HB atmosphere in Illinois?

[dannic]

I can't seem to find any up to date info on HB for IL. Are midwives allowed to assist HB? If I were to move there would I be left with out HB options? Tell me what you know! THX!

[kittywitty]

Right now it's terrible. We have something going through to legalize homebirth more, but not for VBACs (there's another thread on the Illinois forum about it). But CNMs can do homebirth with doc backing, but there are almost none that do, no birthing centers from what I've heard, most docs are closing up that support homebirth...it's really horrible. Hopefully it gets better soon. Wisconsin, Missouri, and even IN (slightly) are better right now if you are somewhere near those borders.

[Romana]

Hostile. CPMs are illegal. If you live near Chicago, you can find a CNM to attend a homebirth for you. There are about 4-5 CNMs in the Chicago area who do homebirth, and maybe 1 or 2 others elsewhere in the state(?).

Legislation legalizing birth centers (I think 3-5 total can be built) passed a couple years ago, but none have been set up yet, and they are supposed to be elsewhere in the state (as opposed to the Chicago area) in order to provide more options for residents who don't live near an urban area. I believe they have to publish some regulations or something before the birth centers can be set up, which hasn't happened.

There is a bill that's been in the works for 30+ years trying to get certification for CPMs. Seems to be doing better this time around, but who knows what will happen there.

Here is a site with info on providers in IL: http://www.birthlink.com/

There are illegally-practicing CPMs in the state and ways to find them. But IL is actively hostile so the whole situation is tricky, for everyone involved. If you live close enough to Chicago, you *should* be able to find a CNM who could attend a homebirth for you.

[dannic]

Wow, that's rough. The two clinchers for us right now are homeschooling and homebirthing...I wonder how far I'd have to travel across the border to find a cpm?
I know there are good CNM's, but I've had both and preferred the less medical approach of the cpm's--I realize that that is a generalization...

Dang! How frustrating for Illinois! (and me)

[TabithaB]

I am planning a HBAC in Illinois now. I am due in October. It has been very interesting pulling it off. I found a lay midwife that has been doing it for about 20 years. But yeah. I has to leave the state and travel to MO to get my sonogram because no one would do it here. But it is possible. You can pm me if you like.

The certified midwives at the clinics can't even see you if you are VBAC. But there are quite a few midwives out there. It just takes a bit of time because they are all pretty much underground because Illinois frowns upon it and has litigated it.

Where are you thinking of moving to. The midwives seem to be in clusters here. There are some in Edwardsville, Collinsville, Bloomington/Normal area, and Champagne/Urbana area. They are out there.

Here is an article from one of Springfield's local papers that was kinda interesting. http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springf...-delivery.html

[rad]

It's a difficult state to find a HB attendant. CPMs are not licensed and work under radar and at the risk of getting arrested. You can find a few here and there. And hopefully this bill that's in the works will pass and open up a few more options. I know there are a few CNM that are in the Chicago area. They do have to collabrate with a dr which makes it hard for CNM to do homebirths. The few homebirth MDs have quit practicing HB in the last few years or will be soon.

So there are a few option throughout the state, you just have to search for them.

[bobandjess99]

You would be in a MUCH more homeschooling and homebirthing-friendly environment if you moved into northern Indiana. Some of the very NW parts of indiana are closer to downtown chicago than some of the illinois chicago 'burbs, if you must be cloee to the city proper, lol! Personally, I'm only 90 miles from chicago, but we have a nice place here, great homeschooling laws (essentially, no regulation) and there are several homebirth midwives that service northern indiana and southern michigan, a FS BC, and hospital midwives.

[HeatherB]

Baby Story did a week of homebirths, and several were in Chicago. I was surprised, knowing the birthing climate is not good. But, they were all CNMs and definitely close in to the city.

My sister married and moved to Chicago (from TX - very HB friendly), and so I have been keeping an eye on it for her sake. I hope the new legislation is passed quickly and is effective at improving the birth options!

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by dannic

Wow, that's rough. The two clinchers for us right now are homeschooling and homebirthing...I wonder how far I'd have to travel across the border to find a cpm?
I know there are good CNM's, but I've had both and preferred the less medical approach of the cpm's--I realize that that is a generalization...

Dang! How frustrating for Illinois! (and me)

I know some Chicago CNMs that do homebirths are stopping soon. There is one in Peoria (?) who is supposed to be wonderful. As for across the border-which border are you talking? There's one in WI close to Rockford, one from Bloomington IN that does over in the east central part rarely, and one used to be in Southern IL that is moving to STL.

[Carson]

Originally Posted by Romana

If you live close enough to Chicago, you *should* be able to find a CNM who could attend a homebirth for you.

Yep, I think this is the bottom line of the current situation.

As far as the medical model of the CNMs go, the ones I've met with seem to happily follow an informed consent model. Especially for the CNMs who practice homebirth, I really think they're on board with care of natural-minded pregnancy and delivery. I was really worried about this before I was pregnant and it turned out very well. Eg, I didn't want to do the GD test, and my CNM very happily gave me the waiver.

As far as 'collaboration with an MD' my CNM had a backup-OB to bounce things off of, but in the course of my normal, healthy pregnancy, she never once mentioned anything about the OB. I never saw the OB, had no contact with her at all during my pregnancy.

[Romana]

As I understand it, Illinois is very homeschooling-friendly. I haven't had to deal with it myself yet, but I believe it's one of the better/easier states to homeschool in.

[dannic]

We're looking west of chicago--lombard, wheaton, ect areas...near NU. It wouldn't be for a yr or so and we're looking into other schools as well, but trying to look at each state's pros and cons...

It does seem IL is good for HSing.

My state doesn't allow HB VBAC's or twins, but otherwise MW's are free to practice (and some will go under the radar for those issues as well...).

So would those areas be considered close enough to the Windy City to find someone, do you think?

Thanks for all the responses...I hope things open up there regardless of whether we're there or not! How lame for women to be so limited in their choices!