[mandib50]

okay i am hoping some of you midwives and midwifery students can help me with some perspective. i am currently doing some coursework which will lead me to midwifery. the one course i am doing deals specifically with midwifery regulations in BC. my heart sank as i read some of the regulations. i find some of them restrictive and not conducive to women have true choices. some of the guidelines (and i live in alberta) my midwife did not follow at my homebirth - and i am GLAD.

i appreciate regulation has an upside. really it does. some of the regulations are reasonable i feel. but my heart just has a sinking feeling about the whole idea. and i will likely be working in a regulated province so i need some perspective.

remind me that i am naive ... i haven't BEEN a midwife ... i haven't worked in that capacity ... tell me why regulations are helping you as a midwife.

 

[midwifetx]

hmmm, that's a really good question. I'm going to ponder it a bit and get back to the thread.

 

[Pandora114]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandib50 okay i am hoping some of you midwives and midwifery students can help me with some perspective. i am currently doing some coursework which will lead me to midwifery. the one course i am doing deals specifically with midwifery regulations in BC. my heart sank as i read some of the regulations. i find some of them restrictive and not conducive to women have true choices. some of the guidelines (and i live in alberta) my midwife did not follow at my homebirth - and i am GLAD. i appreciate regulation has an upside. really it does. some of the regulations are reasonable i feel. but my heart just has a sinking feeling about the whole idea. and i will likely be working in a regulated province so i need some perspective. remind me that i am naive ... i haven't BEEN a midwife ... i haven't worked in that capacity ... tell me why regulations are helping you as a midwife.

Not a midwife, but as someone on the "Receiving end" of the regulations in BC chiming in.

I'm seeing regulated midwives. Acctually the Comox Valley Midwifery clinic is where I"m going.

The only real drawback is the REALLY strict regulations for homebirthing. Hemoglobin has to be between x and y..you have to gain x amount of weight, you have to have X points of blood pressure...and no Twins or breech catches.

I think the regulations inhibit the "older" midwives from doing what they want to do to help the women in their care.

If you want a real good idea, call the Comox Valley Midwifery clinic. They've been around since the before the regulation of midwifery...so they've seen both sides of the coin.

Also, another person to contact would be Dr. Fockler at St. Joseph's hospital in Comox valley as well. They both can help you in your research

HTH!!!

 

[the_lissa]

I'm in Ontario, so we have some stu[id regulations too. In fact, I just had a home birth that my midwives had to advise against since I had a pp hemorrhage with my first.

My mw and I had an interesting conversation about the pros and cons of regulation. The other thing is there are unlicensed midwives in both B.C. and Ontario if you want to go that route.

 

[Pandora114]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_lissa The other thing is there are unlicensed midwives in both B.C. and Ontario if you want to go that route.

Gloria LeMay being the most famous one, who does her work in Vancouver/lower mainland

 

[mandib50]

thanks ladies. i live in alberta. not too sure where we will end up when the time comes for me to practice. i have discussed this with my midwife ... she is not a really big fan or regulation either. i have thought of practicing as a birth attendant down the road. i just don't know. i trust i will be guided but really want to here some other insights/thoughts about this. i would like to remain open-minded about the whole idea of regulation.

 

[Arwyn]

There are weight guidelines? Surely you jest!

:

 

[the_lissa]

Yeah this is a new guideline in On as well. My mw had to offer me an OB consult because I am overweight, which I, of course, declined.

 

[Pandora114]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arwyn There are weight guidelines? Surely you jest! :

Yup, Not enough weight gain and you risk out for IUGR

Too Much weight and you risk out for possible big baby/GD/SD, ect...

It's rather silly...

 

[the_lissa]

Oh I never weighed myself so I have no idea how much weight I gined, but I was already overweight. The regultion is so stupid.

 

[Paige CPM]

I really don't know about CA regs at all. However, if you are supposed to consult for something and then a cleint can refuse it sounds pretty flexible to me...as long as you sign an informed consent and you can do it. That is better than many places in the US where midwives are so regulated that they are told they can not...flat out...attend these women. Like VBAC in some places.

BTW guidelines are different then regulations. In MA we are unregulated becuase we are unlicenced. But, if we are memebers of the Mass Midwives Alliance we have guidelines. And they are only that...we consult with another midwife and we do informed consent with our clients about most things and they decide. This is a very ethical and wonderful way to practice, I think. It may not last for long but perhaps we can set up a system like that if we do get licenced. FINGERS CROSSED!!!

Best of luck, Paige