Q: Is malpractice insurance for homebirth midwives standard and what is a reasonable transfer rate?

post #41 of 104

5/14/12 at 5:15pm

875 Posts. Joined 1/2012
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imakcerka

That's just rude on so many levels.

@ Broody it's best that people go into ever situation with their eyes wide open. There are women out there that trusted their bodies and trusted their MW's and things still went wrong. I don't think they should have to take on all the guilt. You know who should? Those that try to color birth in any fashion whether it be hospital or home as easy safe experience. While it might be for some it's not for all. There are people on this board who are not as knowledgeable as others and sad as it is take all the positive and refuse to see the negatives. And some of them get hurt. We shouldn't be white washing it all with rainbows and perfect endings because that's not always how it's going to be. If someone feels safer with a MW who carries MP insurance than so be it. We're always trying to find reassurances to our decisions. And I'm telling you now, if I had a MW who made a mess of things I would have no problem going after her. I would want her to own her mess up. The MW culture is getting ugly in my opinion. The MW's trying to hide behind "just trust" BS are hurting Homebirth.

Let's face it. Some women pick HB because they think it's cheaper. If a MW charged more she could cover MP insurance. But then she would lose a lot of customers who where birthing by their pocket book. That's not fair to the MW.

You know what, it would be way easier for me to just go to an OB and get a c/s, rude, no, fact. I live in a country where 90% of women with private health insurance get c/s, vast majority elective. I believe the public health # is about 40-50%. Out of 100+ women I know who have birthed in the last 5 years, 5 have given vaginal birth, 2 could've probably delivered in the car... and the only one who had "natural" birth spent a small fortune on one of the only ob/gyns in the city who will do "humanized" birth (literal translation). So yeah, choosing a homebirth was not easy for me. It's not easy to go against the grain and do something you believe in when everyone and their mother is challenging you or trying to scare you or giving you crap, and you don't have many resources available or people to talk to. I don't know anyone where I live irl who has had a homebirth. (And no, I don't judge or speak to women about not choosing elective c/s, I don't care what other women choose to do for birthing arrangements).

I get really sick of this implication around here ALL the time from certain posters, that anyone interested or pursuing natural/hb/uc/cpm/illegal mw, whatever, is some hippy dippy wanna-be birth diva including phrases about unicorns and rainbows. I come to the homebirth forum to read about homebirth, some posters come here to continually tell women how bad the homebirth choice is.

But maybe this is all about where you live. Apparently Buzzbuzz is so surrounded by homebirth she could scream.

I don't see where anyone in the original topic of this thread was trying to whitewash anything, but then posters came stating that mws are not "real" hcps, are irresponsible, and disrespectful to the gravity of birth, pretty nice blanket statements washing things in another light...

Edited by slmommy - 5/14/12 at 5:28pm

post #42 of 104

5/14/12 at 5:30pm

3,910 Posts. Joined 7/2011
Select All Posts By This User

Reign it in SL, I never said homebirth was all bad. I'm just saying that all forms of birth carry a decent amount of negative. This was in response as to why I thought MP insurance was a good thing. As in why I think it's unfair for mothers to carry the brunt of the guilt if something goes wrong. MW's do not get a free pass.

Never called you a hippy for HB choices. Why would I say that? I'm good with HB, I think it's a great thing. Just as long as we don't play what's best for me is best for everyone and all those that don't agree are idiots. I don't like that game.

post #43 of 104

5/14/12 at 5:36pm

875 Posts. Joined 1/2012
Select All Posts By This User

Maybe you haven't seen a few threads around here over the best few months... "what's best for me is what's best for everyone" sounds exactly what buzzbuzz advocates. Alenushka stated mws w/o malpractice are irresponsible and implied they are not "real" hcps, meaning what? those who choose that are idiots.

post #44 of 104

5/14/12 at 5:45pm

3,910 Posts. Joined 7/2011
Select All Posts By This User

Ok so you're on the defensive over it. I get it. I think it would be awesome if MW's charged a lot more and were able to afford MP insurance. They also need to be protected. Even if they do everything right there will always be someone who feels they didn't. And if they did mess up they shouldn't get to waltz on over to the next HB.

Is there anything wrong with that line of thinking?

Also someone who picks an HB with a MW who doesn't carry insurance can do whatever they hell they want. Their baby their body.

And back to the ones who go in for that EASY C/S. It's not always their first choice. And some people labor for quite some time in very serious situations and actually pick to have that C/S in the end. There are numerous reasons for C/S and not everyone got bullied into them and not everyone scheduled one for convenience. It's not always an easy choice with an easy labor path.

post #45 of 104

5/14/12 at 9:53pm

272 Posts. Joined 8/2011
Select All Posts By This User

I can't help laughing -- previous posters who claim they are all about "freedom!" and "choice" and its unfair to make people wear motorcycle helmets are ALL about telling me where I should post.

I know the whole six threads that I've posted to in the homebirth forum (yes, I went back and counted) just shows my crazy stalking of the threads here.

However, returning to the subject, I really am curious, would other posters accept a medical doctor without malpractice insurance? Would they chose not to sue a doctor who, for example, amputated the wrong limb, because the patient is (after all) the real responsible party who chose their doctor?

post #46 of 104

5/15/12 at 5:39am

2,453 Posts. Joined 1/2008
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imakcerka

That's just rude on so many levels.

@ Broody it's best that people go into ever situation with their eyes wide open. There are women out there that trusted their bodies and trusted their MW's and things still went wrong. I don't think they should have to take on all the guilt. You know who should? Those that try to color birth in any fashion whether it be hospital or home as easy safe experience. While it might be for some it's not for all. There are people on this board who are not as knowledgeable as others and sad as it is take all the positive and refuse to see the negatives. And some of them get hurt. We shouldn't be white washing it all with rainbows and perfect endings because that's not always how it's going to be. If someone feels safer with a MW who carries MP insurance than so be it. We're always trying to find reassurances to our decisions. And I'm telling you now, if I had a MW who made a mess of things I would have no problem going after her. I would want her to own her mess up. The MW culture is getting ugly in my opinion. The MW's trying to hide behind "just trust" BS are hurting Homebirth.

Let's face it. Some women pick HB because they think it's cheaper. If a MW charged more she could cover MP insurance. But then she would lose a lot of customers who where birthing by their pocket book. That's not fair to the MW.

Whoa whoa! I am not at all a "just trust and everything will be fine" type and I agree with you about the culture in the HB/MW community having a bit of a tendency to whitewash sometimes. I believe that more often then not, it's not to hide malpractice or shelter bum MWs so much as the knee-jerk, defensive reaction of a community which has been under fire for a really long time and can tend to be "jumpy" when it comes to criticism or taking a look at less common but very horrific things which can happen at home and generally don't happen in a hospital. I do agree, however, that sometimes it IS to gloss over things/events/MWs/practices which really should be brought to light and I believe that it is to the detriment of all that some of the things that "the community" is less enthusiastic about discussing don't come to light more often. It's not good for anyone that some people have an unrealistic view of birth or that some MWs are spreading such nonsense as "If you had just trusted your body more xyz wouldn't have happened to you...."

But again, I can only speak to MY experience. I don't have a "glossed over" view of what HB is. I don't have a "I learned how to trust my body and that's all I need to know" perspective. This shit is real, I am in awe of the power of birth..not from a hokey standpoint, but from the truth, that things can go very dangerously wrong for no apparent reason sometimes. I don't think this is all rainbows and ponies....I see risk all around in birth and I think preparation and hiring someone good are a good first and second step...but I also think that pure, plain luck has a hell of a lot to do with it. That's where I feel the gamble comes into HB. I don't trust ANY MW enough to think "She's here, she's a "good one" so nothing will happen to me" - for me, walking into a birth feels more like "well, kid, do ya feel lucky? Well, do ya?" - you know?

I STILL believe that where, how and with whom I choose to birth have a lot to do with what ultimately happens to me and my baby and I *personally* don't feel comfortable placing a lot of responsibility for that outcome on another person who cannot possibly feel the same level of commitment to my outcome as me or my DH.....but I've seen incredible Birth Goddess women, with a million perfect births under their belts, the best MW money and time could find and a super strong, healthy body that "knows what to do" be absolutely brought to their knees by a birth that just turned to absolute shit for no reason.

I mean, if I straight pass out and am losing blood like crazy and my MW says "Oh, it's okay, she'll come to, this is all going to be okay, we don't need to call for help" - yeah, that's crazy malpractice....but if I pass out, PERIOD, my husband knows to call 911 immediately no matter what the MW says. Educating my husband has been just as crucial to me as educating myself. A lot of these crazy terrible birth stories where I read about MWs letting absolutely out of control situations get worse and worse before they call for help/transfer also say things like "I was so out of it I could hardly talk and my DH was saying over and over again 'We should call, we should call' and my MW kept saying 'no, I've seen this, this is okay' "- that is an example of putting your life in a MWs hands....deferring to the "expert" despite your gut screaming at you that she is wrong. Every time I read that my insides scream in agony. How many times have we read a birth story where things are going terribly wrong and the woman is writing that she felt a persistent urge to call for help, get the hell to the hospital, that something was wrong but that the MW in the situation kept reassuring her that it would be okay? We read that over and over again. I'm not saying "it's their fault they didn't listen to their gut!" - I'm saying "The danger in the tendency of some HBers to shift responsibility and final say to a MW/"expert" is just as real, relevant and worth discussing as the tendency of some hospital birthers to shift responsibility and decision making power to an OB/"expert"...

I don't ever want to get my head in a space where I feel like "oh, good, okay, the MW is coming...she'll know what to do" - I would rather transfer for a stupid ass reason than EVER ignore what my own gut, knowledge base, etc is telling me I need to do, even if what my gut is screaming is the exact opposite of what my MW is telling me to do. Which is why I don't mind my MWs 18% transfer rate. When a mama tells her "I can't do this, I want to go to the hospital" - she says okay....and I know there have been a couple of times when SHE didn't really think it was necessary..and later when they got to the hospital, they found out that the mama REALLY needed to be there. She might say "are you sure" or "I think you are in transition...do you feel like something is wrong, or is this just really intense" - but if somebody wants to transfer, they GO. I appreciate that. It's putting the mothers feelings, instinct and needs first and I think that is crucial.

Anyway, I'm getting off track. I don't have a "I can do it, I am woman, look at my awesome goddess body, this is all going to be fine!" mentality. It is my acute and deep awareness at how wrong things really can go, which lead me to feel that it is ONLY appropriate (for ME) that I hold myself accountable for my outcome, outside of a truly fucked up situation where a MW holds a gun to my head and says "I don't care if you think we should call for transfer, yer not gonna!" - you know?

I have heard of and read stories where a MW was absolutely negligent or where flat out malpractice came into play in a birth gone wrong. But in a situation like that, if the mama has signed a form which explicitly and specifically outlined ALL the ways in which her MWs lack of malpractice insurance could come back to haunt her should things go wrong...how can a MW (even a terrible, negligent one) be roasted for not having said insurance?

We the consumer should be allowed to say "I will choose to HB with a MW even though I can't get a HB MW in this state who carries malpractice insurance, because I feel my chances are pretty good for not needing my MW to have malpractice insurance" - and in the event that we should pursue that line of thinking and make that choice, we have no one to "blame" but ourselves if we DO end up that one in however many who experience a tragic outcome.

I still haven't read anything in this thread which has even made me THINK about a good reason for denying the consumers the choice to make the decision to hire a MW without MP insurance.

I mean, the fact that some of you just don't like it aside....why should I, the consumer, not have the right to make that (well informed) choice?

post #47 of 104

5/15/12 at 5:59am

2,453 Posts. Joined 1/2008
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzbuzz

I can't help laughing -- previous posters who claim they are all about "freedom!" and "choice" and its unfair to make people wear motorcycle helmets are ALL about telling me where I should post.

I know the whole six threads that I've posted to in the homebirth forum (yes, I went back and counted) just shows my crazy stalking of the threads here.

However, returning to the subject, I really am curious, would other posters accept a medical doctor without malpractice insurance? Would they chose not to sue a doctor who, for example, amputated the wrong limb, because the patient is (after all) the real responsible party who chose their doctor?

OKay, six threads..BUT HOW MANY POSTS? You have posted SO many negative things in this forum about HB.

Yeah, that's what we're saying, we wouldn't choose to sue a doctor who, when we were knocked out under GA, accidentally amputated the wrong limb....because that's the same thing as a MW not being able to get a shoulder dystocia baby "unstuck", resulting in a birth injury.

I would have absolutely NO PROBLEM continuing to see my (AWESOME!) Family Doctor, if he no longer carried MP insurance. In all of the years that I've been seeing him, never one single time has my life been in his hands. Never one single time has he made a decision FOR me. Every time we've had to make a decision about my health, I've been free to seek second opinions, review journals and research (provided by him or collected by me) and have always felt like a responsible party in my medical care.

Were I to seek out a SURGEON for SURGERY....yeah, I'd want that fellow to have MP insurance because I'm not going to be awake to say "Um, dude, as a responsible party in my "health care decision making team" I would like to point out that you are amputating the wrong arm". If I'm in an auto accident and am wheeled into an ER unconscious and bleeding, to be treated in an emergency fashion by some doctor I've never met, didn't choose and know nothing about...yeah, I think then it's much better that he be covered by malpractice insurance.

Seriously, is that the bestest trickiest scenario you can think to throw out there? "Wouldn't you want your surgeon in an amputation scenario to be covered" - that's really your best hypothetical? Oookkkkaay.

BTW, I have an immediate family chock full of lawyers, three of whom work for one of the top medical malpractice law firms in the country. I'm not blind to this underbelly of the medical world. My knowledge of how bad some doctors/MWs can be, how wrong things can go, etc is what has LED ME to feel an intense responsibility for my own health outcomes. I'm not some flopsy mopsy "free birth" enthusiast who doesn't want to admit that things can go wrong.

I really resent the number of people on this board who seem to feel comfortable equating a HBer being okay with the risks involved with said HBer being "naive" or somehow ignorant of "the truth" about birth.

post #48 of 104

5/15/12 at 6:52am

6,937 Posts. Joined 2/2006
Location: Canada
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzbuzz

However, returning to the subject, I really am curious, would other posters accept a medical doctor without malpractice insurance? Would they chose not to sue a doctor who, for example, amputated the wrong limb, because the patient is (after all) the real responsible party who chose their doctor?

That is a bit of a false dichotomy. If I had to choose between two different types of health care providers - I would choose the one that I believed (based on my research) offered me the best chance of the outcome I wanted. Insurance issues would not come into. I would go to a chiropractor without insurance over a medical doctor for back issues, if I felt that chiropracty was the answer to my health issues, and felt the specific chiropractor I was seeing had a strong track record.

Likewise, if there were 2 groups of medical doctors - one with malpractice insurance and one without, the insurance would not be the deciding factor in which doctor I saw. Who was the most skilled and best fit for my family would be the doctor I saw.

I have no issues if you only want to see a midwife with malpractice insurance. None. I think who a woman births with is her business - and as long as the MW is upfront from the beginning about her insurance status, it is all good.

post #49 of 104

5/15/12 at 7:10am

6,937 Posts. Joined 2/2006
Location: Canada
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroodyWoodsgal

I'm not some flopsy mopsy "free birth" enthusiast who doesn't want to admit that things can go wrong.

I really resent the number of people on this board who seem to feel comfortable equating a HBer being okay with the risks involved with said HBer being "naive" or somehow ignorant of "the truth" about birth.

Even if you were some flopsy mopsy freebirth enthusiast….so what? I am not really comfortable with judging other people's reasons for a homebirth.

People have the right to make decisions about their bodies, even uniformed decision, even if most of the world thinks they are wrong or naive. It is their body - and they are the ones who have to live with the consequences of their decision.

One could argue that because a child is involved it is not only "their body." This is true - but unless neglect or abuse is taking place, parents get to make decisions for their children. Home birth for low risk populations with a skilled midwife has excellent outcomes. It is not a neglectful or abusive choice.

post #50 of 104

5/15/12 at 7:36am

2,453 Posts. Joined 1/2008
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathymuggle

Even if you were some flopsy mopsy freebirth enthusiast….so what? I am not really comfortable with judging other people's reasons for a homebirth.

People have the right to make decisions about their bodies, even uniformed decision, even if most of the world thinks they are wrong or naive. It is their body - and they are the ones who have to live with the consequences of their decision.

One could argue that because a child is involved it is not only "their body." This is true - but unless neglect or abuse is taking place, parents get to make decisions for their children. Home birth for low risk populations with a skilled midwife has excellent outcomes. It is not a neglectful or abusive choice.

Kathy:

I didn't say "flopsy mopsy free birth enthusiast" - because I AM a flopsy mopsy freebirth enthusiast (hehe) I said:

"I'm not some flopsy mopsy "free birth" enthusiast who doesn't want to admit that things can go wrong."

Because I'm not. I don't mind if someone else IS and I'm not in any way judging them. I did not mean to disparage those who do not choose to inform themselves in the same manner as I or you or BuzzBuzz, etc. I DO believe that every person has the right to approach and prepare for their birth experience in the way that makes the most sense for them. I more than believe in that right...I RESPECT the various ways in which people choose to prepare(or not) for their birth.

I was speaking to where **I** am coming from and explaining that I KNOW that things can sometimes go wrong and that my birth outcome is not in my control but that I accept the risks and still believe that at home, with a MW who happens not to carry MP insurance is the best place for me to deliver my children.

I said what I said because BuzzBuzz and some others seem to believe that you have to be ill-informed to feel comfortable giving birth with a (unprofessional, irresponsible) MW who doesn't carry MP insurance and that I DO feel comfortable and am NOT ill-informed, silly or stupid. (But again, I respect the right of any person to be ill-informed, silly, stupid or whatever else).

post #51 of 104

5/15/12 at 7:50am

5 Posts. Joined 11/2010
Location: West Chesterfield New Hampshire...3 miles from Brattleboro, 20...
Select All Posts By This User

I am a homebirth midwife with medmal. I am also living in a state where homebirth coverage is mandated and where I am a provider with all insurances.

I like to peek in on this forum to keep myself in tune to what the women are thinking and concerned about. I am also a mother and a grandmother...so I am not in the stage of birthing myself...and I am willing to bet, there are those on this board who either have an agenda of their own, or have an agenda they get paid to promote everywhere online they can. It is no different than the last time in history the women were prevented from knowing the truth about birth and their choices. We live in an age where we have so much knowledge and technology and it is beneficial to all practitioners, the problem is we are not robots, and technology can not save everything and we are all different and so are comfortable in different scenarios.

My focus as a homebirth midwife is influenced by the fact that I had all 4 of my children in hospital because I knew nothing about having a choice...all I knew in 1982 was babies that are born in hospital live... and babies that are born out of hospital can die and it is only on the side of the road where they are resued by firemen and EMTs that they can be born out of a hospital safely. Now I know that babies can have trouble anywhere...babies and women die in and out of hospitals and that when babies are being born on the side of the road they are not planned home births. I also believe the majority of the time all is well and good...and when we mess around with birth, be it unicorns, rainbows, herbs, pitocin, epidurals, or surgery it will change the course...sometimes for the best, and sometimes for the worst.

I told my sons as I raised them (I had all boys) that you want to live your life with no regrets so that when you look back you can smile, and take joy from your life, not regret.

I regret not knowing I had a choice in birth, I regret not knowing I did not have to circumcised my sons, and I regret not breastfeeding all of my children. All of these regrets are born of not knowing and not seeking to know. Regrets I must own up to. I believe because of this women need to be active in their learning all their options.

No one on these formums will be with you when you look back. Your parents won't be there, no one but you, all alone looking back on your life...this is a choice...parental choice is more important than any opinions. You may choose to birth at home alone only with unicorns and rainbows and have a terrible devistating outcome and you may choose to have a c/s with or without medical necessity and have a terrible devistating outcome. 20 years down the road...no Dr. or Midwife with be with you as you look back at your choice.

By not supporting the choice of parents to have their offspring where they are most comfortable we force things that can be worse. Research can be our best friend, showing that this is safe or that is not safe, but research is often tainted or false...here is a video that shows it...and yes, women who can not find homebirth midwives in their area are either doing it with no skilled provider with them, or are traveling great distances to be cared for during their birth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJt14QLQnH0&feature=share

I will just add one more thought...before I knew about homebirth, and having a choice, I worked as a Doula in 4 different hospital programs. I attended hundreds of birth as a Doula and an observer. Now as a homebirth and birth center midwife I can speak from experience that hospital birth and home birth are literally two different paradigms. They should not be compared or analyzed as such any more than we compare vomiting to having our stomach pumped, or urinating to having a catheter. Some people can vomit and urinate when necessary on their own, others for whatever reason need assistance...that does not make the ones who can and can't the problem when someone starts throwing out stats on what causes more of this or that...it makes the ones who are comparing the issue.

Hospital stats are needed and should be compared to hospital stats and homebirth and birth center stats should be compared to themselves as well.

From where I stand the spectrum starts with women who are choosing to stay home and give birth in the privacy of their home with the one they made the baby with or with their intimate partner but without any kind of a care provider. At the other end are women who choose to have a c/s for no reason other than it is what suites them and they too have their intimate partner at their side...midwives are just one group of care providers that are there as resources to be hired by these women to assist in good outcomes. There are many options on this spectrum and many kinds of providers that keep the whole spectrum as safe as it can be...but on the whole spectrum there is not place of pure safety...no place.

In my area i have wonderful relationships with the hospitals. We do transport workshops, peer reviews and potlucks to keep in touch with what works best for the women who hire all of us. I am able to order any tests, and imaging. I am also able to transfer care because of things that are not in my scope, but still be an active part of the care picture...if the parents choose. I have gone into other areas...other states, and had absolutely horrible experiences for myself and my clients...and every time I walk away thinking about how foolish hospitals can be to not support women and their choices. All that does is continue the not knowing and the regretful choices, not to mention women feeling unsupported by their local hospitals. One woman in a state 2 states away from me is willing to travel 2 hours through 2 states to mine so she can have an ultrasound to confirm dates. i counted 5 hospitals that are closer to her...how sad is that? How does that encourage good care or continuity of family care when just a choice black balls you from care locally?

I do not feel this is a US and THEM situation the way some homebirth midwives and hospital provides act like it is...I really feel that what i do is for my grand daughters...I have said that since the beginning but now I have 2 of them and feel it in my heart when I say I want them to have a choice...I believe they deserve a choice to birth as they want where they want and with whom they want...

I am sure this will stir up some of the forum members.. especially in regards to the baby being in the middle of the mothers choice,.but thats ok if it encourages just one woman to make a choice that does not cause her regret...no matter what those around her say.

I have my opinions about the baby too but will refrain so as to not cloud my point here.

post #52 of 104

5/15/12 at 8:19am

6,937 Posts. Joined 2/2006
Location: Canada
Select All Posts By This User

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroodyWoodsgal

Kathy:

I didn't say "flopsy mopsy free birth enthusiast" - because I AM a flopsy mopsy freebirth enthusiast (hehe) I said:

"I'm not some flopsy mopsy "free birth" enthusiast who doesn't want to admit that things can go wrong."

Because I'm not. I don't mind if someone else IS and I'm not in any way judging them.

Oh, I knew that. Sorry if my post wasn't clear - I need more coffee before I post, lol.

I was simply using your words as a springboard and pointing out that I have no issues with flopsy-mopsy freebirthers. It is not my thing - but it is also not my business.

buzz buzz….if you felt (and the research you did supported the idea) that birthing with person A was the best choice, but person A did not have insurance, would you actually go with person B (who did not have as great a track record) because they had insurance? I wouldn't - at the end of the day I prioritise care over insurance. I do know that for many of us, there is no split. Some of us can have a HB with a great midwife who has insurance. Sadly, for some of us, this isn't an option - it comes down to HB with an uninsured midwife or hospital birth or UC.

Back to the OP: the lack of insurance does not bother me if the midwife lives in a place where midwives routinely do not carry insurance. The question to ask yourself: are you Ok with not being able to effectively sue the midwife in the very unlikely event something goes wrong and she was negligent or at fault?

I find her transfer rate a little low. This study shows Great Britain (http://www.homebirth.org.uk/homebirth2.htm ) having a rate of 16% - which is similar to the one in BC (where I had my first 2 children) of around 20%. 4% seems low. Researching the best practices around transfer rates might be wise.

Edited by purslaine - 5/15/12 at 10:23am

post #53 of 104

5/15/12 at 9:22am

272 Posts. Joined 8/2011
Select All Posts By This User

"Yeah, that's what we're saying, we wouldn't choose to sue a doctor who, when we were knocked out under GA, accidentally amputated the wrong limb....because that's the same thing as a MW not being able to get a shoulder dystocia baby "unstuck", resulting in a birth injury."

It IS the same thing, to the extent that the MW fails to take the appropriate action to resolve the SD. While not every SD will be successfully resolved, a MW who fails to recognize clear signs of a SD (turtling, etc.) and fails to take any action to resolve the SD is just as guilty of negligence as the doctor who amputates the wrong limb.

What about a MW that fails to administer NRP correctly? Fails to recognize clear signs of placenta previa or a placental abruption? You are acting as if the MW's actions (or failure to act) has no impact on the health and welfare of the baby. Not everything in birth is on an "insolvable crap happens" level -- some of it is but a lot of crap can actually be solved by an appropriately trained and equipped healthcare provider.

"OKay, six threads..BUT HOW MANY POSTS?"

I think its pretty easy to do the math yourself from my i.d. -- been here since 8/11 and have 107 posts, works out to posting a CRAZY HUGE 10 posts a month -- for the whole freaking website. Wow, that whole homebirthing thing must be pretty darn fragile if I just ruin it for everyone with my 10 WHOLE POSTS A MONTH.

post #54 of 104

5/15/12 at 1:58pm

4,273 Posts. Joined 8/2004
Location: Seattle
Select All Posts By This User

There is a problem with malpractice insurance rates. They are so much higher for midwives, in some states, than they are even for doctors.

post #55 of 104

5/15/12 at 4:27pm

3,910 Posts. Joined 7/2011
Select All Posts By This User

Does it hinder your practice by having to carry insurance? Or do you think it helps more women who want a HB but have numerous fears relax a little? Obviously a MW with numerous past problems will have a more difficult time getting insured. What are your thoughts on that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by motherof4sons

I am a homebirth midwife with medmal. I am also living in a state where homebirth coverage is mandated and where I am a provider with all insurances.