I guess I'm behind the times-nothing new. But I thought midwives were midwives. I guess you have to have a 3 year education -in Indiana- to be a midwife or is that nurse-midwife? Insurance is accepted. So when did the government take over midwifery? Are there any midwives left from the old school. I do know families that deliver their own babies(maybe I shouldn't have said that). Can someone catch me up to current control?

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), October 13, 2001

Answers

Cindy,

The laws differ for each state. In Maryland it was illegal to use a midwife unless you were at a hospital using a nurse midwife. We saw a case where a midwife was prosecuted there. A sister-in-law, to the woman that had the baby, turned her in. Women that lived close enough to the PA border would go there as it was legal in that state. It is legal here in Ohio but a lot of doctors don't want to be back- ups do to possible lawsuits.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), October 13, 2001.

To be honest, it has been difficult in Ohio for CNM's to practice a midwifery model of care due to the fact that by Ohio law the CNM's protocols of practice must be signed by a doctor. Pretty hard to find support from doctors and their insurance carriers to cover a true midwifery model of care. Information regarding Nurse-Midwives, and independent midwives in Ohio can be found at this site: http://www.geocities.com/ohiofriendsofmidwives

-- Sandra (Ohio) (heartlandmw@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.