SNM2010

Epiphany, I respectfully disagree. Schools are restricted by the practice environment in which they operate. There are schools that give lip service to the midwifery model of care, but clinical training, arguably the most important part, is quite different. I would tell prospective students to ask lots of questions about the relationship between their preceptors, MDs, and their facility policies. And don't just ask the faculty and look at the website. Ask students in their second and third years. Ask about continuity of care. Ask about induction rates and c/s rates. The honest answers will probably surprise you.

Liability insurance, physician backup, hospital privileging, and for some, truly believing that it is too risky and desiring to have help close at hand "just in case". HeartsOpen: no, the state boards do not often restrict where MDs practice, but obviously their medmal insurers do. They'd be dropped like a hot potato or have their rates jacked up sky-high. And obviously the state can't absolutely restrict where birth happens, but they do license health care professionals. So in states where homebirth midwifery is severely restricted or illegal, a mother can definitely give birth at home. She just can't be assisted. This is how state laws are actually leading people to attempt "UCs" when they could be attended by competent professionals, or hiring unlicensed midwives who got their training who-knows-where and are not being held to any standard other than word of mouth.