Homebirth in upstate NY - Page 2

[Unreal]

*nod*

my midwife has nothing to do with any OB/Gyn or hospital.
She is a Certified Midwife, licensed in NY, but is not practicing in conjunction with any other medical entity in the state.


It sounds like they require them to have a 'written practice agreement'??

but my midwife left all decisions up to me--if I had to transport, which hospital did I want to go to (Neither )...if I wanted a back-up OB (nope!)

She did let me know she could only be there for a birth that was 37-42 weeks (ds was 37+1 )
but there was never a "at which point you'll have to see Dr.X or go to hospital Y"


This is the same as the midwife in Spencer and I believe the midwives in Ithaca....
so I'm not sure how much more separated from the hospital scene you could get?
other than maybe a DEM who is operating underground or an unassisted birth

[spero]

Originally Posted by Sustainer

You guys are confusing CPMs with CMs. My midwife is a CPM but she can not legally attend home births. New York State does not recognize the CPM credential.

I'm confused. She's technically certified, but can't attend a homebirth? What requirements has she not met - or is it that she refuses collaboration with a physician?

[Sustainer]

Originally Posted by skellbelle

Those underlined bits seem a bit contradictory to me.

I agree! They've got a pretty funny definition of "independent!"

Originally Posted by skellbelle

What requirements has she not met - or is it that she refuses collaboration with a physician?

She has not been granted a license by the state of NY. The state of NY only grants licenses to CNMs or CMs. She is not a CNM or a CM. She is a CPM, Certified Professional Midwife. Being a CPM doesn't mean diddly squat to New York State.

I would not want her to be subject to the terms of New York State's idea of an "independent" Certified Midwifery practice anyway!

[Sustainer]

Here is a page that gives the definitions of the different kinds of midwives:

http://www.mana.org/definitions.html

Note that CNMs (Certified Nurse Midwives) and CMs (Certified Midwives) BOTH receive their certification from the American College of NURSE-Midwives, whereas CPMs (Certified Professional Midwives) receive their certification from the North American Registry of Midwives.

Also note the presence of the phrase "is qualified to provide the midwifery model of care" in the definition of a CPM, as well as the absence of that phrase from the definitions of CNMs and CMs.

Another significant phrase: "The CPM is the only international credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital settings."

[Sustainer]

I just found a great article online!

http://www.metroland.net/back_issues.../features.html

I think I've met practically everyone mentioned in the article personally! It focuses on the Capital District, which is where I live.

[Sustainer]

Here's another site:

http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10163

CM education closely mirrors the education of certified nurse-midwives

[Sustainer]

Ooh, I REALLY like this page!

http://www.motherspirit.net/articles...seprovider.htm

Certified Nurse-Midwives

MANA definition: Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are educated in both nursing and midwifery. After attending an educational program accredited by the American College of Nurse Midwives Certification Council (ACC), they must pass the ACC examination and can be licensed in the individual states in which they practice, most often in hospitals and birth centers.[2]

Often called MEDwives these women bridge the gap between doctors and midwives. Most of their training is still based on the medical model of birth. Although they tend to be much more in touch with the mother’s needs and will spend both your labor and delivery with you; they still often rely on interventions and preconceived ideas about birth.

This type of midwife rarely attends home births in the United States; they are more likely to practice in hospitals or birth centers.

[JesseMomme]

:

[Sustainer]

OK I swear this is the last thing I'm going to post (for now anyway )

Another great article

http://www.metroland.net/back_issues.../features.html

[Unreal]

hmmm

I suppose we were lucky then (well, I knew that, but not how lucky)

My midwife was (is!) the complete opposite of the medwives I had with ds2.
So was her assistant, who is just finishing her certification.

I never had an interal exam (until I asked her if I was complete, because I was pretty sure I was )
I never had an ultrasound
There was no stress over not having a concrete due date
They never used a doppler
and never worried about not hearing the baby's heartbeat...
Once through the entire pregnancy and labor! The baby was moving--that was enough

And while I joke about the hospitals and OBs...I felt completely comfortable that if my midwife was concerned about anything, she would talk it over with me and we would decide together what to do...and that she would be there with me if we did have to transport.

In short she was, as she told me early on in a prenatal appointment, there only in case something did go wrong.
She is totally hands off and non-intervening, but supportive, during pregnancy and birth.

I can't find the paper work she gave me with her background info on it....
Maybe she did do NARM stuff too?
Or maybe she just didn't let the ACC suck her soul?

I guess what I'm trying to say is a Certified Midwife doesn't have to equal a medwife....
I suppose a CNM doesn't have to equal one either, but......