My Midwife Is Under Investigation

[quelindo]

(X-posted)

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/dec05/376793.asp

[Persephone]

Ugh, that whole situation is terrible. I hate how the quotes are used. And some of that stuff the midwife was doing does sound shady, but some of it is basic midwife stuff too! "alcohol prep pads", "homebirth supplies" God forbid! I keep alcohol prep pads in my purse, hope I never get investigated for practicing medicine without a license if I happen to use one on someone's booboo!

[Snowdrift]

The whole asking to go to the hospital thing is problematic. I think as homebirthers we all need to be very careful about what we say--even in the most intense moments. My midwife cautioned me that something she has a very hard time with is when a woman asks to go to the hospital when she means she needs more help, encouragement, etc. We've agreed that I will not say that unless I *really* mean it; but if it hadn't come up in conversation, I could end up exposing her to huge liability.

The article doesn't make clear what type of situation this was, but you can bet a court will interpret it the same way the author of the article did.

[MamaTaraX]

Six times in the hours that followed, the midwife performed an episiotomy

SIX TIMES!?!? Pardon me but...WTH!? Who performs an episiotomy SIX TIMES!? That just caught my attention...
It also doesn't sit well with me that the mom asked to go to the hospital and the midwife refused. Women know what they need and should be trusted. Of course, tons of women birthing at home probably get scared and ask to go when all really is well...so that's really a grey area if anything.

I'm sorry to hear of yet another midife under investigation. The article definately doesn't make some things clear though, so I have no real thought either way. What upsets me most is that for every one tragedy there are hundreds of perfectly beautiful outcomes which are overlooked and overshadowed by the one tragedy. Nobody does that to doctors or in-hospital midwives. Such an event places undo scrutiny on other midwives in the area. A similar situation is occurring in mys tate right now. It's sad

Namaste, Tara

[Cookie5765]

I also cannot comment on this because I do not know the true details.Everything seems to be kept very hush hush. I'd want to know what made this woman be considered high risk, etc. One of the things I've learnt though is that if a woman say "I need to go to the hospital" we go. No questions asked. Women know their bodies best. Now if a woman was asking for medication we might say give it another little while and if after that you still think you want medication we'll gom BUT a straight out request to go to the hospital we'd acknowledge and follow.

[beaches1098]

How sad. The whole requesting to go to the hospital and not being acknowledged by the midwife bothers me. Of course it makes big news because it is a midiwfe.

[doulajen]

Here is what I posted on the other thread....

I am this midwife's apprentice. I know that she is beyond qualified to handle a difficult birth. Although I was not at this birth, I can assure you that this story is a bunch of crap and the reporter obviously has no idea what they are talking about. I can't believe that this midwife would refuse to go to the hospital or that she cut 6 episiotomies (I am pretty sure there is not enough skin in that area for this to be possible!) I have seen her handle a difficult birth before (Hi new moma) I know that she is very caring and competent! She would never make a mother stay home if she did not want to. I have also been with her during a transport and know that she has no problem taking a mom in if medical care is needed. Please remember that this story was written to sell papers!!! There is more to this story than what is written. She gave this mom options for her birth. The paper says this "that a certified professional midwife from the Milwaukee area turned the couple down earlier because Bridget *****'s maternity history was considered "too high risk" for a home birth. She declined to specify the risks identified by that midwife." How would you feel if you knew that "high risk" was VBAC??? I don't consider a vbac mom high risk that is for sure! Every midwife has their comfort zone and should not venture outside of that, but does that mean that every other midwife should have to turn away clients because someone else does? I don't think so. I don't know the details of this case because I have chosen not to ask (for my own good in case of trial). I do however know the integrity of this midwife. I am so sad for this family, for the midwife and her family, for all the mothers who will not be served by this wonderful midwife, and for the state of WI. Please try to keep an open mind when you read what is written in the news. Jen

[pamamidwife]

reporters always ALWAYS get the facts messed up. most reporters have no idea what episiotomies are or what a shoulder dystocia really is. I think that this reporter is unethical, based on what they wrote.

[Awaken]

I was also wondering how *6* episiotomies could possibly be done??

And what made the mom "high risk"??

The article definitely isn't telling the full story!

I am always sad to see midwives getting bad press :

[norasmom]

I want to second doulajen

It is not our place to pass judgement on a situation where we do not know all of the facts. I personally would rather keep my nose out of things that I can't speak on personally.

What I can say is that I belive homebirth & midwifery care to be a safe alternative to mainstream medical treatment and it needs to remain an option for those that choose it.

[Peppamint]

A lot of broad insinuations there and little real information.

[AngelBee]

: for all involved.

Just wanted to comment that NO ONE can prevent a woman from going to the hospital. At any point she or her partner could have called 911. That part of the story makes me

[LeosMama]

I wonder about this too, the hospital thing.
When you have a police officer down your throat asking questions, what you actually said and meant can be misinterpreted.
"Did you at any time mention a hospital?"
"Yes, I guess I did, but it was labor and I was tired."
"Hmmmmm"
I'm not saying that's what happened, I wasn't there, don't know anything but the article and what is here. But I can guess that you can't transport to the hospital in the middle of delivering a shoulder dystocia. What if the mother said this during transition, the way that many women ask for drugs or say they're giving up, etc? This would come out during the investigation, but the MW may have been well within her pervue to not transport with that request. Or maybe it was a real plea and should have been honored.
We weren't there.

[doulajen]

midwife saved my life, mother says

Here is another news article.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/dec05/377259.asp

She doesn't blame her in death of newborn

By JACQUELINE SEIBEL
[e-mail]
Posted: Dec. 12, 2005
Vernon - The mother of a baby who died during a home delivery said Monday she does not blame the midwife, who is under criminal investigation.
"There were just a lot of bad decisions," Bridget Stoiber said. "I don't feel she was diabolical. I truly feel she did the best she could under the circumstances."

mod edited for copyright violation

[Peppamint]

A much better article IMO.

[liseux]

"But I can guess that you can't transport to the hospital in the middle of delivering a shoulder dystocia." Leosmama

Believe it or not, you can.

I am feeling much better about the second article too.

[LeosMama]

but if time is of the essence, those minutes during transport seem dangerous. are you waiting the whole time? just holding in the baby? pulling on the baby? you can tell I'm ignorant about this concept. just seems like one of those things you have to deal with RIGHT NOW. please enlighten me.

[liseux]

If the baby is stuck and none of the maneuvers has helped, then in the ambulance you continue to push & try and then in the hospital too.

[Stugroupie]

I am in Northern Illinois and have heard about this story. Thanks for sending the links so I could get a little more information about it. I don't know this midwife or any real details of the story, so I will refrain from comment.

My prayers are with this family, the midwife and her other clients that may be affected by this situation.

As homebirthers, we must take full responsibility for our choices, actions and decisions. Most midwives risk everything to assist us in childbirth and deserve our deepest gratitude and respect.

IL does not license CPMs either. My hope is that some good can come out of this awful situation and midwives will be licensed to "practice medicine" and can obtain malpractice insurance.

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by Stugroupie

IL does not license CPMs either. My hope is that some good can come out of this awful situation and midwives will be licensed to "practice medicine" and can obtain malpractice insurance.

Greetings, Jennifer -- I am also in northern Illinois.

It is certainly true that IL does not license CPMs -- a situation that we have been trying to fix since 1979 (long before the CPM certification was ever born).

Perhaps it is good to distinguish, though, that the point of midwifery regulation is not to license midwives to "practice medicine." Midwives generally don't want to practice medicine -- they want to practice midwifery without the fear of criminal prosecution. It is accusations of "practicing medicine" (as well as practicing nursing/nurse-midwifery) that has resulted in so many Illinois midwives leaving the state or ceasing their practices altogether.

The midwifery bill currently under consideration in Wisconsin would allow CPMs to practice the midwifery model of care without fear of being charged as criminals. To the best of my recollection, however, it does not require them to obtain malpractice insurance, relying instead on a very detailed informed consent agreement.

Valerie (IL homebirth DEM/CPM/RN -- at various times -- from 1983-2001)