What Is a Midwife? What Is a Licensed Midwife in Florida?

When people hear the word midwife, they often picture someone who simply “catches babies.” But midwifery is so much more than a single moment in birth.

A midwife is a trained healthcare professional who provides comprehensive, relationship-centered care throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

Midwives are guardians of normal, healthy physiology and advocates for informed choice, autonomy, and respectful care.

We walk beside families, not ahead of them.

We listen.

We educate.

We support the whole person, not just the pregnancy.

Midwifery care is both clinical and deeply relational.

What Is a Licensed Midwife (LM) in Florida?

A Licensed Midwife (LM) in Florida is a highly trained clinician who meets rigorous educational, clinical, and state examination requirements.

Licensed Midwives are regulated by the Florida Department of Health and are legally authorized to:

• Provide comprehensive prenatal care

•Attend planned out-of-hospital births (home or birth center)

•Offer postpartum and newborn care

•Perform screenings and assessments

•Order laboratory testing and ultrasounds

•Manage healthy, low-risk pregnancies

Becoming licensed requires extensive apprenticeship, academic coursework, hands-on experience in diverse clinical settings, and ongoing continuing education every year.

This is not informal support. It is a regulated, accountable healthcare profession rooted in evidence, skill, and respect for families’ values.

The Role of a Community Midwife

As a community midwife in Miami, my role is both clinical and relational. I serve as your:

• Educator

•Safety net

•Advocate

•Steady presence

I help you understand your choices, your rights, and your body.

I create space where you are seen, heard, and supported—where birth is treated as the powerful, physiological event it is, not as a medical emergency waiting to happen.

Midwifery care means continuity.

It means time.

It means trust.

Midwifery Is About Being Cared For

Midwifery care is not just about having a baby. It is about being cared for.

It is about feeling safe in your own story.

It is about understanding what is happening in your body.

It is about having your questions answered.

It is about building a relationship with the person who will be present when you give birth.

Birth belongs to families. Midwives are honored to be invited into that space.

At A Loving Start, my commitment is simple: to provide thoughtful, evidence-informed, relationship-centered care that uplifts you at every step.

A Licensed Midwife is trained, capable, and accountable.A midwife, at heart, is someone who believes in you.

And I am grateful to walk this journey with the families I serve.

Frequently Asked Questions About Licensed Midwives in Florida

Q: Are Licensed Midwives regulated in Florida?

Yes. Licensed Midwives (LMs) are regulated by the Florida Department of Health. They must meet specific education, clinical training, and examination requirements to practice legally in the state.

Q: Can a Licensed Midwife in Miami order lab work and ultrasounds?

Yes. Florida Licensed Midwives are authorized to order laboratory testing, ultrasounds, and perform routine prenatal screenings for healthy, low-risk pregnancies.

Q: Do Licensed Midwives provide postpartum care?

Yes. Licensed Midwives provide postpartum and newborn care after birth, including monitoring recovery, infant feeding support, and wellness assessments.

Q: Who is a good candidate for midwifery care in Florida?

Midwifery care is appropriate for healthy, low-risk pregnancies. A Licensed Midwife will review your health history and current pregnancy to determine eligibility and discuss options with you.

Q: Is home birth legal in Florida with a Licensed Midwife?

Yes. Planned home birth with a Licensed Midwife is legal in Florida for low-risk pregnancies.