Anna Duggar - 18 Kids and Counting

[1Plus2]

Did anyone else just catch the latest episode of 18 Kids and Counting?? Anna and Josh had their first baby, Mackynzie (sp?). The show was about their Bradley classes, baby shower and the baby's birth. When her labor starts 10 days before her edd, she finds out her OB is out of town. She says she doesn't want anyone else so they decide to have a homebirth!! Their only "medical" assistant was their Bradley Instructor who did come with a lot of stuff they'd need for the birth.

Anna Duggar...YOU ROCK!!!

[AnnieA]

YES! YES! YES! I'm so happy TLC showed this even though they may catch some flak for it. Not only homebirth but mostly unassisted! Daddy Josh catching the baby!

[ErinsJuneBug]

What state are they in? Are CPM's illegal? I have a feeling their "doula" was really an undercover CPM. I mean what kind of doula comes to a hospital birth with equipment to clamp the cord?

[Boizalynne]

This made me so happy! I have had four homebirths and have four beautiful daughters... every time I see a homebirth on television it makes me want to do it all over again! REALLY made me want to have another baby...

[nashvillemidwife]

According to CNN they had a midwife. There was an oxygen tank in the room. I don't think it was unassisted.

[moonglowmama]

It's my understanding that they had a midwife who was going to be their doula in the hospital, but when their dr. wasn't available, they opted to go ahead with a homebirth with their midwife.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

If they did have a midwife she wasnt shown and wasnt mentioned at any point in time. They only decided to have a doula for the home birth not the hospital from the way I understood it. Actually watching it again right now. When they did decide on the home birth the doula came with what was need because she knew they didnt have a mw lined up. Though the doula could be a mw but because it was on tv they decided to not say that. At any rate she didnt have much at all to do with the birth just holding legs while Josh caught.

[nashvillemidwife]

I think it's important to remember that these stories are heavily edited. The way it is spliced together suggests that they decided on a home birth spur of the moment, but they never said that. It sounds like the decision was late in the game, but they never said that the suggestion to have a home birth came about suddenly just on that day. They are in an illegal state for midwives, so of course you would not expect to see one on screen; she could go to jail! All the press is reporting they were assisted by a midwife.

[nashvillemidwife]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

When they did decide on the home birth the doula came with what was need because she knew they didnt have a mw lined up.

Where did they say or show that?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

It was just the impression I got sorry if I was not clear on that.

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

They are in an illegal state for midwives, so of course you would not expect to see one on screen; she could go to jail! All the press is reporting they were assisted by a midwife.

This is what we were all suspecting (look for the other thread in homebirthing). Since Josh caught the baby, really, it wasn't 'technically' a midwife assisted birth in a legal sense perhaps. Everyone I've talked to thought there was too much equipment there to not have a midwife. It may be a traditional/unlicensed mw.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Here is the thread dealing with the show for anyone interested over in the TV forum http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1131447

[zonapellucida]

I stayed up to watch this. I am so impressed at how calm she was through the birth. Yeah Anna!!!!!!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

According to the information in the tv thread in Arkansas lay mw are not illegal.

[nashvillemidwife]

Originally Posted by phatchristy

Since Josh caught the baby, really, it wasn't 'technically' a midwife assisted birth in a legal sense perhaps.

I don't know why you would think that. There is much more to the midwife's job than catching the baby. If she's present, she's responsible. Actually, even if she's not present she may still be responsible if she has agreed to take care of them. Just attending a prenatal is providing midwifery care, and you need a license for it. I'm not aware of any laws that define solely the act of catching the baby as a requirement for licensure.

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

According to the information in the tv thread in Arkansas lay mw are not illegal.

That is correct and I don't know why I said otherwise. What I was thinking was in general the midwife may have been practicing illegally, not that it is an "illegal state" as I said. Or she may just not have wanted to be on camera. I wouldn't. Ever looked at the comments on a youtube birth video? Those armchair quarterbacks really love to tear the attendants apart (especially the lay people).