[Stephaniqua]

<p>I will be moving to Wyoming in March and just found out I was pregnant. I really would like to do a home birth, but know the liscensure is still being figured out. Is there anyone out there that does home births? Is it an option? What about birthing centers? I will be moving to the Lander/Riverton area and don't know anyone or anything yet. Any information would be great.</p>
<p>On another note, I have a 2 year old so any activites in Wyoming or things we can do would be nice as well!</p>

 

[rsochi]

<p>The new law allows for licenses to be submitted and accepted starting in July of 2011.  There are some CNM's who are currently practicing now, and I do know of one student midwife training to be a CPM working with a CNM in the casper area.  I don't know if they'll go to Lander, however I can't imagine they wouldn't.  The student CPM's name is Gail Uptain.  I don't know who the CNM is.  You may want to look into the LLL in casper for some more options.</p>

 

[Stephaniqua]

<p>Thanks. I have a feeling that a homebirth will most likely not work out. I am hoping for a natural birth anywhere at this point.</p>
<p>Anyone else in the area? This board seems very quiet.</p>

 

[elanorh]

<p>Welcome, Stephaniqua!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm linking to the Wyoming tribe/roll call thread - I swear there was a mom from the Riverton area who posted here a few times but I don't see her on the roll call thread.  You might want to look around in the old WY posts here and see what you can find ....   If you can find her, PM her and see if she's still around MDC.  It is really nice to find a Mothering mom nearby!  It's been wonderful to meet the other Mothering/MDC mom who lives in my town - we do lots of things together.   </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1102138/other-wyoming-mamas">http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1102138/other-wyoming-mamas</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have you been to WY before - where are you moving here from? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm in Sheridan, which is a looooong way from Riverton. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I wonder whether there are some underground lay midwives in the Riverton area, what with the Wind River Reservation there ....? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>There's a U Pick raspberry patch somewhere near Riverton.    And the Wind River canyon is beautiful. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you can't find an MDC mom here, I had my best luck meeting moms at the girls' swim lessons and at story time at the library.  You have to be persistent and assertive because often the other moms already know each other - but I've met some good friends that way - at this point I've got a nice little set of friends who have Mothering type interests.   </p>

 

[Stephaniqua]

<p>I am going to Wyoming for the first time next week. I will only be out for a couple days, but I'm moving from Michigan. I found a couple licensed CNMs from a google search both in Lander that claim to do home births, but I thought it isn't legal? I am not sure, I am very new to this. I am excited to move, as it looks beautiful, but still nervous.</p>
<p>Thanks for the welcome!</p>

 

[rsochi]

<p>Homebirth is legal, the legalities of it are currently dependent on who you have attending your homebirth.  A CNM (certified nurse midwife, with a nursing degree) is licensed to practice homebirths in Wyoming at this time.  They are few and far between, so if you're in an area that uses them, definitely go for it!  If you go to the facebook group Wyoming for Birth Options, I know there is atleast one  mom from Casper who is in LLL and they talk about homebirth, she can probably give you names.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A CPM (certified professional midwife) who is practicing in Wyoming right now isn't licensed and could face criminal charges for practicing medicine without a license.  This changes in July of 2011.  However, that's not to say they don't exist..I live near the Wyoming/Utah border and I'm using a lay midwife from Utah for my homebirth in April.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Having a homebirth is a lot of work in Wyoming with such a spread out area, but it isn't impossible.  Like I said, I know there's a CNM and a student midwife working with her in the casper area, which is the closest to lander that I know of. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>There's two casinos in Riverton -- that's not really family friendly but we occasionally stop on the way through.    There's also sinks canyon where the river disappears and they have two ponds with HUGE fish the kiddos can feed.  You're an hour or so from Thermopolis where they have hot springs with water slides and the river is pretty calm up there that you can float it toward the end of the summer on tubes.  Riverton is also close to South Pass, so if you like camping and outdoorsy stuff, it's south of Lander. </p>

 

[Stephaniqua]

<p>Thanks Rsochi for all that information on the area! Sounds like lots to do, and we are into outdoorsy stuff so sounds like it is right up my alley. </p>
<p>I contacted the CNM in Lander that does homebirth, and she said she would take me as a patient when I move in March! I am a little nervous about only talking to her on the phone and through e-mail until then, but things seem good so far. Plus I will be 18 weeks then, so I could always choose something else at that point.</p>
<p>Good luck on your homebirth in April!</p>

 

[Scarlettmoon]

<p>Hi!  I live in Lander, and just wanted to say hello and welcome.  I have teenagers now, so I'm not familiar with any midwives in the area- I had a best friend that had a wonderful home birth fifteen years ago here.  Lol, that is no help.  But I wanted to say hello, and tell you if you have anything I could help you with, just let me know.  Lander is a beautiful little town.  </p>

 

[veriajules]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Stephaniqua</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1283413/moving-to-wyoming-looking-for-midwife-birth-options#post_16094895"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Thanks. I have a feeling that a homebirth will most likely not work out. I am hoping for a natural birth anywhere at this point.</p>
<p>Anyone else in the area? This board seems very quiet.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
Hi. I just recently joined and saw your post (a month later).  I had a homebirth in Texas using a midwife and it was the most amazing experience.  I have to admit, I will never want another hospital birth EVER again!!  I did a water birth, and my husband delivered our daughter.  The whole experience was relaxed and calm and in the comfort of my own home!  We've been considering moving to Casper, but my biggest hesitation is the midwifery there.  If I am unable to find a midwife there in Casper, I'm not sure I would want to move there yet.  My labors are really fast; the baby I had last year came within 35 minutes, so a 3 hour drive is pretty pointless from that perspective.  I really hope that 2011 brings some positive changes to Casper in this area!  Please let us know what you find out when you get there (and congrats on your pregnancy!)....</p>