For CPMs Who Want Out

You didn’t become a midwife because you wanted to hurt anyone. You wanted to serve, to support women, to honor birth.

You were told you were part of a sacred tradition. That certification was enough. That being a “birthkeeper” was noble. You believed it—and you gave your all.

But maybe you’re realizing something else now.

Maybe you’ve attended births where things went wrong and you didn’t know what to do.
Maybe you’ve sat through peer reviews that felt more like cover-ups than accountability.
Maybe you were taught to fear hospitals—but now you fear what happens when you don’t have one.

And maybe you’re wondering if what you were sold… was a lie.

You Were Promised Recognition—But Left Without Support

You were told:

  • That CPM certification would give you legitimacy.

  • That licensure meant safety.

  • That attending births outside the system would bring autonomy and respect.

But the truth is, you were sent into life-and-death situations with substandard training, no backup, and no protection.

And when things went wrong?
The system failed you, too.

It Takes Courage to Say “This Isn’t Safe”

If you’ve come to that realization, you are not alone.

More CPMs than you know are questioning what they were taught. Some are quietly stepping away. Some are seeking more education. A few have spoken out.

But we need more voices—your voice.

You Can Still Be a Midwife

You don’t have to give up your calling. But you do need a new path forward.

Become a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM):

  • Earn a graduate degree

  • Gain hospital-based experience

  • Integrate into the health system

  • Keep attending births—safely, confidently, and with real respect

CPM to CNM Facebook Support Group

Or become an advocate for reform:

  • Speak publicly about the dangers of under-regulated midwifery

  • Support policies that align CPM training with international standards

  • Speak out about the absurdity of a profession with this much responsibility that doesn’t even require a college degree

  • Support policies that make home birth safer.

  • Help ensure the next generation of midwives isn’t put in the same position

It’s Not Too Late

You were misled. That’s not your fault.

But now that you know, you have a choice:
Stay silent—or speak up.
Walk away—or help change it.

The most radical act of midwifery you can offer now is truth.

You can still save lives.
Start with your own.

Previous

Stories