Canada What the?! Homebirths illegal?

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

My Canadian friend just told me that homebirths are illegal in Canada. Is this true?! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!

[paradise lost]

No it's not true!

It's a myth which is sadly bandied about even by midwives and Obs, but it's not true. It is not illegal to homebirth in canada.

However in many places in the states and canada you get CNM's (certified nurse midwives) and CPM's (certified Professional Midwives) and in some places because the certification of a CPM isn't recognised it is NOT legal for a CPM to attend a homebirth. The situation is similar in the UK - here homebirth is perfectly legal, as is unassisted birth, but it is NOT legal to say you're a midwife and attend births when you aren't in fact a qualified (government standard, some certificates they recognise, some they don't) midwife.

CNM's are qualified nurses who have done the conversion to midwifery. CPM's can be incredibly experienced women who have been CNM's in the past (and have taken a break and then not re-registered upon rejoining the workforce), attended hundreds of births and cared for hundreds of women, or they can be people who did not finish school and basically bought their certification on the internet. It's because of the lack of regulation that they are illegal in some places.

Cricket, one of our members, had a homebirth in Canada and no doubt understands it all better than me. Hopefully she'll be in to talk

Bx

[Cyathea]

I'm yet to hear of ANYWHERE in the world where homebirth is truly illegal...

Go homebirth!