First it was an assault on home school parents … now South Carolina’s “Republican” lawmakers are going after the state’s midwives.
A pair of “GOP” legislators – Kris Crawford of Florence and Phyllis Henderson of Greenville – have introduced the so-called “South Carolina Lay Midwife Act” which would effectively ban home births in the Palmetto State.
News of the legislation – and opposition to it – was first reported by WYFF TV 4 (NBC – Greenville/ Spartanburg, S.C.).
Why? Because when they’re not blathering on the campaign trail about their commitment to “limited government,” this state’s so-called conservatives are busy attempting to regulate citizens from the cradle to the grave … literally.
Par for the hypocritical course, sadly …
Crawford says the goal of this bill is to “systematically put everyone in a framework where the safety of citizens and safety of care can be monitored.”
Yeah … because that doesn’t sound Orwellian or anything.
What’s Henderson’s excuse? We don’t know … but as a former campaign manager for Jim DeMint, she should know better.
Last month this website blew up a “Republican” bid to force home school families to swallow (and subsidize) state government’s failed “accountability” measures.
Let’s hope the same fate befalls state government’s latest foray into the home …
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100 comments
There are some major problems with “lay midwives”. First, recognize that these are not certified midwives who provide quality care. These are individuals who practice outside of medicine. When things go bad, they abandon the patient and have them call 911 to get to local hospital. The cases are really bad – fetal death, breech presentation with cord prolapse, ect.
You do realize that these women spend years training for their profession? Their stated mission is to provide quality, individualized care to low risk women and their families. Studies show that infant and maternal mortality rates are lower among out of hospital births than hospital births. I’m not saying there has never been a midwife who has done something stupid, but there are many OBs who make stupid mistakes in the OR as well. Don’t apply one bad situation to a whole group of professionals.
yes, they spend 2 WHOLE years training for this. While, an Ob/Gyn spends 8+. Ok, they do spend 2 whole years
Average training for a CPM lasts 3-5 years.
Brandy, we don’t count becoming a nurse. I don’t think being a nurse makes you any closer to being able to deliver a baby.
Nor do I, Baby Bump :) I have a Bachelor’s in Nursing, which took 4 years schooling. I was a labor and delivery nurse for 9 years before starting the didactic midwifery schooling. After 9 months of this work, I began an apprenticeship that lasted 2 years. So, technically my training lasted 2 years nine months, but this was relatively “short” because of my knowledge and skill-set I already had from my labor and delivery days. Including my nursing school, I would say I have 6 years 9 months. Huh, nearly as much as a physician. And I will say that in my total of 11 years in L&D, I only saw 3 or 4 women giving birth in any other position besides the “stranded beetle.” And in my 7 years of midwifery, I have only had 4 women giving birth in this position, following her instincts!
Instincts > Science. WooHoo!
no, an OB/GYn does NOT spend 8+ years studying childbirth. They Spend 8+ years studying medicine in general, with a focus on all aspects of women’s health & only a portion of that is focused on childbirth & only a TINY portion of that is spent studying “normal childbirth” (ie, when everything goes right). OBs are trained to deal with problems that arise in childbirth & have very little training or experience in dealing with a childbirth that has no problems. By comparison, a Certified Professional Midwife gets 3-5 yrs of training that is 100% focused on childbirth & pre-natal & post-natal care.
And how do you know in advance that everything will go right? That a birth will be “normal?” I’d rather women have someone on hand who is trained to handle births that go wrong – plenty do – and who can help get a baby out healthy and alive and keep the mother healthy if the situation calls for it.
This bill & this debate are not about WHERE birth occurs, but WHO mother can choose to be her primary caregiver during pregnancy & delivery. (This bill would put an end to most birthing centers as well as midwives who practice in hospitals.)
Licensed midwives are – and must be – experts in risk assessment. Screening for normal, low-risk mothers at onset of care is vital. Continual risk-assessment at each prenatal visit, and during labor, birth, and postpartum, is probably THE most important part of our profession.
The inherent recklessness in the language of this bill is that it will allow lay people “who may have had little formal training or recognized professional education in midwifery” (Section 40-47-1815, 5, definition of a lay midwife) to attend deliveries. This will gravely endanger South Carolina mothers and babies. The sponsors propose to take a well-tested avenue for licensing professional midwives, and turn it over to lay people! They will likely NOT have a clue how to get a baby out healthy and alive and keep the mother healthy. Scary ~
SC has licensed midwives which obtain their license through the state of SC, via DHEC. Please refer to the requirements for licensing on the DHEC website. While I agree that an individual without any training attending home births is dangerous, licensed midwives in SC are not such.
There are some major problems with “lay midwives”. First, recognize that these are not certified midwives who provide quality care. These are individuals who practice outside of medicine. When things go bad, they abandon the patient and have them call 911 to get to local hospital. The cases are really bad – fetal death, breech presentation with cord prolapse, ect.
You do realize that these women spend years training for their profession? Their stated mission is to provide quality, individualized care to low risk women and their families. Studies show that infant and maternal mortality rates are lower among out of hospital births than hospital births. I’m not saying there has never been a midwife who has done something stupid, but there are many OBs who make stupid mistakes in the OR as well. Don’t apply one bad situation to a whole group of professionals.
yes, they spend 2 WHOLE years training for this. While, an Ob/Gyn spends 8+. Ok, they do spend 2 whole years
Average training for a CPM lasts 3-5 years.
Brandy, we don’t count becoming a nurse. I don’t think being a nurse makes you any closer to being able to deliver a baby.
Nor do I, Baby Bump :) I have a Bachelor’s in Nursing, which took 4 years schooling. I was a labor and delivery nurse for 9 years before starting the didactic midwifery schooling. After 9 months of this work, I began an apprenticeship that lasted 2 years. So, technically my training lasted 2 years nine months, but this was relatively “short” because of my knowledge and skill-set I already had from my labor and delivery days. Including my nursing school, I would say I have 6 years 9 months. Huh, nearly as much as a physician. And I will say that in my total of 11 years in L&D, I only saw 3 or 4 women giving birth in any other position besides the “stranded beetle.” And in my 7 years of midwifery, I have only had 4 women giving birth in this position, following her instincts!
Instincts > Science. WooHoo!
no, an OB/GYn does NOT spend 8+ years studying childbirth. They Spend 8+ years studying medicine in general, with a focus on all aspects of women’s health & only a portion of that is focused on childbirth & only a TINY portion of that is spent studying “normal childbirth” (ie, when everything goes right). OBs are trained to deal with problems that arise in childbirth & have very little training or experience in dealing with a childbirth that has no problems. By comparison, a Certified Professional Midwife gets 3-5 yrs of training that is 100% focused on childbirth & pre-natal & post-natal care.
And how do you know in advance that everything will go right? That a birth will be “normal?” I’d rather women have someone on hand who is trained to handle births that go wrong – plenty do – and who can help get a baby out healthy and alive and keep the mother healthy if the situation calls for it.
This bill & this debate are not about WHERE birth occurs, but WHO mother can choose to be her primary caregiver during pregnancy & delivery. (This bill would put an end to most birthing centers as well as midwives who practice in hospitals.)
Licensed midwives are – and must be – experts in risk assessment. Screening for normal, low-risk mothers at onset of care is vital. Continual risk-assessment at each prenatal visit, and during labor, birth, and postpartum, is probably THE most important part of our profession.
The inherent recklessness in the language of this bill is that it will allow lay people “who may have had little formal training or recognized professional education in midwifery” (Section 40-47-1815, 5, definition of a lay midwife) to attend deliveries. This will gravely endanger South Carolina mothers and babies. The sponsors propose to take a well-tested avenue for licensing professional midwives, and turn it over to lay people! They will likely NOT have a clue how to get a baby out healthy and alive and keep the mother healthy. Scary ~
SC has licensed midwives which obtain their license through the state of SC, via DHEC. Please refer to the requirements for licensing on the DHEC website. While I agree that an individual without any training attending home births is dangerous, licensed midwives in SC are not such.
Harrell won’t get any pharmaceutical commissions from midwives because they aren’t working from hospitals.
Back to the hospitals!
Harrell won’t get any pharmaceutical commissions from midwives because they aren’t working from hospitals.
Back to the hospitals!
Enjoy yourselves — this should be a really fun day for you, because it is officially—–
—- MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES DAY
Thank you, Shifty, for this reminder! I will be using mine!
Enjoy yourselves — this should be a really fun day for you, because it is officially—–
—- MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES DAY
Thank you, Shifty, for this reminder! I will be using mine!
Crawford says the goal of this bill is to “systematically put everyone in a framework where the safety of citizens and safety of care can be monitored.”
Hey, you little moron fucker retarded cockroach if you want to do something about “safety of citizens” how about take on the sons of bitches robbing retirees of their pensions.
As for the “safety of care” buffalo shit do a little research and see how many people get sick from hospital environments and how many patients suffer/die due to incompetence of hospital care.
Any possibility that the birth of your proposal was at the hands of Hospital and Physician Lobbyists?
Crawford says the goal of this bill is to “systematically put everyone in a framework where the safety of citizens and safety of care can be monitored.”
Hey, you little moron fucker retarded cockroach if you want to do something about “safety of citizens” how about take on the sons of bitches robbing retirees of their pensions.
As for the “safety of care” buffalo shit do a little research and see how many people get sick from hospital environments and how many patients suffer/die due to incompetence of hospital care.
Any possibility that the birth of your proposal was at the hands of Hospital and Physician Lobbyists?
Rep Henderson is a reliable limited government conservative. Enjoy working with her. She is actually one legislator you can count on to read a bill and actually look to understand issues. WIsh we had more of her up here. As for this bill, I do not know her reasoning but I would first assume that there is a good one. When dealing with medical procedures I am OK with ensuring mid wives are trained in some form…There are a lot of things that can go wrong during delivery.
Actually, a constituent of hers and a supporter of ours ran into her at a grocery store over the weekend, after H. 3731 was introduced on the floor. She stated that she had no idea that there were any regulations in place with oversight over Licensed Midwives. This is UNTRUE. She was IN THE ROOM when I testified at the 3M Committee, Subcommittee II hearing to offer the Licensed Midwife Association’s SUPPORT for R. 4210, another bill submitted by DHEC, our regulatory body now. She also heard from DHEC and another Licensed Midwife.
It baffles me how someone could have made eye contact with me on Tuesday about Licensed, Professional Midwifery practice, and on Saturday claim to not know that there was any such process currently in place. Hmmm. Doens’t quite sound like she “understands the issues” by which she offered her name as co-sponsor to me ~
Rep Henderson is a reliable limited government conservative. Enjoy working with her. She is actually one legislator you can count on to read a bill and actually look to understand issues. WIsh we had more of her up here. As for this bill, I do not know her reasoning but I would first assume that there is a good one. When dealing with medical procedures I am OK with ensuring mid wives are trained in some form…There are a lot of things that can go wrong during delivery.
Actually, a constituent of hers and a supporter of ours ran into her at a grocery store over the weekend, after H. 3731 was introduced on the floor. She stated that she had no idea that there were any regulations in place with oversight over Licensed Midwives. This is UNTRUE. She was IN THE ROOM when I testified at the 3M Committee, Subcommittee II hearing to offer the Licensed Midwife Association’s SUPPORT for R. 4210, another bill submitted by DHEC, our regulatory body now. She also heard from DHEC and another Licensed Midwife.
It baffles me how someone could have made eye contact with me on Tuesday about Licensed, Professional Midwifery practice, and on Saturday claim to not know that there was any such process currently in place. Hmmm. Doens’t quite sound like she “understands the issues” by which she offered her name as co-sponsor to me ~
Like usual, your article attacks a bill based on abstract philosophical principles rather than real world facts. Home deliveries by untrained “medical” personnel are dangerous to both mother and baby.
Statistical studies have shown that prospectively LOW RISK moms delivering out of hospital with a TRAINED LICENSED Midwife like we currently have in South Carolina deliver just as healthy outcomes as do low risk moms delivering in the hospital. Furthermore, the mothers and babies were healthier as a result because they had less vacuum extractions and forceps deliveries, fewer cesarean surgeries and mothers with more satisfaction and contentment. This bill will inevitably remove Midwifery care in the state of South Carolina, which will also take away citizens rights to decide where they deliver their baby.
“Prospectively LOW RISK moms” – that’s the key phrase. Anything can, and often does, go wrong at a birth, even when a pregnancy has been “normal” up until then. Surgeons, trained by medical schools – not DHEC – should be on hand in the event of something like this occurring – minutes count, and the transfer time to a hospital often results in a dead baby.
DHEC doesn’t do the midwife training, they just handle the licensing in SC. Midwife training IS done in schools & colleges, just like the OBs. (BTW, routine procedures done in hospitals CAUSE a lot of the problems that arise during birth. Did you know that many of the drugs routinely administered in hospital births are off-label use and/or not approved by FDA?)
“Just like the OBs” – hardly. OBs have much more medical training and can handle a surgery in the event that something goes wrong. But, you know, YAY for the choice to put yourself and your baby in harm’s way in the name of your “birthing experience.”
You advocate choice, but in your comments above, you certainly seem to indicate that women who choose to deliver in a hospital are making the wrong choice – “BTW, routine procedures done in hospitals CAUSE a lot of the problems that arise during birth.”
So, do you really want choice here, or do you just want people to choose midwives over OBs? Keep in mind that plenty of otherwise “normal” pregnancies result in deliveries with complications that OBs are trained to handle.
um, what? Apparently you have read things into my comments that I never said. I have nothing against choosing hospital birth, nor did I say anything about “birthing experience.” I simply stated that OBs & midwives are both trained in schools, neither is trained by DHEC. I am simply stating facts that are relevant to this discussion so that readers have more information.
Not all midwife training is done in schools and colleges – the self-study exemption allows for that. And that some midwife training is done in schools makes it in no way commensurate with the medical training of an OB.
When you say that “routine procedures done in hospitals CAUSE a lot of the problems that arise during birth,” you are using loaded language, and you know it. The lack of proper medical care causes a lot of problems that arise during a birth attended by a midwife. See how it can go the other way? If you wanted to state facts, you would have included that information as well, not just the info favorable to your position. If you want readers to “have more information,” you should give them more than your own argument.
“Statistical studies have shown” – do you have links to any?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22015871: Home births with low risk mothers/babies are not associated with increased infant mortality. (High risk SO have increased mortality rates at home, which is why a TRAINED midwife like the ones in SC would never allow a high risk pregnancy to be delivered at home, which is why we need TRAINED midwives to provide clients with sound advice!)
http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7505/1416: Same results in America.
No one is trying to say all children should be born at home. Our midwife made it explicitly clear all of the risk factors that would essentially make it impossible to deliver at home. Take a few minutes and ask a few ACTUALY certified practicing midwives in SC their rates of hospital transfer and infant mortality, you may be surprised to find them extremely low.
Certified midwives are not trying to make every mother a martyr, they recognize the importance of OB/GYN specialists and hospitals. We just want to allow women the right to choose.
And here are some links for you that show that studies on home births are difficult to get good stats for, but when reliable stats are found, there is an increased risk of neonatal mortality with home births (2x, actually), but of course midwives dispute this:
http://www.amednews.com/article/20120213/profession/302139944/4/
http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2012/06/27/one-in-five-home-birth-mums-rushed-to-hospital/
It is true that you have a 0% chance of forceps, vacuum, or cesarean. However, when your child is dead or born with cerebral palsy, that outcome is for life!
So what does it mean when babies are born in the hospital dead or with cerebral palsy? Since, you do understand, that is where the vast, overwhelming even, majority of these poor outcomes occur.
Most poor outcomes occur in hospitals b/c most babies are born in hospitals. Statistics 101. They don’t teach you that in midwife school?
who said anything about “Home deliveries by untrained “medical” personnel” ??? Midwives are trained, certified & regulated. This bill LOWERS the training requirements for midwives to practice healthcare in SC
Like usual, your article attacks a bill based on abstract philosophical principles rather than real world facts. Home deliveries by untrained “medical” personnel are dangerous to both mother and baby.
Statistical studies have shown that prospectively LOW RISK moms delivering out of hospital with a TRAINED LICENSED Midwife like we currently have in South Carolina deliver just as healthy outcomes as do low risk moms delivering in the hospital. Furthermore, the mothers and babies were healthier as a result because they had less vacuum extractions and forceps deliveries, fewer cesarean surgeries and mothers with more satisfaction and contentment. This bill will inevitably remove Midwifery care in the state of South Carolina, which will also take away citizens rights to decide where they deliver their baby.
“Prospectively LOW RISK moms” – that’s the key phrase. Anything can, and often does, go wrong at a birth, even when a pregnancy has been “normal” up until then. Surgeons, trained by medical schools – not DHEC – should be on hand in the event of something like this occurring – minutes count, and the transfer time to a hospital often results in a dead baby.
DHEC doesn’t do the midwife training, they just handle the licensing in SC. Midwife training IS done in schools & colleges, just like the OBs. (BTW, routine procedures done in hospitals CAUSE a lot of the problems that arise during birth. Did you know that many of the drugs routinely administered in hospital births are off-label use and/or not approved by FDA?)
“Just like the OBs” – hardly. OBs have much more medical training and can handle a surgery in the event that something goes wrong. But, you know, YAY for the choice to put yourself and your baby in harm’s way in the name of your “birthing experience.”
You advocate choice, but in your comments above, you certainly seem to indicate that women who choose to deliver in a hospital are making the wrong choice – “BTW, routine procedures done in hospitals CAUSE a lot of the problems that arise during birth.”
So, do you really want choice here, or do you just want people to choose midwives over OBs? Keep in mind that plenty of otherwise “normal” pregnancies result in deliveries with complications that OBs are trained to handle.
um, what? Apparently you have read things into my comments that I never said. I have nothing against choosing hospital birth, nor did I say anything about “birthing experience.” I simply stated that OBs & midwives are both trained in schools, neither is trained by DHEC. I am simply stating facts that are relevant to this discussion so that readers have more information.
Not all midwife training is done in schools and colleges – the self-study exemption allows for that. And that some midwife training is done in schools makes it in no way commensurate with the medical training of an OB.
When you say that “routine procedures done in hospitals CAUSE a lot of the problems that arise during birth,” you are using loaded language, and you know it. The lack of proper medical care causes a lot of problems that arise during a birth attended by a midwife. See how it can go the other way? If you wanted to state facts, you would have included that information as well, not just the info favorable to your position. If you want readers to “have more information,” you should give them more than your own argument.
“Statistical studies have shown” – do you have links to any?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22015871: Home births with low risk mothers/babies are not associated with increased infant mortality. (High risk SO have increased mortality rates at home, which is why a TRAINED midwife like the ones in SC would never allow a high risk pregnancy to be delivered at home, which is why we need TRAINED midwives to provide clients with sound advice!)
http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7505/1416: Same results in America.
No one is trying to say all children should be born at home. Our midwife made it explicitly clear all of the risk factors that would essentially make it impossible to deliver at home. Take a few minutes and ask a few ACTUALY certified practicing midwives in SC their rates of hospital transfer and infant mortality, you may be surprised to find them extremely low.
Certified midwives are not trying to make every mother a martyr, they recognize the importance of OB/GYN specialists and hospitals. We just want to allow women the right to choose.
And here are some links for you that show that studies on home births are difficult to get good stats for, but when reliable stats are found, there is an increased risk of neonatal mortality with home births (2x, actually), but of course midwives dispute this:
http://www.amednews.com/article/20120213/profession/302139944/4/
http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2012/06/27/one-in-five-home-birth-mums-rushed-to-hospital/
It is true that you have a 0% chance of forceps, vacuum, or cesarean. However, when your child is dead or born with cerebral palsy, that outcome is for life!
So what does it mean when babies are born in the hospital dead or with cerebral palsy? Since, you do understand, that is where the vast, overwhelming even, majority of these poor outcomes occur.
Most poor outcomes occur in hospitals b/c most babies are born in hospitals. Statistics 101. They don’t teach you that in midwife school?
who said anything about “Home deliveries by untrained “medical” personnel” ??? Midwives are trained, certified & regulated. This bill LOWERS the training requirements for midwives to practice healthcare in SC
to clarify some points … Midwives are already licensed & regulated in South Carolina. This proposed bill lumps Certified Professional midwives in with “lay” midwives, completely ignoring that CPMs undergo extensive formal training + years of apprenticeship. “Lay” (meaning those without formal training) midwives were effectively outlawed in SC decades ago. House Bill H. 3731 would effectively put an end to all midwifery in SC if only because it requires an OB to back a midwife and that means the OB would be responsible if something goes wrong. No malpractice insurer is going to allow one of their policy holders to do that. Which means that no midwife nor OB would be able to comply with this law
to clarify some points … Midwives are already licensed & regulated in South Carolina. This proposed bill lumps Certified Professional midwives in with “lay” midwives, completely ignoring that CPMs undergo extensive formal training + years of apprenticeship. “Lay” (meaning those without formal training) midwives were effectively outlawed in SC decades ago. House Bill H. 3731 would effectively put an end to all midwifery in SC if only because it requires an OB to back a midwife and that means the OB would be responsible if something goes wrong. No malpractice insurer is going to allow one of their policy holders to do that. Which means that no midwife nor OB would be able to comply with this law
Have to go with Will on this one, if they aren’t advertising as something better than a “lay” midwife and if people still want to use them then that should be their prerogative. There is way too much government intrusion. If people want licensed something or other then set up a licensing board and what not (make it self supporting) but don’t make it mandatory for practitioners. If customers want licensed they can go to licensed, if not they can use the unlicensed ones (e. g. Barbers, Cosmetologists, Teachers, Mechanics, Mdwives, etc). Babies were being born before there there doctors they can still be born without a doctor.
Just to be clear, they do not market themselves as “lay midwives.” That is the label that law makers want to apply to them. They are Certified Professional Midwives, and they are licensed. From the DHEC website: “Individuals must pass both the North American Registry of Midwives national written examination and an oral examination administered by the Department. License renewal is every two years with continuing education required.”
Have to go with Will on this one, if they aren’t advertising as something better than a “lay” midwife and if people still want to use them then that should be their prerogative. There is way too much government intrusion. If people want licensed something or other then set up a licensing board and what not (make it self supporting) but don’t make it mandatory for practitioners. If customers want licensed they can go to licensed, if not they can use the unlicensed ones (e. g. Barbers, Cosmetologists, Teachers, Mechanics, Mdwives, etc). Babies were being born before there there doctors they can still be born without a doctor.
Just to be clear, they do not market themselves as “lay midwives.” That is the label that law makers want to apply to them. They are Certified Professional Midwives, and they are licensed. From the DHEC website: “Individuals must pass both the North American Registry of Midwives national written examination and an oral examination administered by the Department. License renewal is every two years with continuing education required.”
This bill is an infringement on the rights of families here in SC, and If passed could pave the way for similar “right infringing” bills in other states. Feel free to show these legislators how little you care to be systematically forced into a framework they think appropriate by signing the petition here:
Khttp://www.change.org/petitions/the-south-carolina-house-of-representatives-stop-house-bill-h-3731-the-south-carolina-lay-midwife-act
Don’t waste your time on these meaningless petitions
This bill is an infringement on the rights of families here in SC, and If passed could pave the way for similar “right infringing” bills in other states. Feel free to show these legislators how little you care to be systematically forced into a framework they think appropriate by signing the petition here:
Khttp://www.change.org/petitions/the-south-carolina-house-of-representatives-stop-house-bill-h-3731-the-south-carolina-lay-midwife-act
Don’t waste your time on these meaningless petitions
I think we need to be clear that in South Carolina we already have trained licensed midwives, which receive their license from DHEC. The issue with the proposed bill is that it misidentifies South Carolina’s licensed midwives as “lay people” without training or skill. The bill would remove the option for families to choose from a variation of highly skilled, trained professionals. Instead, families will be given two options, hospital birth and for those families that would choose to birth at home anyway without a trained midwife (because there would no longer be any) a potentially dangerous situation. Additionally, as has been stated before, statistics show that low risk mothers who deliver outside of a hospital with a trained and certified midwife have just as healthy outcomes as those low risk mothers delivering in hospitals (with the exception that their are significantly fewer unnecessary interventions). The Bill isn’t removing untrained “lay people”, it’s about removing trained licensed midwifery professionals, which doesn’t serve the greater good, but ultimately affects the rights of all families in their childbearing years.
I think we need to be clear that in South Carolina we already have trained licensed midwives, which receive their license from DHEC. The issue with the proposed bill is that it misidentifies South Carolina’s licensed midwives as “lay people” without training or skill. The bill would remove the option for families to choose from a variation of highly skilled, trained professionals. Instead, families will be given two options, hospital birth and for those families that would choose to birth at home anyway without a trained midwife (because there would no longer be any) a potentially dangerous situation. Additionally, as has been stated before, statistics show that low risk mothers who deliver outside of a hospital with a trained and certified midwife have just as healthy outcomes as those low risk mothers delivering in hospitals (with the exception that their are significantly fewer unnecessary interventions). The Bill isn’t removing untrained “lay people”, it’s about removing trained licensed midwifery professionals, which doesn’t serve the greater good, but ultimately affects the rights of all families in their childbearing years.
As the President of the South Carolina Licensed Midwives Association, please let me clarify some major misunderstandings noted above:
1) SC was the first state in 1982 to license professionally trained and educated midwives. We ARE the specialists in normal, low-risk pregnancy and birth. And we are grateful for obstetrical care for high-risk women, where their surgical sub-specialty is very valuable.
2) As such, we have a time-tested, safe, effective process in place for licensing and regulating professional midwives. http://www.scdhec.gov/administration/regs/docs/61-24.pdf For decades, other states have used our regulations as a model to create licensure across the nation.
3)This nanny-state bill would LOWER the current standards already in place. The language of the bill includes an antiquated definition: “‘Lay
midwife’ means midwife who may have had little formal training or recognized
professional education in midwifery.” The didactic and apprentice-style training of a licensed midwife takes an average of 3-5 years.
4) As far as limited government and cost-savings…this is a huge issue for H. 3731. Our current licensure process is fully funded through DHEC via our application and renewal fees. H. 3731 proposes to create an entirely new division under the Board of Medical Examiners, with no mention of funding. There will be legal fees accrued as review of all new provisions will be required. In a landmark study released in January 2013, the American Association of Birth Centers “National Birth Study II” reported, “In 2011, the average Medicare/Medicaid facility services reimbursement for an uncomplicated vaginal
birth in a hospital was $3,998, compared with $1,907 in birth centers. This factor alone saved $27.2 million in the National Birth Study II.” This figure does not include
professional service fees. Five of the six birth centers in SC are owned and operated by Licensed Midwives.
5) This Supervisory Board is to be comprised of 2 obstetricians, 2 certified nurse midwives, and one at large member. I cannot think of another profession that has a regulatory board that does not include a single member of said profession.
6) Even if this terrible bill passes, licensed midwives quickly be eliminated: license renewal will require a signature of a board member. Licensed midwives have very little hope of obtaining a supervising physician, who must be sitting IN the hospital or birth center waiting receive to the perceived “train wreck” that is “inevitable,” in the sponsors’ minds. If families are left without access to trained professionals, as this bill will do, then we eliminate their option to decide among varied, highly-educated maternity care providers.
7) Despite its intent, H. 3731 will NOT eliminate home births. Demand for
professional midwifery care has increased dramatically over the past few years.
In SC, from 2009-2011 the hospital birth rate has decreased from 57,351 to 54,012,
while the out-of-hospital birth rate has increased 55%. Restrain of trade, anyone? Many families, who obtain care now from licensed midwives, would still choose to have their babies at home, but without any trained/educated attendant, and SC data shows that
unassisted childbirth puts babies at an increased risk. Additionally, licensed
midwives are excellent at risk assessment and preventing unnecessary cesarean
sections. Again, from the above study “The C-section rate in this study was 6%, compared to 27% [in hospital] for low-risk women who give birth in the U.S. If the
15,574 women who planned to give birth in birth centers had instead chosen hospital
births, it is estimated that they would have experienced 3,000 additional—and unnecessary—Cesareans. Instead, these C-sections were safely and effectively prevented, along with a potential cost-savings of at least $4.5 million.”
8) Finally, the DHEC Deputy Director of Health Licensing stated at the 3M Subcommittee 2 hearing on February 26, 2013, “DHEC does not want to be in the business of licensing midwives.” The South Carolina Licensed Midwives Association and the SC Affiliate Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives are actively pursuing the creation of a Board of Midwifery, likely under the Department of LLR, to license and regulate both Licensed and Certified Nurse Midwives.
We are not at ALL opposed to regulation, but we want to do so by an appropriate group, utilizing the licensing process already in place.
Thank you for reading, and I welcome any questions. If you wish to learn even more, please visit http://www.supportscmidwives.com It is a very new website with frequent updates as the grass-roots groundswell is viral at this point.
But how are you gonna keep the dog from eating them?
??
Oh, nevermind. I see your intelligent posts below.
It’s pretty easy to figure out.Anyone who uses the worn out cliche-‘nanny-state’ ,and is scarily,a self-described, ‘mid-wife’,with questionable initials after their ‘name’ is probably not good for you or the ‘child’.Will the birthing be done out in the barn ,or what not?
Maybe you’ll do more business, if abortion is made illegal,sawbones.
As the President of the South Carolina Licensed Midwives Association, please let me clarify some major misunderstandings noted above:
1) SC was the first state in 1982 to license professionally trained and educated midwives. We ARE the specialists in normal, low-risk pregnancy and birth. And we are grateful for obstetrical care for high-risk women, where their surgical sub-specialty is very valuable.
2) As such, we have a time-tested, safe, effective process in place for licensing and regulating professional midwives. http://www.scdhec.gov/administration/regs/docs/61-24.pdf For decades, other states have used our regulations as a model to create licensure across the nation.
3)This nanny-state bill would LOWER the current standards already in place. The language of the bill includes an antiquated definition: “‘Lay
midwife’ means midwife who may have had little formal training or recognized
professional education in midwifery.” The didactic and apprentice-style training of a licensed midwife takes an average of 3-5 years.
4) As far as limited government and cost-savings…this is a huge issue for H. 3731. Our current licensure process is fully funded through DHEC via our application and renewal fees. H. 3731 proposes to create an entirely new division under the Board of Medical Examiners, with no mention of funding. There will be legal fees accrued as review of all new provisions will be required. In a landmark study released in January 2013, the American Association of Birth Centers “National Birth Study II” reported, “In 2011, the average Medicare/Medicaid facility services reimbursement for an uncomplicated vaginal
birth in a hospital was $3,998, compared with $1,907 in birth centers. This factor alone saved $27.2 million in the National Birth Study II.” This figure does not include
professional service fees. Five of the six birth centers in SC are owned and operated by Licensed Midwives.
5) This Supervisory Board is to be comprised of 2 obstetricians, 2 certified nurse midwives, and one at large member. I cannot think of another profession that has a regulatory board that does not include a single member of said profession.
6) Even if this terrible bill passes, licensed midwives quickly be eliminated: license renewal will require a signature of a board member. Licensed midwives have very little hope of obtaining a supervising physician, who must be sitting IN the hospital or birth center waiting receive to the perceived “train wreck” that is “inevitable,” in the sponsors’ minds. If families are left without access to trained professionals, as this bill will do, then we eliminate their option to decide among varied, highly-educated maternity care providers.
7) Despite its intent, H. 3731 will NOT eliminate home births. Demand for
professional midwifery care has increased dramatically over the past few years.
In SC, from 2009-2011 the hospital birth rate has decreased from 57,351 to 54,012,
while the out-of-hospital birth rate has increased 55%. Restrain of trade, anyone? Many families, who obtain care now from licensed midwives, would still choose to have their babies at home, but without any trained/educated attendant, and SC data shows that
unassisted childbirth puts babies at an increased risk. Additionally, licensed
midwives are excellent at risk assessment and preventing unnecessary cesarean
sections. Again, from the above study “The C-section rate in this study was 6%, compared to 27% [in hospital] for low-risk women who give birth in the U.S. If the
15,574 women who planned to give birth in birth centers had instead chosen hospital
births, it is estimated that they would have experienced 3,000 additional—and unnecessary—Cesareans. Instead, these C-sections were safely and effectively prevented, along with a potential cost-savings of at least $4.5 million.”
8) Finally, the DHEC Deputy Director of Health Licensing stated at the 3M Subcommittee 2 hearing on February 26, 2013, “DHEC does not want to be in the business of licensing midwives.” The South Carolina Licensed Midwives Association and the SC Affiliate Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives are actively pursuing the creation of a Board of Midwifery, likely under the Department of LLR, to license and regulate both Licensed and Certified Nurse Midwives.
We are not at ALL opposed to regulation, but we want to do so by an appropriate group, utilizing the licensing process already in place.
Thank you for reading, and I welcome any questions. If you wish to learn even more, please visit http://www.supportscmidwives.com It is a very new website with frequent updates as the grass-roots groundswell is viral at this point.
But how are you gonna keep the dog from eating them?
??
Oh, nevermind. I see your intelligent posts below.
It’s pretty easy to figure out.Anyone who uses the worn out cliche-‘nanny-state’ ,and is scarily,a self-described, ‘mid-wife’,with questionable initials after their ‘name’ is probably not good for you or the ‘child’.Will the birthing be done out in the barn ,or what not?
Maybe you’ll do more business, if abortion is made illegal,sawbones.
Just more gubernment intervention. I was born in the back of a Greyhound Bus rolling down Highway 41. Some colored lady midwife cut my cord with a Buck knife borrowed from a drunk sittin’ next to my mama. My mama bought her supper at Stuckeys and that is all there was to it.
When I joined the circus, at nine, some midgets got me a birth certificate. Don’t see where you need a license if your mama decides to give birth at home listening to Ravi Shankar surrounded by candles assisted by a Geechie lady from the low country.
Mine was listening to,’in the mood’ by Glen Miller, and then dad decided he needed sex while I was being born! That’s why I was born with fetal-brobdingnagian syndrome…
As screwed up as you are I figured your parents were listening to Def Leppard’s “Pour A Little Sugar On Me” In addition, its to bad pacifiers didn’t come with instructions back then — obvious your mama inserted it in the wrong end.
to,too,two,-dumb ass! Nope .Everyone had decent taste in music,and a good grasp of the English language;you two /too should get acquainted…
I’d rather drop an O than have your command of all things perverted. Can you have decent taste in music and still be one screwed up mother fucker? Now that’s one for the ages to ponder.
Just more gubernment intervention. I was born in the back of a Greyhound Bus rolling down Highway 41. Some colored lady midwife cut my cord with a Buck knife borrowed from a drunk sittin’ next to my mama. My mama bought her supper at Stuckeys and that is all there was to it.
When I joined the circus, at nine, some midgets got me a birth certificate. Don’t see where you need a license if your mama decides to give birth at home listening to Ravi Shankar surrounded by candles assisted by a Geechie lady from the low country.
Mine was listening to,’in the mood’ by Glen Miller, and then dad decided he needed sex while I was being born! That’s why I was born with fetal-brobdingnagian syndrome…
As screwed up as you are I figured your parents were listening to Def Leppard’s “Pour A Little Sugar On Me” In addition, its to bad pacifiers didn’t come with instructions back then — obvious your mama inserted it in the wrong end.
to,too,two,-dumb ass! Nope .Everyone had decent taste in music,and a good grasp of the English language;you two /too should get acquainted…
I’d rather drop an O than have your command of all things perverted. Can you have decent taste in music and still be one screwed up mother fucker? Now that’s one for the ages to ponder.
Why do queers have to pay for your little bastards to go to school,and become dumb ass rednecks just like you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ2Fhl8ORSE
Why do queers have to pay for your little bastards to go to school,and become dumb ass rednecks just like you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ2Fhl8ORSE
With April 15 fast approaching, you would think Kris Crawford would have other things on his mind ….
With April 15 fast approaching, you would think Kris Crawford would have other things on his mind ….