How Do You Find a Midwife?
To find a midwife, start by deciding where you want to give birth, since that tells you which kind of midwife to look for. Then gather names from people you trust and from professional directories, check each midwife's license, and book a few free consultations. Choose the one who listens well, answers hard questions plainly, and feels right in your gut.
If you're wondering how to get a midwife when you're already pregnant, the steps are the same at six weeks or twenty-six. This guide walks through each one for families in Maryland.
Start With Where You Want to Give Birth
Where you want to give birth narrows your search more than anything else. Different midwives work in different settings, and most don't move between them.
If you're planning a hospital birth, you'll be looking for certified nurse-midwives, who usually practice in hospitals and in group practices with physicians. If you're drawn to a birth center, you'll look at the midwives on that center's staff. If you're planning a home birth, you'll be looking for an independent home birth midwife who comes to you.
Not sure yet? That's common, and it's worth sorting out first. Our comparison of birth center vs. home birth in Baltimore lays out the tradeoffs. It also helps to know early whether home birth is open to you. Maryland law lists conditions that rule out a planned home birth with a licensed midwife, and you can read the list yourself in our guide to who can have a home birth in Maryland.
Know Which Kind of Midwife You're Looking For
In Maryland, you'll mostly meet two kinds of midwives, and the letters after their names tell you a lot.
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are registered nurses with graduate training in midwifery, certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Their professional organization is the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are trained specifically for out-of-hospital birth and certified by the North American Registry of Midwives. In Maryland, CPMs who attend home births practice under a state license called the Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife, or LDM. Since 2025, Maryland law states plainly that direct-entry midwifery is an independent practice. A home birth midwife doesn't need a doctor's sign-off to take you on. We covered that change in Maryland's 2025 midwifery law.
For the full breakdown, including the less common Certified Midwife credential, see our guide to Maryland midwife licensing.
Where to Look for a Midwife Near You
Next, build a short list. A few places tend to work best.
Ask people who've done it. Friends and neighbors who've had the kind of birth you're planning are often the best source of names, and they'll tell you what they loved about their midwife.
Check professional groups. The Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland is the state's professional organization for home birth midwives, and Nets is an active member. For nurse-midwives, the American College of Nurse-Midwives has a search tool on its site.
Ask the birth community around you. Doulas, lactation consultants, chiropractors, and prenatal yoga teachers often know which midwives practice nearby and how they work.
Search locally, and then check. A search for "midwife near me" will turn up names fast. Before you get attached to one, confirm she actually serves your area. Home birth midwives cover set service areas because they need to reach you quickly in labor. Fruit of the Womb, for example, serves Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Howard County in Maryland, plus York County in Pennsylvania.
Check the License Before You Fall in Love
This step only takes a few minutes, and it's worth doing for every midwife on your list.
In Maryland, the Board of Nursing oversees both nurse-midwives and licensed direct-entry midwives, and anyone can check a license with the state's license lookup tool. For a CPM, you can also ask to see her current certification from the North American Registry of Midwives.
A good midwife will be glad you looked. If someone can't point you to her license, or her credentials don't match what she told you, keep looking.
How to Choose a Midwife Who Fits
Once your list is down to two or three names, choosing comes down to safety and fit.
Safety means clear answers about her training, how she handles emergencies, when she'd transfer you to a hospital, and who covers for her if she's at another birth. We gathered the most useful of those in questions to ask a midwife before you hire her, so bring that list to your calls.
Fit is harder to put into words, but you'll notice it. Pay attention to whether you felt rushed or heard, and whether her answers left you calmer or more anxious. Trust that read. You'll be working with her for most of a year, from early pregnancy through the weeks after birth, so comfort counts as much as credentials.
Practical fit matters, too. Ask where prenatal visits happen, how long they last, and what the fee includes. With Nets, prenatal visits run about an hour at her home office in Reisterstown, and her home birth midwifery care page lists everything her fee covers.
How to Get a Midwife Once You've Found One
Getting a midwife usually starts with a free consultation. You'll talk through your pregnancy, your hopes for the birth, and how she works. If you both feel it's a fit, she'll walk you through the next steps and schedule your first prenatal visit. If you're coming from another provider, ask for copies of your records to bring along.
At Fruit of the Womb, that first conversation is a free 30-minute call by Zoom or phone. Nets is a Certified Professional Midwife, licensed as a direct-entry midwife in Maryland since 2023, and has served at nearly 200 births as a midwife, birth assistant, or doula. She describes what she hopes you'll feel in her care: "relaxed and heard, honored and supported."
If you're in the Baltimore area and planning a home birth, Nets would be glad to talk with you. Reach out through the contact page or schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a midwife cost?
It depends on the setting. Hospital midwifery care is usually billed through insurance like other maternity care. Home birth midwives usually charge one global fee that covers prenatal visits, the birth, and postpartum care, with insurance reimbursement varying by plan. When you compare, ask what each fee includes, not just the number. Our guide to how much a home birth costs in Maryland breaks down what goes into the fee and what sits outside it.
Do I need a referral to see a midwife?
Usually not. You can contact a midwife directly and book a consultation without going through a doctor first. Some insurance plans have their own referral rules for in-network care, so check your plan if you're hoping for coverage. If you've already had prenatal visits elsewhere, you don't need that provider's permission to switch, only copies of your records. For a home birth midwife, the first step is simply reaching out and telling her where you are in your pregnancy.
Can a midwife be my only provider during pregnancy?
For a low-risk pregnancy, yes. A licensed midwife can provide your prenatal care, attend your birth, and care for you and your baby afterward. If a condition comes up that Maryland law says needs another clinician's input, she'll consult with or transfer you to another provider. Your newborn will also see a pediatric provider after birth, since Maryland requires a referral within the first 72 hours. Many families choose a pediatrician during pregnancy so that step is easy.
What's the difference between a midwife and a doula?
A midwife is a medical care provider. She monitors your health and your baby's, orders and reviews lab work, attends the birth, and handles complications or transfers. A doula offers emotional, physical, and informational support but doesn't provide medical care. Many families have both. Some home birth midwives also bring a second midwife or trained birth assistant, so ask each midwife who will be on your team on the day of the birth. That helps you decide whether a doula would add something.
Can I have a midwife for a hospital birth?
Yes. Certified nurse-midwives attend many hospital births, often working in practices alongside physicians. If you want a midwife but prefer to give birth in a hospital, look for a nurse-midwifery practice with privileges at the hospital you're considering. Home birth midwives generally don't serve as your provider for a planned hospital birth. If a planned home birth needs to move to the hospital, your midwife coordinates that transfer, and our article on what happens during a hospital transfer explains how it works.
About the Author, Tori T.
Tori is a Reiki Master, yogi, and healer, certified in sound, color, and crystal therapies. With a passion for holistic wellness, she combines ancient wisdom with modern practices to guide individuals on their journey to balance and harmony. Through her work, Tori aims to inspire and empower others to achieve their highest potential.
