Registered User
Q for a Midwife.
I was just wondering, (and it is purely just that) what do the majority of Midwifes think about homebirthing? (with them in attendance, not free birth)
I can totally get that most would be PO'd about not being able to get insurance and, effectivly the decision being made for them.
BUT, if they could be indemnified, would most midwifes be happy to attend home births?
Thanks
Registered User
are you asking HB midwives or hospital midwives?
i know in my circles HB midwives do not want insurance at all they want the choice to practice at the full extent of their profession with out having to be under the rules of the insurance companies.
any other profession is not ruled by the insurance.. they get to choose what how and when they practice.
as a consumer though(currently)
there is no way i would ever sue my mw. EVER.
every decision that is made with a HB midwife is MINE there is NO coersion, there are no dead baby threats.
everything is consented for unlike in hospital
Registered User
I think you'll find midwives vary in their philosophies. I know midwives who employ obs for their births- so clearly they don't value their own profession? I'm guessing these midwives are happy working in hospitals and wouldn't want to attend HBs regardless of 'legal protection'.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
I think it varies. It is important to understand that midwives are tsught by other midwives, they learn from on the job training - if they have come up through their training with others who are anti-homebirth, they will probably share those views as well.
Registered User
Thankyou for your relpy OG, but i have to question, do your DP and family share the same ideals?, what if something happens to you?
It is totally OT, but often times it is not the injured one sueing, it is the family. What if you are no longer capable of expressing your views?.
Thankyou for answering my Q everyone, I didnot realise that there was such a division among MW's on the topic.
Registered User
I'm not OG but I feel completely the same way. I guess I trust my midwife and I know she would never do anything to cause harm to myself or my baby. If she is unable to prevent injury happening to us then I don't feel anyone could have IYKWIM so I don't feel any need to sue.
I just chatted to my H about your question and he said he doesn't care about that side of things because he trusts me so he therefore trusts HB and our midwife as I've chosen our care for this birth. He does concede that not being able to sue for negligence is a choice we have made by not going to hospital but he doesn't think it's a big enough factor. In the case of gross negligence he thinks he possibly would 'sue' or follow up a negligence complaint not for the sake of money, but rather to avoid the same incident occuring to someone else (ie. to try and get the midwife deregistered if necessary).
Registered User
my husband feels the same because he is in on the decision making too..
My MIL (who was with us last time) i doubt would sue.. its not her thing itms..
we have nothing to do with my family so it doesnt even matter about them.
Registered User
Thing you have to remember Meow, is that long term hospitalisation/palliative care, in any decent sort of facility is unbelievably expensive.
Physio and rehab and those sorts of things often are not covered by medicare.
I truely, truely am not trying to debate HB, I guess I can understand the other side, of the worst case scenario and get why insurance is so important.
It actually is protecting you too.
It does suck, that at trained proffesional cannot get insurance, i hope it gets re assesed, it would seem to me that 10 HB should cancel out (plus some) of the cost of 1 "go wrong" and I am pretty sure that rate of "go wrongs" is nothing like 1 in 10.
Would be interested to know the rate of "go wrongs" if anyone knows it?
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