You are doing a great job of being responsible for yourself and your baby - and that is the first support for a safe birth. As Alan and others have pointed out - there are inherent risks always with birth - even with low risk pgns.
I am very small framed - 5 ft 1/2 in and have birthed two bubs at home with two different IMs - with the support of my midwives, pg yoga and upright positions I have experienced little trauma in the way of collatoral damage to self thru birth.
Seeking out an IM and finding one who you feel comfortable with, who is informed and gives you a sense of confidence both in yourself and her/him is the key to deciding whether hb is for you. Both my midwives were very different people but were both excellent in their continuity of care and their expertise.
You have a good understanding already of birth and an inherent chance to believe in its success and your body's capacity for it - this helps immensely too!
In terms of July, the Fed Govt has created a two year extension in terms of the registration provision - so really there is little difference in how they are operating - there is the declaration of operating without insurance (as they have been forced to since 2001) and your acceptance of that circumstance and the implication of it - different IMs have different ways of doing this - some get you to sign contracts, some have 'handshake agreements' but really until we can resolve this one way or the other - IMs are still operating under the status quo that has existed since 2001.
I understand the opposition you have faced and how that can undermine faith - it is very hard sometimes!! I hope all the contributions here have helped you to decide which path you might like to pursue - and whichever one it is I wish you a joyous and healthy pg and birth!
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