Marianne Vanderveen-Kolkena wrote:
> Hello Winnie,
>
> Could you please explain what a 'lay midwife' is...?
> Personally, I think I would be very much in favour of the ban, even 
> though I had four home births under midwife guidance. But I would 
> definitely want her to be a professional midwife, with a diploma and a 
> professional organisation behind her and a code of ethics to comply 
> with and relations with doctors that would ensure transportation to 
> and help in a hospital if necessary... :-s
> But maybe I understand it the wrong way, so you would do me a pleasure 
> by telling somewhat more about what to picture with the word 'lay 
> midwife'. Thank you! ;o)
The midwives you are describing are what would be called 'lay midwives' 
here.  Professional midwives are either nurse midwives (who have a 
nursing license, and at least in Missouri must be supervised by a 
doctor) or lay midwives.  The nurse midwives are still pretty 
medicalized in their approach, at least in my opinion.  There is also a 
shortage in Missouri of doctors who are willing to supervise nurse 
midwives, so there are approximately 2 nurse midwives in the entire 
state who attend home births (and about 2 doctors), so the majority of 
women who have home births in this state are paying someone to commit a 
felony.  That is what many are trying very hard to change.

Christine Bussman

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