Carol Brussel wrote:
>
> a few months ago i had a lll call but referred by a direct entry midwife (the
> same as lay or homebirth midwives).
>

Can someone please clarify the types of midwives?  The midwife who
caught my last child, at home, is what I consider a "direct-entry
midwife"--she is not a nurse. She is, however, licensed by the state
(Washington) and refers to herself as a "Licensed Midwife"  She attended
and completed a rigorous course from an established school of
midwifery.  Not all states license DEM's.  The birth I had in Washington
State would be illegal here in Virginia.

I'm not sure (here is where I need clarification) this is the same thing
as a "lay" midwife.  My dictionary defines lay as "not belonging to a
given profession".  I have always interpreted a "lay" midwife as being
synonymous with a "granny midwife", or someone with no formal training,
but rather hands-on or "on the job" training.

Shouldn't there be three types of midwives: CMN, LM and lay?

Just curious...

My midwife, by the way, was a member of LLL and, to the best of my
knowledge, never recommended anything concocted with goat's milk.

Kathy Koch, LLL Leader
Alexandria,VA
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