WA Midwifery

Guidelines for Licensed Midwives Using Birth Assistants

The Washington State Department of Health Midwifery Program issued updated guidelines clarifying appropriate duties for licensed midwives versus unlicensed birth assistants. The guideline distinguishes clinical tasks requiring licensed midwife judgment (prenatal/intrapartum/postpartum exams, vital sign assessment, fetal heart tone assessment, APGAR scoring, newborn transition assessment) from duties appropriate for birth assistants under direct supervision (labor support, supply checks, vital sign reporting, newborn monitoring, breastfeeding assistance, documentation). The document explicitly states it is not legally binding and does not constitute a duly promulgated regulation.

Midwifery Complaint Process Guide, Washington State

The Washington State Department of Health issued a guide explaining the complaint and disciplinary process for licensed midwives under RCW 18.130 (Uniform Disciplinary Act). The guide covers report intake, case assessment, investigation procedures, timelines, enforcement actors, and due process requirements. It applies to all licensed midwives in Washington State.