Prosecution of Midwife Casts Light on Home Births

The New York Times ^ | April 3, 2006 | ADAM LIPTAK

[Caesar Soze]

I didn't find any of my children's births a cozy, lovely, lush experience. and I had four of them. With my youngest son , now 20 yrs old it was a terrible experience and 17 hours of painful labor. Had he been born at home he would not have lived.

Sure, labor can be a very painful experience, but don't you think killing the little squirt as soon as he's out would have been a little vindictive?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

By all means, let's throw a woman in prison for eight years for assisting in the natural birth of a baby.

We need to have more inmates thrown into our prisons for such "criminal" acts.

"What are you in here for?"

"I helped a woman deliver her baby."

That's the spirit.

It's the insanity of a nanny state.

There is no guarantee of outcome in ANY birth.

If I was the woman, I'd tell the prosecutor, "Please put me before a jury for this 'crime' at the earliest possible date."

[pandoraou812]

Sure, labor can be a very painful experience, but don't you think killing the little squirt as soon as he's out would have been a little vindictive?

Excuse me but would you explain what you posted to me? I happen to love all my children very much and although it was painful I never considered my son a "little squirt" nor did I ever consider killing my child. Either you have a stupid warped sense of humor or you are totally out of line. If you read correctly I said if he had been birthed at home he would have died . The cord was wrapped so tightly around his neck he needed to be put in the neo natal unit asap. I haven't had coffee yet so if this is humor forgive me . If you are serious DILLIGAF to you.

[bd476]

pandoraou812 wrote: "We all get along really well and spend a lot of time together. I think if you want and can afford a large family go for it. But I know from the ages of my older children it isn't easy to give each child the amount of time they truly wanted and needed. I am blessed that the 4 boys all looked out for each other and they always have had a good relationship. My biggest problem was the 27 yr old daughter. She went wild at a young age and taught me that sometimes tough love is the answer."

It sounds like your family had two wise parents running things. Congratulations on a job well done!

[bd476]

Jaysun wrote: "...It has to do with the health and safety of mother and child. Women have the ability to choose to give birth at home, all they need do is use a qualified nurse or doctor."

Agree completely.

[pandoraou812]

Thanks . It isn't easy to be a parent and I did most of it as a single mom, my first husband was in a band and away all the time. Its strange but when we sit around and talk the boys and I remember the tough times as the best ones.

[bd476]

NoControllingLegalAuthority wrote: "By all means, let's throw a woman in prison for eight years for assisting in the natural birth of a baby."

Where did you read that the minimum sentence for practicing medicine without a license is an eight year prison sentence?

NoControllingLegalAuthority wrote: "...There is no guarantee of outcome in ANY birth."

True.

NoControllingLegalAuthority wrote: "...If I was the woman, I'd tell the prosecutor, 'Please put me before a jury for this 'crime' at the earliest possible date.' "

It sounds as if the enforcement of laws regulating medical practice is very upsetting to you.

Do you go to a medical doctor when you are sick? Some people choose not to, based on religious beliefs and/or fear.

If you do go to a doctor when you're sick, do you go to a licensed doctor or someone else in the community?

If your doctor is licensed, how much importance do you place on your doctor having received an adequate medical school education, passed your State's medical board exams and holds a current license?

[Froufrou]

Is there a need to have laws requiring education, testing and licensing for any occupations? Food for thought.

I was reading along but when I came to this I had to jump in. These 'laws' have been in place for eons. There are CEUs required annually in order for medical practitioners to retain their licenses.

Thought you oughta know.

[bd476]

Froufrou wrote: "I was reading along but when I came to this I had to jump in. These 'laws' have been in place for eons. There are CEUs required annually in order for medical practitioners to retain their licenses.

Thought you oughta know."

Thanks Froufrou, and yes that's true and that's something I'm well aware of. I was asking a rhetorical question.

Here is something else I wrote in my post:

"...Using the argument of there being too many laws, too many restrictions and everyone has the right to buy snake oil from a traveling huckster, why should there be any laws requiring medical education, board exams and licensing for physicians, registered nurses, vocational nurses, physical therapists, radiology techs, respiration techs, medical techs, pharmacists, chiropractors, doctors of osteopathy, etc?"

That also was a rhetorical question.

Froufrou, take a look at some of the other comments on this thread.

[pandoraou812]

I think any midwife should have a license. I don't get some of the comments on here at all. I don't understand comments like if the baby dies well it died. I want any medical person who cares for me or my child to have a license and have gone to a medical school. Why wouldn't I? I would be a fool to let just anyone treat me or my child. I think you should have a choice in where or who you want to deliver your baby.... But in a town close to me there are women who don't believe in going to the hospital for any prenatal care. They deliver at home and some of the babies are born with defects. Some die during childbirth. It is their religion that makes them birth at home. Some of these homes I wouldn't let a goat live in. I am sure the state would pay for their prenatal care but they chose not to . Yes that is their right but it is not fair to the child. And sadly it is the children who do suffer. I don't know what the answer is and nor do I think the state should mandate where you have your child. However I do think people should consider their babies health above and beyond anything else.

[colorcountry]

I gave birth at home to my last two children after having botched medical proceedures with my first three in a hospital.

I think I would have "gone it alone," if I could not have had a midwife. Doctors often do more harm than good. This was true in my case.

...and those home births were cozy, warm and comfortable. I was up walking and attending Church within hours of delivery.

You make your choice, I will make my own. I hate this society we call a Nanny State.

[Froufrou]

why should there be any laws requiring medical education, board exams and licensing

No offense, but that seems to me to be more of a silly than a rhetorical question. Unless your point is that there's too much government intervention in our lives...? Truly, I do not intend to seem obtuse. What IS your point?

[BallandPowder]

Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!

3 of my 4 children were born at home with the assistance of a midwife. She had delived several thousand babies in Missouri over the years. Wouldn't have had it any other way.

During pregnancy we had standard pre-natal care that reassured us of low risk pregnancies and we had informed our local EMS of what we were doing in case of an emergency.

I caught all three (two girls and a boy) and cut the cords on all three.

A few years ago Missouri changed the laws so that midwifes had to be under the supervision of a doctor. That killed the opportunities for home birth to zero since there aren't many doctors in Missouri who wanted to be responsible for a midwife's practice.

[Froufrou]

What you describe is "responsiblity," plain and simple. Too bad that so many people have pets without the desire or ability to care for them; these same people are often the ones so cavalier about having children. Your remarks are not falling on deaf ears.

And to infer that it's too much government rather sickes me.

[pandoraou812]

I agree with you and had I gone through what you must have I might have done the same. I saw midwives in my last pregnancy but they weren't there for the delivery as I was a high risk. I felt fine after my high risk last one . Stayed 2 days and went home to make ziti for my son's birthday..... What I do wonder about is not people like you...its the people who have no education and chose to deliver at home because they belong to some crazy cult. I would have loved to have what one of the posters described with a midwife present in the hospital... I just don't get the people who want wolves howling in the background and having their babies outside. However it should be their choice and I am firmly believe in choice.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

What ever happened to "choice"?

[Froufrou]

What botched procedures, if I may ask? I don't know anyone who got by without an episiotomy, if that's what you mean.

[pandoraou812]

During pregnancy we had standard pre-natal care that reassured us of low risk pregnancies and we had informed our local EMS of what we were doing in case of an emergency.

I caught all three (two girls and a boy) and cut the cords on all three.

I am all for that. You had the prenatal care and you informed the local EMS. All responsible things. You did all the right things in my opinion. And congrats to you for cutting the cord.....I didn't even have my husband there for labor because he has such a weak stomach I figured he would be more of a problem. If I had asked him to cut the cord he would have fainted for sure.

[bd476]

Froufrou, it is your privilege to not bother reading the article and posts. It is also your privilege to feel confused by comments related to something you have chosen not to read.

However is not my job to direct you to the referenced article, nor the ongoing discussion nor is it my job to point you in the direction of another Poster's comments clearly referenced in italics and within quotation marks in my posts.

[baltoga]

Requiring midwifes to be licensed may sound like a stupid law, but generally speaking all health professions require some sort of licensing.

To practice without a license exposes you to lawsuits and as in this case criminal prosecution.