What is the Homebirth Climate in Hawaii - Page 2

[amberskyfire]

I live down the street from the Waldorf school and it looks nice. I have heard great things about it, but never actually been inside or looked into it myself.

[Maile Buck]

Aloha! I'm from Puna, (Volcano) went to school in Kea'au and now live on the other side close to Waimea. This may be a little late but I have some helpful info.

The waldorf school (Malamalama) is a great school and I highly recommend it! My friend's mother actually moved from Waipio Valley to Hawaiian Acres (across the island) so she could teach there and have her children go to school there over 20 years ago. They do amazing things, and the facility is adorable.

As for Birthing and Midwives. Hawaii is very open to Homebirths, and I know more women here would have them if there were more midwives on island, right now it seems like the ones here have SO many births to attend that they are stretched thin at times. Cost becomes another issue as no insurance here covers Midwives. NCC (the hospital in Waimea) does have CNM's and they are the next best thing on island.

I was born in Hilo hospital, so I can't say that it is the most horrible place... Although I don't like hospitals as an adult, I was a C section baby and they took care of me and my mom well.

I had my first child Unassisted at home with just my husband. We had extensive training and felt confident as all the midwives we had met we didn't feel comfortable with. It was easy to get all the paperwork needed afterwards (Birth certificate/ SS etc) which enforces my belief that Hawaii (gov) is completely okay with home birth.

I am now pregnant with my second child, found an Amazing midwife in Kona and feel so blessed to have her! I am also blessed to have a good job to be able to pay for her, that being said I feel for women who want it, but can't afford it. I do wish there were financial aid for home births. If you can't afford it, the Waimea Hospital with the CNM's will help ANYone get the financial aid to have the baby there. ^_^

Hope this helps.

[birth2love]

Aloha kakou! :)

I was doing some research and came across this thread and thought I'd hop in ;)

I live on O`ahu but just came back from the Midwives Alliance of Hawai`i conference on Kaua`i.  There are a handful of midwives on the Big Island, from the 'underground' to CNM's.  The North Hawai`i Hospital is going to be getting recognition from MAH for being so great in having midwives there and for being understanding of home birth transfers.

www.midwiveshawaii.com is the place to find most of the midwives in Hawai`i but like I said there are some 'underground' ones that you'd have to find through word of mouth.

Hawai`i has allegal status for home births/midwives, if someone were to file a complaint or lawsuit against a midwife they wouldn't be 'protected' under the law but they also wouldn't get charged with a crazy crime as there is no law for either.

CNM's are the only ones 'licensed' to practice/assist in births, as well as the Naturopathic Physicians (ND's).  The conference was looking at having licensure for Midwives here in Hawai`i and what action we would have to take to start the process.

Anyway, if you're interested in keeping up to date with the birthing community here, here are a few other sites: 

www.hapaihawaii.com

on FB Hapai Hawaii group page

www.maternitycarechoiceshawaii.wordpress.com

[birth2love]

Sorry another thing I wanted to share is that most if not all of the midwives here will take other forms of payment, monthly installments etc etc...the important thing is to ask and be up front.  They are not in this profession to make money but to be sure there is a midwife for every mother ;)  So definitely don't be discouraged to look for a midwife because of costs :)

[amberskyfire]

I'm looking for a link for contacting midwives, but don't see any on there. Is the link not up yet or am I just tired? :)