Types of Home Birth Midwives in Oregon: Understanding your Options

If you’re exploring home birth in Oregon, one of the first decisions you’ll encounter is choosing the type of midwife you want to work with. Not all midwives are the same—training, scope of practice, and care settings can vary.

Understanding the differences can help you choose a provider who aligns with your health needs, values, and birth preferences.

In Oregon, families most commonly work with Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) for out-of-hospital birth care. Oregon also acknowledges additional types of un-licensed midwives, many learn through traditional apprenticeships, community-based knowledge, or self-study rather than attending formal training or nursing schools. Below we highlight the licensed Midwives that are regulated within Oregon.

Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs)

Certified Nurse-Midwives are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have completed a bachelors degree in nursing and graduate-level education in midwifery. Educational training varies with options for in hospital and out of hospital experiences based on the individual preferences.

Education and Training

CNMs:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and an RN license (required)

  • Complete a graduate program in nurse-midwifery

  • Are nationally board certified (CNM certification) and licensed as Nurse Practitioners in Oregon (required)

Scope of Care

CNMs are trained to provide a wide range of services, including:

  • Prenatal care

  • Labor and birth care (home, birth center, or hospital depending on practice)

  • Postpartum care

  • Well-woman and gynecological care

  • Family planning and reproductive health services

  • Ability to assess, diagnose, and prescribe treatment

  • Perscriptive privleges

Where They Practice

In Oregon, CNMs may work in:

  • Hospitals

  • Birth centers

  • Private practices offering home birth

  • Community health clinics

Why Families Choose CNMs

Many families choose Certified Nurse-Midwives because they offer:

  • Strong clinical training in both normal and high-risk pregnancy care

  • Ability to collaborate with physicians when needed

  • Continuity of care across pregnancy, birth, and gynecology

  • Insurance coverage in many cases

  • Whole person care

  • Prescriptive ability

Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)

Certified Professional Midwives are trained specifically in out-of-hospital birth settings, including home birth.

Education and Training

CPMs:

  • Hold a high school diploma (required)

  • Complete midwifery education through accredited programs or apprenticeships

  • May hold a bachelors in midwifery (not required)

  • Must pass a national certification exam

  • Are licensed in Oregon as Licensed Direct-Entry Midwives (LDMs)

Scope of Care

CPMs typically provide:

  • Prenatal care for low-risk pregnancies

  • Planned home birth support

  • Postpartum and newborn care

Where CMPs Practice

CPMs generally work in:

  • Private home birth practices

  • Out-of-hospital settings (primarily home births)

Why Families Choose CPMs

Families often choose CPMs for:

  • Strong emphasis on low-intervention, physiologic birth

  • Comfort-focused, home-centered practice model

  • Seen as the natural option

Which Type of Midwife Is Right for Home Birth?

Both CNMs and CPMs can provide safe, evidence-based care for low-risk home birth when properly trained and licensed in Oregon.

The right choice depends on your priorities:

You may prefer a Certified Nurse-Midwife if you value:

  • Integrated medical training

  • Access to broader reproductive healthcare (GYN + pregnancy care)

  • Insurance coverage options

  • Flexibility across care settings

  • One holistic provider for pregnancy and primary care

  • Perscription privleges

And if you also value:

  • Dedicated home birth experience

  • Low-intervention, physiologic birth model

  • Highly relationship-based care

  • A strong focus on out-of-hospital birth

Choosing a midwife often comes down to more than credentials—it’s about philosophy, approach, and the kind of care you want throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

At Birthstone Midwifery + Wellness, care is provided by Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) who bring together the strengths of both clinical medical training and the holistic, relationship-based values often associated with traditional home birth midwifery.

The result is a model of care that is both evidence-based and deeply personalized.

Safety and Midwifery Care in Oregon

Oregon has one of the more established midwifery systems in the United States, allowing both CNMs and CPMs to legally provide care for low-risk pregnancies in home settings.

Safety depends less on the title and more on:

  • Appropriate risk screening

  • Ongoing prenatal monitoring

  • Skilled labor support

  • Clear hospital transfer protocols when needed

Final Thoughts

Choosing a midwife is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in pregnancy. Understanding the differences between Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Professional Midwives helps you choose the type of care that best fits your health needs and birth preferences.

Both play an important role in Oregon’s maternity care system, offering families safe, personalized alternatives to traditional hospital birth.

Considering Home Birth in Oregon?

Birthstone Midwifery + Wellness provides personalized, evidence-based home birth, prenatal, postpartum, gynecology, and reproductive health care throughout Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

If you’re exploring whether home birth is right for you, a consultation can help you understand your options and what type of midwifery care best fits your needs.