Job in jeopardy

[kimmy55]

My daughter lives in Illinois where direct entry mid wives are illegal.  She took what she thought was going to be an 8 week leave from her job after having a successful home water birth which was not assisted due to the state laws.  Before my daughter can return to work, she must have the signature of a health care provider releasing her to return to work.  There are no doctors in this area that are willing to complete the form for her, and therefore she is going to lose her job.  She has a good work record - just does not seem fair to me.  Any ideas or input would be very much appreciated.  Very thankful to have a healthy beautiful grandson, but his mother needs her job in order to support him.

[crystal_buffaloe]

Does she have a family practice doctor? They seem to be more laid-back at times. Could she establish care with a new doc? Family practice or OB/GYN for a post-natal appointment and ask them to fill out the form? Could Planned Parenthood help?

You might have better luck getting more specific responses if you cross-post this question in the "Finding Your Tribe" area. I know that Illinois can be pretty unfriendly to HB.

[newsolarmomma2]

Look in the phone book for a pay as you go walk in clinic- the one you pay like $75 and see whomever is there. They will sign the paper, just ask. You could also go to an OB or MW for a post pregnancy cheek and say you were out of town, and it was an OOPS, accidental HB.

If you can't do this, just sign it yourself. No one is going to check, and it's not worth losing your job over. You job only wants it for legal reasons, they aren't too concerned who your doc is. After all, if you had an OOPS baby at home, you would have to get it signed anyway, right?

[birthgreeter]

If she is on WIC, would they be allowed to sign for her?

[Valerie]

I agree that your daughter's employer is just trying to cover his/her butt. This is some sort of edict from human resources, right? Who made the "rule"?

Depending on where you are in Illinois, you might be able to find a midwife to sign it for her. I recall that during my midwifery practice I signed a LOT of those kind of things. You might even be able to send the form to a cooperative midwife for signing and return to you!

As an alternative, she might consider writing some sort of "hold harmless" type of agreement. In other words, she states that she does not have a health care provider, that to the best of her knowledge she is in good health, and that she agrees to release her employer from any liability for her health or for any health-related consequences of returning to work.

Valerie
Former Illinois homebirth midwife
Current Illinois attorney

[kimmy55]

All very good ideas - thank you very much for your input.