Will AI Replace Nurse Midwives?

Provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients.

physical manipulation — Pregnancy and childbirth care is physical clinical presence

Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.

physical manipulation — Measuring physiological attributes needs hands-on devices

Document patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.

interpersonal — Patient history requires live elicitation and judgment

Provide patients with direct family planning services, such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers, including cervical caps or diaphragms.

physical manipulation — Basic health care treatments are hands-on patient work

Prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations.

decision support — Prescribing medications is licensed high-stakes judgment

Develop and implement individualized plans for health care management.

decision support — Medical plans need exam, liability, and clinical judgment

Explain procedures to patients, family members, staff members or others.

interpersonal — Results delivery needs empathy and clinical judgment

Order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests.

visual inspection — Image interpretation assists; radiologist owns diagnosis

Initiate emergency interventions to stabilize patients.

physical manipulation — Hands-on emergency resuscitation and physical intervention

Document findings of physical examinations.

interpersonal — Patient history requires live elicitation and judgment

Educate patients and family members regarding prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, or interconception care.

decision support — Wellness advice needs tailoring and clinical accountability

Perform physical examinations by taking vital signs, checking neurological reflexes, examining breasts, or performing pelvic examinations.

physical manipulation — Nervous system testing is hands-on clinical exam

Write information in medical records or provide narrative summaries to communicate patient information to other health care providers.

text generation — Summarize diagnostic and care activities into reports

Provide primary health care, including pregnancy and childbirth, to women.

physical manipulation — Pregnancy and childbirth care is physical clinical presence

Consult with or refer patients to appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.

decision support — Clinical referral judgment needs licensed human accountability

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in midwifery.

information retrieval — AI summarizes medical updates; human retains judgment

Instruct student nurse midwives, medical students, or residents on the birthing process.

interpersonal — Provider training is clinical, hands-on, accountable

Establish practice guidelines for specialty areas such as primary health care of women, care of the childbearing family, and newborn care.

text generation — AI drafts nursing policies; clinical board approves

Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, health care teams, or the community.

interpersonal — Safety training content aided, live delivery human

Conduct clinical research on topics such as maternal or infant health care, contraceptive methods, breastfeeding, and gynecological care.

information retrieval — Literature review aided; wet-lab and clinical research human

Manage newborn care during the first weeks of life.

physical manipulation — Basic health care treatments are hands-on patient work