South Carolina Licensed Midwives welcome you to our website. We are devoted to providing safe, professional care to mothers and babies and hope this site makes it easier for you to find a midwife in your community.
History of Midwifery in South Carolina
Midwifery in South Carolina has a long history that it shares with the history of humankind.
In the 1930's, recognizing the need for formal training of midwives, South Carolina’s public health officials established programs under the leadership of Dr. Hilla Sheriff, a native of Orangeburg, SC, and a Harvard-trained physician. At that time, midwives often traveled over rough roads, sometimes on foot or by horse-and-buggy, to serve the families in their communities. There were thousands of midwives in South Carolina and their training yielded good results.
As the twentieth century progressed, childbearing became safer due to improved sanitation and hygiene, improved nutrition for childbearing women, the invention of antibiotics, options in birth control and an increasingly organized system of health care for our people.
By 1970, state health officials determined that times had changed. They called the midwives to meetings in which they were informed that their services were no longer needed. It was a shock as there were citizens still desiring the personal care and conscientious service of midwives. Not all mothers wished to be institutionalized for childbirth, to use drugs in the process or to be immediately separated from their babies. Nevertheless, government and industry proceeded to normalize such practices.
In 1976, South Carolina desired to strike from statute the law under which midwifery had functioned for many years. A new voice arose at that time from those who held independent midwives as the keepers of normal childbirth for healthy mothers and their babies. The superior results achieved by midwives in the care of low-risk mothers and babies could not be denied. Licensing of midwives was begun again in 1982; the Licensed Midwife credential is administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
South Carolina Midwives Today
Modern midwives blend traditional midwifery care with evidence based practices. South Carolina is one of 38 states that licenses professional midwives. While Licensed Midwives may be credentialed in other health care disciplines, it is not required.
In order to become a Licensed Midwife, an individual must apply to the state, demonstrate successful completion of academic qualifications and clinical training and pass both a national exam and a state exam. After receiving their licenses, midwives are required to follow state regulations, file reports and statistics, maintain client records, file birth certificates, maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and attend continuing education. The licensing period is two years.
Midwives Model of Care
The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives Model of Care includes:
- monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
- providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
- minimizing technological interventions and;
- identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
The application of this model has been proven to reduce to incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
The Midwives Model of Care definition above is Copyright © 1996-2001, Midwifery Task Force, All Rights Reserved.
