I just wish to note that in states that have legalized and regulated home birth midwives (in addition to CNMs) have fine stats, WHEN YOU EXCLUDE congenital abnormalities and non-planned home births. (the stats are within statistical error of hospital births with the same risk levels).

One big mistake that people make when looking at credentials is to assume that a CNM is better or just as good for a home birth as a CPM/LM. This may or may not be the case. Only the CPM credential has specific training in home births, and specific requirements for home birth, hospital birth _and_ surgical birth observation and attendance. A licensed midwife refers to the fact that the midwife has a state credential — another common designation is RM (registered midwife) which implies the same thing. CPM is certified professional midwife, which is an international credential and the basis for most sound state requirements.

Just as when going for a birth in the hospital it makes sense to check and understand the credentials and mind set of your practitioner, the same is true of any home birth attendant. In both cases you should be aware of statistics — for hospital – # of c/s, % induction, infant mortality, morbidity stats, attitude towards postdates, procedure for postdates, attitude towards natural birth (if you want one), VBAC rates (tells you alot about how medicalized their vision is even if you don’t need one), etc. For home birth, you would want to know # of births attended, # per year, mortality and morbidity stats, do they do waterbirth (if you want one), how long will they let you labor, transfer rates, etc.

All of these, just make sense.

While I truly believe that home birth is better (~grin~) I would not presume to the make the choice for another person. The main place that I will draw the line — I should not have to soft pedal my choice or accomplishment of non medicated birth in order to make other women feel better.

Thats their business.

I just wish to note that in states that have legalized and regulated home birth midwives (in addition to CNMs) have fine stats, WHEN YOU EXCLUDE congenital abnormalities and non-planned home births. (the stats are within statistical error of hospital births with the same risk levels).

One big mistake that people make when looking at credentials is to assume that a CNM is better or just as good for a home birth as a CPM/LM. This may or may not be the case. Only the CPM credential has specific training in home births, and specific requirements for home birth, hospital birth _and_ surgical birth observation and attendance. A licensed midwife refers to the fact that the midwife has a state credential — another common designation is RM (registered midwife) which implies the same thing. CPM is certified professional midwife, which is an international credential and the basis for most sound state requirements.

Just as when going for a birth in the hospital it makes sense to check and understand the credentials and mind set of your practitioner, the same is true of any home birth attendant. In both cases you should be aware of statistics — for hospital – # of c/s, % induction, infant mortality, morbidity stats, attitude towards postdates, procedure for postdates, attitude towards natural birth (if you want one), VBAC rates (tells you alot about how medicalized their vision is even if you don’t need one), etc. For home birth, you would want to know # of births attended, # per year, mortality and morbidity stats, do they do waterbirth (if you want one), how long will they let you labor, transfer rates, etc.

All of these, just make sense.

While I truly believe that home birth is better (~grin~) I would not presume to the make the choice for another person. The main place that I will draw the line — I should not have to soft pedal my choice or accomplishment of non medicated birth in order to make other women feel better.

Thats their business.