Midwives and hospitals

[cdk]

I've read that midwives can deliver at hospitals. Do they have to be an employee of the hospital? How does that work?

If you have a complication and need to go to a hospital, can the midwife help or does a doc on call help??

Also, does anyone know of any good books on natural childbirth? Obviously, I am new to this!

[g&a]

Welcome to MDC!

I'm not sure where you are located. In Alberta midwives can admit to hospital. They can also take care of you elsewhere. If you decide to start out at the hospital they are in charge unless something goes wrong and they call in the doctors. I'm not sure what their role is after the doctor is called. Good question. Ask a midwife, as I am sure it is different in different areas.

There are so many good books on childbirth.....I would start by reading all the stories in the birth stories section of this website, then browse in the birth and beyond forum.

good luck.
g.

[BetsyS]

It's different in different areas, and it's different amongst midwives and their particular practices.

Mostly, around here, midwives are hired by physicians to work in their practices. They are not hospital employees (unless the entire practice is a hospital operated charity type clinic). They admit to the hospital.

In Georgia, they still do not write prescriptions (although we're the last state, and they can call in stuff to the pharmacy : ). As far as how often they consult, and what they consult for, that's up to the individual midwife/physician agreement. There are some obvious things....if a patient needs a c-section, obviously, there's a consult. But, even then, things vary. In some practices, the midwife leaves when the c-section begins, and she is the patient's care-provider after the 6 week check. In other practices, the midwife assists in surgery, sees the patient postpartum in the hospital, and then sees them in the office for the post-surgical check. It just depends on the practice.

Edited to add:: This is solely my experience with CNMs in Georgia. State by state varies, CNM vs CPM vs direct entry all vary. There are very few CNMs in Georgia that do homebirths (cause there are very few physicians that will back them, and it's written into the CNM standards of practice that you have to have a backing physician), so I don't have experience with that.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Where I live, nurse midwives attend hospital births, and direct entry midwives attend homebirths. It is definitely very different. I had my 1st with a CNM at a hospital, then attended 2 midwife-attended homebirths. Had my 2nd at home. My website has a ton of good book recommendations on it, but it's a business site so I don't think I can post it-PM me and I'll send you think link to the book list.

[GwendalynsMommy]

We're in NC but here a CNM can deliver and provide all prenatal care in a hospital setting or a birthing center setting (although to my knowledge there is only 1 birth center left in NC). I had a CNM and got the same prenatal care I would have gotten with a dr except she spent more time making sure I was comfortable with everything and she was with me during my induction from the time I was induced till a little while after dd was born with the exception of a few breaks for lunch and what not. Had there been a complication she would have continued to stay with me. She said even during a c-section she stays with her patients and helps in anyway she can.

[turtlewomyn]

I think it depends on the midwife and her certifications. My first birth was supposed to be with a Certified Nurse Midwife in the hospital. She worked in a group of OB's and was pretty much bound by their policies. I ended up with an unnecessary c-section.

[alegna]

Here CNMs EITHER do hospital birth OR homebirth (or birthcenter) There are no hospital or birthcenter midwives with hospital privileges.

-Angela