Midwives

What the job really is

Provide prenatal care and childbirth assistance.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-9099
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Monitor maternal condition during labor by checking vital signs, monitoring uterine contractions, or performing physical examinations.
• Identify tubal and ectopic pregnancies and refer patients for treatments.
• Provide necessary medical care for infants at birth, including emergency care such as resuscitation.
• Conduct ongoing prenatal health assessments, tracking changes in physical and emotional health.
• Monitor fetal growth and well-being through heartbeat detection, body measurement, and palpation.
• Establish and follow emergency or contingency plans for mothers and newborns.
• Identify, monitor, or treat pregnancy-related problems such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-term labor, or retarded fetal growth.
• Obtain complete health and medical histories from patients including medical, surgical, reproductive, or mental health histories.
• Evaluate patients' laboratory and medical records, requesting assistance from other practitioners when necessary.
• Maintain documentation of all patients' contacts, reviewing and updating records as necessary.
• Assess the status of post-date pregnancies to determine treatments and interventions.
• Set up or monitor the administration of oxygen or medications.

Tools and technology

Epic Systems, Extensible markup language XML, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, AS/400 Database, Automated blood pressure cuffs, Automated external defibrillators AED, Baby scales, Bedpans

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Nurse Midwives
• Nurse Practitioners
• Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Registered Nurses
• Pediatricians, General
• Family Medicine Physicians
• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Acute Care Nurses

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Midwives — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.