Where can CNM's attend homebirths without OB?

[girlmama, MSN, RN, CNM]

In what states is it legal for a CNM to attend homebirths without having a backing OB?

So far, my UNDERSTANDING (meaning not completely confirmed) is New York, Indiana, and Iowa allow this, not sure about others.

Thank you!

[nursemomma11]

Tennessee allows. I had my 2 y/o here at home with a couple of midwives.

[leanne.roberts]

Wow, really? I thought all CNM's had to have a collaborating physician. That's awesome!

[sethmctenn]

I know several midwives in TN and was told that almost all midwife assisted homebirths in TN are by CPMs who are state certified through the board of osteopathic examiners not CNMs who are APNs licensed through the nursing board.

[leanne.roberts]

I know several midwives in TN and was told that almost all midwife assisted homebirths in TN are by CPMs who are state certified through the board of osteopathic examiners not CNMs who are APNs licensed through the nursing board.

To my knowledge we only had 5 homebirth CNM's (APN's) here in NC, I've been out of the homebirth loop since going back to school and this may have changed. We do have several CPM's and LM's active in our state but they unfortunately have to be very careful due to the state's anti-homebirth laws

[Mec_Happens]

To my knowledge we only had 5 homebirth CNM's (APN's) here in NC, I've been out of the homebirth loop since going back to school and this may have changed. We do have several CPM's and LM's active in our state but they unfortunately have to be very careful due to the state's anti-homebirth laws

Anti-homebirth laws?? Really??

[leanne.roberts]

Anti-homebirth laws?? Really??

That's how I feel, we have one of the few states that seems to be stuck in the dark about homebirth. It's not illegal to have a homebirth, it is illegal to have anyone other than a doctor or a CNM (with a collaborating physician and affiliation with a hospital) attend the birth... which doesn't sound like a big deal but with only a handful of homebirth CNM's in our state (we did have 1 homebirth OB in Asheville but I think he stopped attending homebirths recently) it really is a problem. We have plenty of CPM's but they risk being arrested each time they attend a birth. Several of our lawmakers and the North Carolina Medical Society have made it nearly impossible to license CPM's in this state.

The good news... the CDC continues to report a national rise in homebirths which will prompt change everywhere and in NC we have a huge grassroots network of support working to change the law, our CPM bill was filed this spring

[girlmama, MSN, RN, CNM]

I currently reside in KY and for now at least, feel like I'd like to stay here if at all possible.

I was told today (by someone who's planning a CNM attended home birth) that CNM's can attend home births here, so long as they're assisted by a licensed medical professional (including an RN) and don't need a collaborating OB.

Again, I'm not sure how valid this is as it's just he said she said, but I'm not sure where to reliably verify either.

(The legalities regarding CPM's are strikingly similar to NC. One of the many reasons I'm going the CNM route.)