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In short… yes. My amazing last home birth experience that saved me from an 8-week c-section surgery recovery was not legal in my state. If you missed my birth story, the birth (of my now one-year-old) was a breech home VBAC and my 8 pound daughter had perfect APGAR scores.
This post is different from my normal posts and I’m asking for your help and activism today. I would not have had the option to birth naturally in any of the medical facilities in our state. And I need your help to make sure other women have the option to birth at home in my state in the future!
- Call 1-800-372-7181 (especially if you live in KY or are a healthcare professional) and say “I’d like to leave a message for all members of Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee: “Please vote yes on SB 105 to license Certified Professional Midwives.”
- If you live in Kentucky- Leave a message for your Senator: “Please support and co-sponsor SB 105 to license Certified Professional Midwives.”
Was My Birth Illegal?
Sounds like a crazy question… but thanks to the laws where we live (in Kentucky), home birth is not technically a supported birth option like it is in 31 other states. I should clarify that it wasn’t technically illegal for me to birth at home, but that my state does not currently license certified professional midwives (CPMs). This makes it difficult (and risky) for these midwives (who are often certified in other states) to serve families and have access to necessary supplies.
Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are nationally credentialed midwives who provide primary maternity care. CPMs are the only maternity care provider specifically trained to attend births outside the hospital.
They are trained to provide health-promoting and preventative care that is evidence based and avoids unnecessary use of drugs and interventions. CPMs are licensed in 28 states but not yet licensed in Kentucky. Licensing Certified Professional Midwives is the best way to ensure that those families who choose out-of-hospital birth will have access to quality maternity care.
Homebirth IS Happening
Kentucky women (and women all over the US) are choosing home birth. In fact, last year, the percentage of KY home births was above the national average, yet women are not supported in this option, having to find midwives through word of mouth or choosing to birth unassisted (without a midwife) if they are unable to find a midwife near them.
In a state with one of the highest c-section rates in the country, home birth midwives offer a safe alternative and we’ve been working to change the laws and support this option in KY. The World Health Organization, the American Public Health Association and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (in the UK) all support home birth as a safe birth choice, yet some states in the US make this option difficult or impossible for women, despite evidence of its safety.
With the WHO calling for the US to work to lower its unnecessarily high c-section rates, supporting home birth as a birth choice is increasingly important. Women are already choosing this option and will continue to do so, and supporting these options with access to lab testing, ultrasounds and necessary medications will help keep moms safe. Consider these studies and the difference in intervention rates in home births vs. hospital births:
and this one…
VBAC Safety
My Birth: The Bottom Line
Home birth is not for everyone, but it should be a supported option for women who choose it. My birth would not have been possible in a hospital in my state. I did not even have that option. My midwife’s VBAC rate is 99%. My local hospital’s VBAC rate is less than 20%. My hospital’s breech rate is approximately 0%.
No matter what type of birth you have personally chosen, please help me and others give the women in my state the right to choose their own birth options. I’m happy to do the same for you and your state if it is ever needed.
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I don’t live in Kentucky, CNMs are legal here I’m not sure about CPMs though, I used a CNM for my VHBAC. That birth was my easiest, quickest and earliest! I was overfue with my other ones but the lat one I had a couple of days early. I had light contractions throughout the day with quiet stretches in between I knew labir was coming earlier than expected but once my water broke and active labor started it took only 1.5 hours for my baby to come out while I squated!
My VBAC before that was in a hospital with a Dr. However my CNM was the ad a labor coach, I was induced at 41w, they are pushing m e to do every possible intervention, which I had to fight with tears. The Dr. had no intention of a vaginal birth they thought labor will take so long thst they’re going to do a repeat c-section. (We overheard him tell the nurse!) I’m greatfull for my birth coach who helped me through and was almost ready to catch the baby since the nurse didn’t believe I was actually ready to push. The room was not prepared for a birth, they had to call a resident dr to make sure that is true! They refused to let me squat which I was ready to do but my dr wasn’t there yet! And then he still cut the which my CNM told me how unnecessary it had been.
If I had not been strong about what I wanted in my birth then I could’ve been in a worse position. I’m greatfull hour my midwife since my next birth I first went to a different dr. who I thought would be more understanding especially with my vbac but guess what he insisted I schedule surgery! I said no and then had my homebirth, relaxed and calm, it went so smoothly. I’m due in a couple of weeks and hope to be doing another homebirth.
I did recently hear that in this state VHBAC isn’t legal or something but my midwife is confident that I’m still a good candidate since she did experience both my vbacs one better than the other. I’m greatfull that God sent her to me and is helping us have the best and healthiest birth for me.
PSA for those who live in Kentucky: If you are close enough to the Louisville area to drive there to give birth, there is a wonderful hospital just five minutes from downtown Louisville. Clark Memorial Hospital is located in Jeffersonville, IN, and the OBs and midwives (CNMs) at WomanCare (right next door to the hospital) have privileges there. I don’t know how exceptional other parts of the hospital are, but the Family Birth Place is much better than anything within 200 miles. All of the midwives and doulas I’ve spoken with in this area recommend it. I don’t work there or anything–but I’ve had two natural births, three natural miscarriages, and one emergency D&C after a missed miscarriage, and they have been wonderful through all of it. They respect my medical choices (such as no vaccines for our family, no vitamin K shot, etc.) even when they don’t align with their ideals. They promote kangaroo care, delayed cord clamping, and VBACs. They turned a blind eye to my blatant eating and drinking during my labors. The L&D nurses are very experienced in assisting women who want to labor naturally and they have two “natural birthing suites” set up with a tub and other amenities to make a natural labor more comfortable. We didn’t hire a doula for my second child’s birth, but the L&D nurse assigned to me stuck by my side the entire labor, exactly like a doula would have done. She even got me through transition and talked me down from my blabberings about getting an epidural. Anyway, if you are within a reasonable driving distance of the Kentuckiana metro and want a natural birth, I highly recommend this place.
Yes, Clark Memorial is a great place to give birth naturally. So is Flaget Hospital in Bardstown. The obgyns are very supportive of natural birth, intermittent monitoring, using the birthing ball, squat at, showering during labor, whatever. And I think they do vbac. It’s good to know about these options.
All emails have been sent! However for Darryl Owens I just received an email stating that his inbox is full and he can not receive new messages. Have a great day! Thank you so much for all that you do and for all of the crucial and helpful information that you share!!!
Helpful and insightful, we need to be reminded what is the most effective way to be heard and stand up for what we believe in. Thank you.
Katie, not sure if you got my follow up comment or not because the sight booted me telling not me I was commenting too fast lol. Please don’t publish my first comment on the legislative process. It’s just something that’s personally aggravating to me and I commented in frustration. However, the more important issue is getting people motivated and talking about this very important issue. Thanks so much, and my apologies.
Taken care of. Thanks for the follow up and for both thoughtful comments!
Jana- this is a great point, but this bill is still in committee, so the only people that have any say on it at this point are the committee members. As the health and welfare committee represents the wishes of all of us in the state, I feel it is important to contact them too. Thanks for your work in Indiana!
This is empowering. I sigh as I read the political thumb on this very imortant issue. I have had 2 vaginal births and 1 c section. The c section was in the middle of my vaginal births. I live in IL and didn’t receive much support for have a VBAC however by word of mouth I meant a lady who, during that season in my life, greatly encouraged me with stats and testimonies of our bodies and it’s ability to succeed in a VBAC…I’m so thankful she did! I had to sign a form at my hospital stating I was aware of the many complications with a VBAC and was even offered to still have a c section at any time during my VBAC delivery. Not VBAC encouraging! If we are able to get pregnant with another babe, I would completely love a home birth! Unfortunately it’s not welcomed in this area 🙁 though I do know a lady that had a home birth in IL one hour away…I guess its about finding the right support system in this state. I will email for you Katie!
We are also currently working to license CPMs in South Dakota (CNMs are already licensed). The bill (SB136) made it through committee two days ago! Exciting times!
Yay! Hope yours continues to do well!
I have to say and I am THANKFUL for my perinatologist who performed my repeat c-section. I’ve been a type 1 diabetic for almost 40 years now. My first child was a planned c-section because being diabetic and pregnant caused a lot of strain on my retinas. My specialist team did not want me pushing. But once our baby was safely removed, my uterus did not clamp down and I almost bled out on the table! I literally almost died.
We had our second child very soon after the first. But this time, my doctors were ready for my weird uterus and they took care of me PERFECTLY. No problems whatsoever.
I am so thankful for my doctors who performed a repeat c-section on me. Both of my child (AND MYSELF) are perfectly healthy because of them. I am NOT a proponent of all doctors. I think many are just pawns for the pharmaceutical companies. HOWEVER, obstetricians/perinatologists AND ER doctors are worth their weight in GOLD.
I agree and I’m glad you are ok and that your second birth was great! I also had a c-section that saved my life and my sons. But not all births need to be surgical and women who can birth naturally should be able to choose to do so.
Thank you so much for bringing this to people’s attention.
I’m not going to be having any more children; but I still do what I can to support KY women’s safe birth options.
Thanks so much!