Louisiana Statutes for Midwife Practitioners

(From email sent to husband and mother)

Dear Miner & Mom...

LA State Statutes and Regulations for Midwife Practitioners
http://mana.org/laws/laws_la.htm

The first part of the document covers details about board members and certification requirements.  Not necessary to read.

What you may want to look at begins with "Chapter 53. Licensed Midwives."  Scroll about halfway down the page, and you'll see the bold heading there.

From this section on, you can read about midwives standards of care, like what tests they're required to do on their patients/clients, what situations require them to consult with the supporting physician, etc.  You can see there's not much guesswork involved in what they do.  Their steps are pretty cut and dried.

It's a lot of reading, but very interesting if you have the time.  It really clarifies what we'll be looking at for a home birth and what we can expect from the midwife in most situations we can think of.

Love you!
'Ailina

Why some women would like to give birth at home

Some women choose to birth at home because home is where they're most comfortable.  They may want to feel free to roam about in a skirt, in a favorite bathrobe, or in nothing at all!  They may want people with them who can be present without being intrusive. They may want to fix their own snacks, move back and forth from the birthing tub to the outside garden as the mood moves them, and even read or nap if that's what they feel like doing.  In other words, they want to be free to do what they want to do, when they want to do it, and how they want to do it -- without time, protocols, liability, and other external factors defining their choices.

-- Jennifer L. West, LM, CPM, HBCE, and Deborah S. Romaine, Complete Idiot's Guide to Natural Childbirth

I was surprised to see this concept worded just so as it reflects all the intrinsic desires I've wanted since I gave birth to Squeak seven years ago.  I'd already decided what and how I wanted to do things before I ever began researching "home birth."  Reading about my preferences as written by someone I've never met, all nicely summed up in one paragraph, not only gives me confidence in what my instincts have told me, but thrills me to no end there are people and practitioners who are supportive and willing to accommodate me!

The Other Shocking Development & Birthing Baby at Home

Choosing the Right Thing

1:00 AM, yet instead of brewing another cup of coffee and launching into the usual three-hour writing session, I made myself a plate of tuna casserole leftovers and a large glass of Carnation (chocolate) Breakfast which I'll use to wash down this huge prenatal horse pill along with 400 mcg of folic acid and 65 mg of iron. Huge improvement for me to choose the RIGHT thing in lieu of coffee.  One must understand.

The Other Shocking Development

If all goes as planned, Miner and I will be a legally married couple on Thursday.  Surprise, surprise.  It's been coming since '96.

It would've been sooner if we'd had the money for the ceremony we REALLY wanted.

It would've been later if we hadn't gotten pregnant again -- this month, no less.  Tax return was earmarked for engagement expenses.  No more.

Home Birth & Getting What I Want

Had coffee with a Supermom who had her baby at home, and she dispelled the notion I'd have to dispose of the placenta myself in the backyard.  No, that won't be necessary.  The midwife collects all biohazardous material for proper disposal and whisks it away to her magical biohazardous disposal place.

Also, if I have my own way and all goes according to plan...

• I won't need an IV.
• I won't need to maintain one rigid position flat on my back; I'll be able to move around freely as I wish.
• I won't be separated from my baby immediately after he/she's born.
• I won't be dismissed if I say, "This is gonna be quick. You better get ready to catch now."
• I'll be able to eat and/or drink what I want, when I want.
• The kids will be able to come and go as they're comfortable without being sequestered to a waiting area down the hall or told they can only come in one at a time.
• I'll be able to wear my own clothes (or none at all, if I so desire).
• I'll be able to sleep in my own bed...WITH Miner.
• I won't have to pay for stupid hospital incidentals that I have plenty of at home, simply because "it's policy."

Yes, I very much want to have this baby at home, and if we can work out the stinkin' insurance problem, I'll do just that.