Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers
Did you know that even if a mother has filed a Complaint with the Department of Health against her midwife, That Complaint might not show up on your State's website?
Tip: Do a Google search of your midwife’s name or the name of the birthing center followed by the words “Emergency Restriction Order” or “Emergency Suspension Order” or “Disciplined” and see what comes up.
Did you know that your midwife may not have "admitting privileges" at a local hospital?
Tip: Always double check with the hospital your midwife is claiming to have privileges at to verify whether those privileges exist.
Did you know that while a hospital might only be "5 minutes away" in the event of an emergency during your child's birth, a "5 minute" drive can easily take upwards of 45 minutes when you take into account such things as calling for an ambulance and waiting for them to arrive, loading up the mother into the ambulance or other vehicle, driving to the hospital, unloading the mother at the hospital, and ensuring that the doctors have the correct information about the mother in order to perform life saving measures?
Tip: Be active in your assessments of an emergency situation before giving birth. Seconds become crucial in the event of an emergency, and can be the difference between life and death. Not thinking about it will not make the possibility go away, it will just leave you unprepared.
Did you know that not all midwives have insurance, and that, while most doctors are required to carry $1 million/$3 million of insurance (and those who have less are usually covered by their hospital's insurance), midwives who do carry insurance may only have a $100k/$300k policy?
Tip: You have a right to know the amount of liability insurance any provider who has the life of your child in their hands is carrying, so do not be hesitant to ask, and verify, by seeing proof of the policy.
Did you know that there are certain births that many studies evidence should never be attempted in an out-of-hospital setting because of the increased risk of death to both mother and child, including V-BACS, breeched births, and births of multiples?
Tip: Don’t just take the word of well-meaning friends who may have had great birthing experiences with their midwife, or your midwife’s word that “your body was made for this and knows what to do”. Birth for every woman is different and can turn into an emergent situation in a literal heartbeat, leaving families devastated and wishing they knew what they know now. Read the award-winning “Failure To Deliver” article to gain more knowledge and insight on this topic. www.gatehousenews.com/failuretodeliver
Did you know that in many states, if a midwife attempts to deliver a child out-of-the-hospital, then calls for an emergency transfer to the hospital and that child subsequently dies, that child's death is counted against the hospital and not against the midwife or her birthing center?
Tip: Remember that hospitals take all types of mothers, including high-risk mothers who may be diabetic, addicted to drugs, or have any number of other high-risk factors. An out-of-hospital midwife, on the other hand, usually only takes those mothers that are low-risk. Coupled with the lack of records that adequately track the intended place of birth after an infant is transferred to the hospital from a birthing center or home birth and dies, these facts play a significant role in the comparative in and out-of-hospital death rates.
Did you know that other countries have different training and requirements of their midwives?
Tip: When reading studies or statistics, pay attention to whether the sources come from other countries, and keep in mind that the health system and midwifery requirements as set up in the U.S. may be vastly different than those set in other countries.
