For Midwives
What is working in Iowa like?
There are only a few major cities in Iowa, with the rest being spread out all around the state. Most of the homebirth Midwives in our state do some travel, anywhere from 45min to several hours. Clients can range from the average modern household in a metro area to rural farmsteads and even a few Amish and Mennonite communities. You can expect to see all kinds of wildlife even in the most urban areas, including deer.
The weather here can be absolutely beautiful and a bit unpredictable at times, so it's important to have a reliable vehicle that can handle rain and snow when traveling far distances. We also recommend making sure your cell service is available in most areas and that you keep an emergency kit in your vehicle in case you need to stop unexpectedly for severe storms. Iowa does get it's fair share of tornadoes during late spring and summer storms with snowy winters. It might sound like a lot, but overall Iowans get to enjoy all four seasons. As long as you are prepared with appropriate winter gear and take a few safety precautions, most Iowans get along just fine.
Housing is generally affordable and there are lots of areas to chose from. But, like most places, if an area hasn't had a Midwife before, you would be building a birth community from scratch. Right now there are already busy practices in most major cities, but there are large maternity care deserts all over the state.
The receptiveness of medical establishments to homebirth midwives and clients are varied and tend to be better in metro areas than small hospitals with limited experience dealing with midwives. Most rural hospitals here are having a problem keeping their maternity unit open and many do not have one. This means rural clientele have to make the decision to schedule an induction in town or risk having their baby on the road due to long travel times. Homebirth midwives can be a great option for these areas who otherwise would have no other local service. However, this does mean that transfer times can be delayed in these areas and Midwives should be ready to bring adequate emergency equipment and be up to date on their skills if they plan to travel there.
Are there any professional organizations?
Right now there is only one professional organization for CPMs and traditional midwifery and that the Iowa Midwives Association. Homebirth midwives will regularly gather on their own for peer review, continuing education or skill drills. The IMQCC has recently begun communicating with the homebirth community and has created a Community Birth Collaborative that meets every few months on Zoom to talk about up to date information on a variety of topics. We encourage new to the state Midwives to reach out to local Midwives before moving, for a clearer picture of what is available in the area you plan to live in.
How do I become licensed?
If you are a CNM, you would contact the Iowa Nursing Board. If you are a CPM, you must have your CPM credential and have either completed an accredited Midwifery education program or received your Midwifery Bridge Certificate by July 1, 2024. For a full list of requirements, you can visit the page on Iowa Law.