Mothering › Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Birth and Beyond › Homebirth › Help me find homebirth info for Ohio!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Help me find homebirth info for Ohio!  

post #1 of 32
10/4/08 at 12:20am
Thread Starter 
It appears that I live in a very backward state, that is surrounded by equally backward states As far as I can tell, homebirth is not illegal, but we have no certification available for MWs, and DEMs can face legal action for assisting a homebirth...but I haven't been able to confirm this. DH is not yet on board and he will be very much not on board if he feels that we are doing something "illegal"!

I'm wondering if anyone here has information about homebirth in Ohio. I couldn't find anything on the MANA website or in my Google search. Thanks!
post #2 of 32
10/4/08 at 2:24am
I don't know anything myself, but I would suggest cross-posting in the Ohio section of the Finding Your Tribe forum, they may have more in-depth info. I know I've read a bit about Ohio lately but I cannot remember what I read...
post #3 of 32
10/4/08 at 3:08am
Hey there! I live in NE Ohio and can probably help you. will PM you with my personal info. Yes, this state is messed up. Never would have known it until I started having babies. But there are some GREAT women here that can help.
post #4 of 32
10/6/08 at 12:01pm
I am in north central ohio, PM me if i can help
post #5 of 32
10/6/08 at 12:40pm
Yes, we recently had a midwife here in Cincinnati that was convicted of practicing advanced nursing without a license. You can check out http://www.safebirthohio.org/ for more on that. It's really hard to find midwives unless you know the "right" people, which isn't the way it should be, but for the midwives' protection it kind of has to be.
post #6 of 32
10/6/08 at 2:27pm
It is very frustrating that it's so hard to find people to help you with what you want. Luckily my MIL had homebirths and is still in the network of people, so usually if you can connect with one person then you can find the "network" sometimes, it just takes some digging.
post #7 of 32
10/7/08 at 9:37am
Hey! I'm in Columbus, and I know/know of a number of midwives. Where are you?
post #8 of 32
10/28/08 at 8:53pm
Thread Starter 
Shamelessly bumping

Now that I'm pregnant I'm on a more "real" hunt for a MW! I have one interview lined up, but I want to interview a couple of people to see who is the best "fit".

A CNM would be great - for insurance reasons only! - but I'm open to DEMs as well!

Anyone have any names?
post #9 of 32
10/29/08 at 8:26am
PM'd ya! I don't know of any where you are, but my DEM will know of some, I just emailed her, so I'll get back to you when I know. I highly doubt that you are going to find a CNM to do it.
post #10 of 32
10/29/08 at 11:14am
I just pm'd as well- all DEMs.
post #11 of 32
10/29/08 at 12:29pm
I live near Cincinnati. PM me if you live near here and I can get you in touch with a CNM who does homebirths.
post #12 of 32
10/30/08 at 12:16am
I don't think a CNM can legally do a homebirth in Ohio. From what I understand, it's not legal or illegal for a CPM to attend a homebirth in Ohio. After the MW getting in trouble in the Cincinnai area, my MW didn't want her name to be on the birth certificate, so we listed my husband as the birth attendant, no big deal.

It can be tough to find a CPM here. You might want to go to a La Leche League meeting and talk to some moms afterwards. You may find a connection that way. I found mine through my Bradley Instructor. When I was inquiring, a lot of people said they'd talk to their midwife first to make sure it was okay and then give me their number.
post #13 of 32
10/30/08 at 12:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GracesMama View Post
I don't think a CNM can legally do a homebirth in Ohio.
Yes they can. I have met a CNM personally who does homebirths. CPMs are alegal in OH and I know there are at least 3 MANA members in the Cincinnati area. Of course, they may be harder to find now that a CPM got into trouble for attending a homebirth.

ETA: Took down the link in my previous post because the website seems to be down. I'll repost it if it comes back up or if I find her new site.
post #14 of 32
10/30/08 at 12:42am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by minkajane View Post
Yes they can. I have met a CNM personally who does homebirths. CPMs are alegal in OH and I know there are at least 3 MANA members in the Cincinnati area. Of course, they may be harder to find now that a CPM got into trouble for attending a homebirth.

ETA: Took down the link in my previous post because the website seems to be down. I'll repost it if it comes back up or if I find her new site.
Everyone I've been able to find has been a DEM ~ do you know how I would find a CPM or (even better, for insurance reasons) a CNM? I have an appt. with a CNM from my OB's practice but as far as I know they only do hospital births. Can CNMs attend hospital and homebirths? I'm having trouble finding information on this - some people say it's not illegal for CNMs but is for CPMs, some (like you! ) say it's "alegal", some say that CNMs will lose hospital privileges if they attend homebirths as well. And while we're talking legality, what is the legal status of using a DEM (for her and for me)? So confusing!

Oh, and I do go to LLL (actually I'm a leader!) but the 2 women in our group who have had homebirths have used a DEM (who I am interviewing in a couple of weeks). One of those ladies is the one who told me that homebirth is "illegal" in Ohio, so now I'm just extra confused!
post #15 of 32
10/30/08 at 12:58am
Check out MANA's website. If you email them, they'll send you their members' contact info for Ohio.
post #16 of 32
10/30/08 at 11:19am
I'll try to answer your questions. Homebirth is legal *everywhere* in the US for the mother. Homebirth is legal for a CNM in Ohio, but they must have physician backup, and the few in my area who had that have since lost that backup due to increased malpractice insurance costs for the backing MD. So homebirth with a CNM is no longer a choice in my area (Cincinnati), and many areas. CPM's and DEM's are not a seperate category in Ohio (A CPM is really a certification, an attempt to 'standardize' a level of knowledge for a midwife, and either a DEM or even a CNM could hold that certification, if they chose to)- both are alegal. This does not mean the state can't/won't prosecute a midwife if it wants to.


Minkajane, I think I know who you are referring to. That particular midwife has a master's in nurse midwifery, but is not a CNM because she did not obtain her license. I don't mean to speak for her, but I believe she did not obtain her license intentionally so that she could provide homebirths w/out official physician back up (which is not to say that she doesn't have unofficial backup, as she does.), thus no license for the state to take away should they want to do that. She cannot legally say (nor does she) that she is a CNM providing homebirth. The only CNM's who did homebirths in Cinci were the Northside midwives, and they shut their doors several years ago.

All that said, there are DEMS in the state, and MANA is a great place to find them.
post #17 of 32
10/30/08 at 11:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by minkajane View Post
Check out MANA's website. If you email them, they'll send you their members' contact info for Ohio.
Thank you! I just sent them an email so hopefully I will hear back soon!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bethanydear View Post
I'll try to answer your questions. Homebirth is legal *everywhere* in the US for the mother. Homebirth is legal for a CNM in Ohio, but they must have physician backup, and the few in my area who had that have since lost that backup due to increased malpractice insurance costs for the backing MD. So homebirth with a CNM is no longer a choice in my area (Cincinnati), and many areas. CPM's and DEM's are not a seperate category in Ohio (A CPM is really a certification, an attempt to 'standardize' a level of knowledge for a midwife, and either a DEM or even a CNM could hold that certification, if they chose to)- both are alegal. This does not mean the state can't/won't prosecute a midwife if it wants to.


Minkajane, I think I know who you are referring to. That particular midwife has a master's in nurse midwifery, but is not a CNM because she did not obtain her license. I don't mean to speak for her, but I believe she did not obtain her license intentionally so that she could provide homebirths w/out official physician back up (which is not to say that she doesn't have unofficial backup, as she does.), thus no license for the state to take away should they want to do that. She cannot legally say (nor does she) that she is a CNM providing homebirth. The only CNM's who did homebirths in Cinci were the Northside midwives, and they shut their doors several years ago.

All that said, there are DEMS in the state, and MANA is a great place to find them.
Thank you for clearing that up! I guess at least it's "alegal" rather than illegal ~ even though Ohio seems pretty terrible in this area, there seem to be a lot of states around us that are worse!
post #18 of 32
10/30/08 at 1:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bethanydear View Post
A CPM is really a certification, an attempt to 'standardize' a level of knowledge for a midwife, and either a DEM or even a CNM could hold that certification, if they chose to
Yup. Several of the midwives on the list I sent are CPM's. My midwife was also a working labor/delivery nurse for a long, long time- so she was an RN, but never a CNM.
post #19 of 32
10/30/08 at 1:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kalirush View Post
Yup. Several of the midwives on the list I sent are CPM's. My midwife was also a working labor/delivery nurse for a long, long time- so she was an RN, but never a CNM.
Thanks!
post #20 of 32
10/31/08 at 1:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by haren.13 View Post
Thank you! I just sent them an email so hopefully I will hear back soon!



Thank you for clearing that up! I guess at least it's "alegal" rather than illegal ~ even though Ohio seems pretty terrible in this area, there seem to be a lot of states around us that are worse!
There is NO such thing as "alegal." In states which neither regulate midwives as a separate profession, nor specifically exempt them from the medical/nurse practice acts, midwives may be criminally prosecuted for simply practicing midwifery.

Please consider reading Ida Darragh's excellent essay on the "Myth of the Alegal Midwife" in Chapter 1 of From Calling to Courtroom (fromcallingtocourtroom.net).

Valerie
Former RN
Former CPM
Current 3rd year law student
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Homebirth
This thread is locked  
Mothering › Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Birth and Beyond › Homebirth › Help me find homebirth info for Ohio!