Homebirth/ out-of-hospital birth in Alabama (x-posted)

[paschallraschalls]

Where exactly can I find the laws about midwifery, homebirth, etc for Alabama. I can't seem to find the links.

Anyone homebirth or out-of-hospital birth in Southern Alabama, Mobile area? Who do you use? What have your experiences been?

Has anyone crossed state lines to birth with a midwife in Miss. or FL ? If so, who have you used and what have your experiences been?

Thanks ahead of time for your help!!

[Hayes]

Hey mama! You can have your baby anywhere you want! There are lay midwives in Alabama who will attend homebirths. I also know of a great MW in Pensacola, a little bit away from you, but not too far. She may even travel to you in Mobile. My MW is based in Central AL, but I will glaldy ask if she knows anyone in the Mobile area.

[snuffles]

Hi.. I live in MS and when researching a homebirth, I found one that lived on the Alabama border. PM me and I can find her contact info for you.

I have heard that Alabama has one of the toughest laws on homebirth, but that could just be rumor.

[boscopup]

They DO prosecute midwives in AL. My midwife was one of them. The law basically says that non-CNMs must be licensed to do homebirths, but they haven't issued a license in over 30 years. I don't believe there are currently any licensed midwives left. CNMs, by law, must "plan for the birth to take place in a hospital". Now I've heard that there are some CNMs down south that just get around that by saying "We plan to birth in the hospital if there's a problem", but technically, that probably would not hold up in court. Unfortunately, I have no clue who those midwives are.

But as a PP mentioned, there are some lay midwives still practicing in AL (like the one in Central AL - I'm pretty sure I know who she's talking about). They are doing so at risk of being prosecuted, so you do need to be careful about spilling names to authorities and such.

I'm in north AL, so I'm crossing the state line into TN to birth with my midwife (who lives 45 minutes south of me). Thankfully, I'm very close to the state line, so it's just a 15 minute drive to the "birth house". The sad thing is that my midwife delivered babies for a JUDGE in her hometown - they never said a word. The county health department used to drop women off at her door! Then one day, they decide they'll start prosecuting lay midwives for "practicing nurse midwifery without a license". And she was one of the lucky ones that got turned in by an L&D nurse who didn't like her. So within the last few years, prosecution of midwives has been stepped up here.

Hopefully, we can get some good midwifery legislation to go through soon. There are alot of folks working hard on that!

[Hayes]

Hey Vera! I assume you are working with Karen. She is a great woman. I was planning to deliver my last babe with Jennifer, who works with her. We decided ont a homebirth with Donna, the Central AL MW! I am planning my next birth with her as well.

I too am hoping for some CPM legislation to got hrough soon so women have a choice, and so midwives do to. I love Donna though and would use her again and again!

[boscopup]

Yep! I'm delivering with Karen. I talked to Donna via e-mail prior to my last preg, but being at least 1.5 hours away, I wasn't real comfortable with it. My family has fast labors, and sure enough... my first was only 2.5 hours! I'm not sure that Karen will even make it to my birth, but I know one of her assistants (who is an apprentice) lives 15 minutes from the birth house, so I'd have someone there that I trust. That is, assuming she's attending births again after the birth of her own baby next month... but knowing her, she probably will be. She's a bonified birth junkie.

And of course, just in case, I'm mentally preparing for accidental UC. Just haven't told my DH that!