Midwife gets jail in baby's death

[Mrs.S]

there are so many things in this story that bother me.....sorry if this has already been posted. (from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Unlicensed woman given 6-month term as part of sentence

Waukesha - An unlicensed midwife was sentenced Friday to three years of probation that includes six months in jail on two criminal counts for overstepping the law when she presided over a home birth in rural Waukesha County last year that culminated with the death of the newborn.

Helen E. Dentice, a 52-year-old grandmother who participated in more than 100 home births before the ill-fated endeavor, was sentenced by a judge who faulted her for agreeing to take on the effort despite knowing it was complicated and risky because of the mother's troubles during previous births.

JS Online:

[medsurgnurse, RN]

read rn/writer's post.

[Belinda-wales, RN]

As a qualified midwife who has attened hundreds of births at home and in hospital I can not understand this midwifes actions she must have under stood the dangers - it is her job to make the parents understand the risks if they were despirate for a vbac then why not in hosptial so actons can be taken if emergency should arrise they were lucky that the mum survied absolut madness

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

live in a rural area. We still have a few "granny midwives" in our towns. I don't recall any having such a tragedy. They are the first to tell the mommy NO if any red flags pop up. They visit the prental clinic with the mommy during the whole pregnancy. Mommy signs consent for transport in emergency, and agrees to follow the physicians' orders. I used to think it was money holding them to the custom, but now I believfe it's faith in the midwife that drives them.

[33-weeker]

To clarify, I was not defending THIS particular midwife in this situation, just saying we shouldn't lump everyone in a group just because they are 'unlicensed'.

Were any of the 3 c-sections necessary? We should remember that we were not there and do not know what exactly was said between the clients and midwife. I do agree she should have either not taken it on, or at least sent them to the hospital at the first sign of trouble.