CPM advice in Maryland

[melbatoast]

OK, so I have known for the last 13 years that I want to become a midwife. I am ready to take that leap and am researching programs. The problem is that I do not want to go the CNM route and direct entry midwifery is illegal in Maryland. What about CPM's? Does anyone have advice or where I could go to find out the status of CPM's here in Maryland? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Peppamint]

As far as I can tell, Maryland is an illegal state for any kind of DEM- that includes CPMs. I don't see Maryland listed on the Big Push website (see my siggie) so I don't know if they are trying to pass legislation at this time or not...

[Rockies5]

you'd do best calling midwives in MD and asking, honestly.

May I ask which part of western MD you are in and if you do anyting (teach attend births) in the area?

[melbatoast]

Rockies5--I am in the Cumberland area--allegany county. I saw your earlier post about Western Md resources, but I thought that perhaps I was too far West. We are pretty far out here. LOL. I doula and am a LLL leader. My dh is the Father's Coordinator for a local agency. He works mainly with teen moms and dads. He calls me in to infiltrate with childbirth education/breastfeeding stuff. I have also recently told his agency that I will do volunteer doula stuff for the teen moms who need someone. I hope to, in the next few months, start teaching CBE classes officially too. Sooner, rather than later, I have to get out of this adjunct hell I am in and start catching babies! If I am not too far, I would be more than happy to talk to your friend.

That is a great idea about calling the midwives. The problem is finding CPM's/direct entry midwives in MD. It can be hard! There are a couple of mennonite midwives who delivered my friend's baby at our house last year who live in the area. I did pick their brains and asked them a ton of questions, so I suppose I should just do that with some others too!

thanks! Mel

[Mamabeakley]

Since you are in Western MD you may also want to check out the laws in PA and WV, though I know PA isn't any better (I don't know about WV, though.)

[[e-mail]]

CPMs aren't licensed in Maryland, which means they're subject to criminal prosecution for the unlicensed practice of medicine/nursing, manslaughter, reckless endangerment (in the event of a death or injury), and the possession/use of a controlled substance (i.e. meds to treat PPH). As far as I know, there are no plans to introduce midwifery licensure there at this point in time.

And just to clarify, the CPM is a credential that does not, in itself, authorize legal practice, but demonstrates that you've met the educational and training requirements of a nationally recognized credentialing body (NARM). In most states that license direct-entry midwives, all or part of the NARM requirements are used to qualify DEMs for state licensure and legal practice in that state.

PA and WV are in the same category as MD, legally speaking, but both states are laying plans to introduce CPM licensure bills in the near future. I know you're in the western part of the state and may not be near the border, but CPMs in VA are licensed and legal.

Katie Prown
Legislative Chair, Wisconsin Guild of Midwives
Campaign Manager, The Big Push for Midwives 2008

[melbatoast]

Thanks so much. I have thought about PA and WV, but from what I was able to research (very little) I found what kprown said to be true--it seems to be the same as MD. Sigh. I am about 5 minutes from the border of both WV and PA, so it would be very convienient if either state adopted some type of legislation. Legality isn't everything, but I just am begining the research here and was not finding a clear answer on the laws and if MD had anything in the works for CPM status.

Thanks to all of you. I just joined this board, but I am finding it to be a wealth of information/support.

[Rockies5]

Pm you.

[Maggi315]

where are you? I know a midwife in Baltimore area? I am in Pa, about 1.5 hours north of MD, we serve clients to the maryland border near hagerstown area. You can pm me if you want.

[PuppyFluffer]

I am in WV and had no trouble with a homebirth. I used a MD midwife.

At a prenatal, we were discussing the PKU and she said "Oh yeah, we're in WV. They are great about this. Just go to the health department and ask for a homebirth kit." We went on to discuss how WV is friendly to homebirth, especially in the lower regions of the state where there are fewer physicians. We did not talk of the legality of the issue.

I was skeptical to say the least but I called teh health dept to verify that I could get a homebirth kit. They were quite friendly and asked my due date. I went in the next day and picked it up. They did not look at me like I had three heads or was otherwise a freak. The kit was a package of info in a brown folder. It contained the PKU test and the birth certificate application. It also had all the standard propagnada on vaccines and other baby care info. (No formula company literature if I recall correctly.)

The midwife and I filled out the birth certificate application together and sent it in. I received an unofficial copy to verify the info was correct and was stumped on the title of the birth attendant. It was listed as the midwife's name followed by TBA. I called the state office and asked what TBA meant. I was put on hold and the lady came back and said "well, I've worked here for 28 years and I just learned something new. TBA stands for Traditional Birth Attendant. My midwife had completed the training for her CPM but had not been certified yet. I am curious what this baby's birth certificate will be now that she's a CPM. (I'm currently 6 months pregnant.)

So, while homebirth may not be expressly legal, I don't believe it is expressly illegal either. It is my understanding that it is illegal in MD.

[jenmidwife2b]

Yes direct entry midwifery in MD is currently illegal. There are CPM's practicing there though.

Get involved in the fight to decriminilize midwives as much as you can. I'm in PA and am working towards my CPM now under the preceptorship of a CPM. I'm hoping that we get laws similiar to Oregon where licensure is optional and non licensed midwives are not seen as criminals. I would hope that this becomes the case nationally because "lay" midwife does not automatically mean "bad" midwife anymore than CPM or CNM means good midwife.

Good luck and many blessings on your journey!

[cathicog]

Most of the homebirths I know of there are attended by VA or PA midwives. Depending on what part of teh state you live in, you could travel and have the baby in VA, unless you are fairly near a border. I do know of one mw, who does Northern VA, MD and DE, so you might ask Commonwealth Midwives Alliance, www.commonwealthmidwives.org for assistance. They know her, and she used to live here.

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by jenmidwife2b

I would hope that this becomes the case nationally because "lay" midwife does not automatically mean "bad" midwife anymore than CPM or CNM means good midwife.