Limitations of Care
Definition of a Midwife
A midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational program duly recognized, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications and skills to be registered and legally practice midwifery in her state. A homebirth or direct-entry midwife is specially trained to provide the necessary supervision, care, and advice to women prior to and during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, to conduct deliveries on her own, and to care for the newborn infant. This care includes preventative measures, the detection of complications in the mother and child, the procurement of medical assistance when necessary and the execution of emergency measures.
In the State of Colorado, the practice of direct-entry midwifery is regulated by the Department of Regulatory Agencies. A direct entry midwife that is credentialed as a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) as established and administered by the North American Registry of Midwives (“NARM”) is automatically deemed eligible for registration in Colorado. You may access the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies at the following link: http://www.dora.state.co.us/
Collaborative Care
Direct-entry midwives care for normal, otherwise healthy women and newborns, they are responsible for recognizing and consulting or referring when complications and/or deviations occur.
Limitations of Care
As a registered midwife in the State of Colorado, I may not:
- Perform any operative or surgical procedure;
- Utilize instruments or mechanical means of delivery; or
I will consult with a back-up physician should deviations from normal occur throughout the pregnancy, labor, or birth. Please note, I am not permitted to deliver a baby in a hospital. Should the need to transfer arise during labor, I will accompany you to the hospital, where the physician-on-call becomes the primary care provider.
Restrictions
Pursuant to C.R.S. § 12-37-105, I may not provide care to a pregnant woman who, according to generally accepted medical standards, exhibits signs or symptoms of increased risk of medical, obstetric or neonatal complications, or problems during the completion of her pregnancy, labor, delivery, or the postpartum period. Such conditions include but are not limited to, signs or symptoms of diabetes, multiple gestation, hypertensive disorder or abnormal presentation of the fetus; or who exhibits signs or symptoms of increased risk that her child may develop complications or problems during the first six weeks of life.
