoubtedly inspiring!
References:
American Midwifery Certification Board, 2021 Demographic Report U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023, Nurse Midwives APRIL ROWE is a registered nurse in the NICU, a freelance writer, and owner of RNtoPen. She loves spending time with her family, is an avid traveler, and is passionate about learning Italian.
