Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Nurse Midwife
What nurse midwifes actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a nurse midwife?
Check on a patient in early labor. From there, the day usually includes provide prenatal care, manage labor and deliver babies, and care for mothers and newborns after birth. Births happen any time, so midwives take call and work nights, weekends and holidays.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a nurse midwife working full time.
- Check on a patient in early labor.
- See prenatal patients in clinic.
- Do an annual gynecologic exam.
- Return to labor and delivery to support pushing.
- Deliver a baby and assess the newborn.
- Help with first breastfeeding.
- Document and hand off to the night midwife.
Where nurse midwifes work
CNMs work in hospitals, birth centers, clinics and sometimes patients’ homes.
Hours and schedule
Births happen any time, so midwives take call and work nights, weekends and holidays.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Provide prenatal care
- Manage labor and deliver babies
- Care for mothers and newborns after birth
- Provide gynecologic exams
- Offer contraception and family planning
- Educate patients
- Consult and refer when needed
Tools you’ll use every day
- Fetal heart monitors
- Ultrasound (basic)
- Delivery instruments
- Electronic health records
- Exam equipment
- Neonatal resuscitation equipment
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Deeply meaningful work
- Strong patient relationships
- High pay
- Faster-than-average growth
What’s hard
- Unpredictable hours
- High-stakes emergencies
- Emotional losses
- Long training path
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I want to support women through birth
- I stay calm in emergencies
- I build trust easily
- I can handle unpredictable hours
- I’m a nurse who wants more autonomy
- I believe in patient-centered care
Not sure? Take the free Nurse Midwife fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow infection control
- Monitor for obstetric emergencies
- Practice emergency drills
- Know when to consult or transfer care