And the residents see it as part of what family physicians do regularly, not just in the middle of the night. King said she's had several residents start the program saying they didn't want to do obstetrics, then change their minds. And the patients love having midwives and family physicians to help them through their pregnancy. King said the volume of pregnant women coming to the family practice center has increased because of the presence of midwives. In 1996, the Academy adopted a position stating that certified nurse midwives should function only in a collaborative practice arrangement under the direction and responsible supervision of a practicing, licensed physician qualified in maternity care.
Some family physicians worry about whether midwives are competition.
They each have skills the other can use. It's a partnership that really needs to be explored. FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department .