[SmilingBluEyes]

Horrible case. But if it was against the law for her to practice midwifery without an RN license prior (as it said in the article), she appears not to have much to stand on. Tragic all around. She knowingly broke the law and took a huge risk; there will be a price to pay, despite the death being NOT of her fault or doing.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Originally Posted by matchstickxx

I think there needs to be some way to regulate midwives. Not all people who present themselves as midwives are competent. Of course, not every poor homebirth outcome is a result of using a midwife. Hospital deliveries can have devestating outcomes too.
Aside from word of mouth, how's a mom to know if a midwife is competent or if they just been lucky that nothing bad has happened yet. A friend of mine had a home birth with an unlicensed midwife. The midwife had an "apprentice" with her who would be a midwife after she accompanied/ assisted her trainer on 100 deliveries. This was many years ago before I was even in nursing school. At the time I thought 100 deliveries sounded like a lot, but now I realize it really isn't that many.

I have to agree. The case in point is in that article. If the law that a midwife must hold RN credential prior is considered unfair or unreasonable, the onus is on the community to change the law. It's not for midwives to practice outside of it. Regulation IS in order, so homebirthing is safer and families are sure of whom they are hiring to officiate at these momentous home birth occasions.

[judyblueeyes]

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

despite the death being NOT of her fault or doing.

Do you have any information about what exactly went wrong? Just curious.

[SmilingBluEyes]

You make a valid point, Judy.

The way the article reads, it appears she did not do anything to kill the baby. The baby died in the birth canal---- as we know, these things can happen, despite the best care and every precaution we can take.

But like I said, you point out something valid; I "ASSUMED" a bit here. I should have said, "even if she did nothing wrong that led to the death of that baby, there is a huge price to pay for breaking the state laws and practicing w/o proper license or scope to do so".

Hopefully, that clarifies my position more.

[fergus51]

I'm fine with midwives who take a recognized program and are licensed. I am not ok with lay midwives who have little to no formal training. I think they are dangerous and I wouldn't risk using one.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Exactly my thinking, fergus.

[matchstickxx]

Originally Posted by judyblueeyes

Do you have any information about what exactly went wrong? Just curious.

From a previous story in the newspaper...

On June 3, Williams helped deliver a boy, Oliver Meredith, in the parsonage of First Southern Baptist Church in Edinburg, where his father was a pastor. Authorities say the newborn died as a result of pooled blood in the head and neonatal asphyxia.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...73233177931117

[J'sGirl82]

You know, what does it matter ? I mean, if somebody wants to deliver outside the hospital, with somebody who is in a profession that truley has no medical expertise whatsoever, then they should proceed at their own risk, and that of their child. And if people want to deliver babies for women who don't feel the hospital is for them, that's their decision. There should be some sort of "Release of Liability" form. I don't think they are "praticing medicin without a liscense" either. How is it that people that choose cpm's don't know what could/could NOT happen ? I mean seriously. How could they not know ???? Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Homebirth, or lay midwives. But to me it's pretty cut and dry, you get what you pay for. Isn't there some state that has plans to move CPM's into a Clinical Setting ?

[midwife2b]

I've been reading a bit about "unassisted birth" and "unassisted VBAC". Now that is kind of scary to me!
Does anyone know of a family who has been that route?

[mcdonaldgirl]

The death of the baby was truly sad.....
This may be a bit off-subject, but...... weren't midwives used alot at the turn of the 20th Century? No-one had access to hospitals that easily.....and if you were "sick" enough for the hospital, you were close to death.

"Mac"