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BirthWise Maternity Care, LC |
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Gentle Births Happen at Home |
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Is it Legal? |
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Direct-entry Midwifery is specifically defined in Utah law In 2005 the Governor signed HB 25, the Direct-entry Midwife Act, into law. This law clearly spells out a legal scope of practice for DEMs both licensed and unlicensed. Legal practices for any midwife, licensed or unlicensed include: · Basic physical exam · Ordering lab work and ultrasounds · Use of dopplers, blood drawing equipment, resuscitation equipment and similar devices appropriate to midwifery care · Use of herbs, homeopathy and over-the-counter medications · Providing prenatal care · Providing care during labor, birth and the immediate postpartum period · Providing postpartum and newborn care · Providing limited well-woman care, including breastfeeding and family planning counseling, diaphragm and cervical cap fitting and pap smears
In addition to the above, a LICENSED midwife may obtain and administer medications such as: Eye medication, hemorrhage medication, RhoGam for Rh negative moms, vitamin K, etc. Licensed midwives are required to adhere to certain standards of practice and must meet the educational requirements for licensure. Please interview midwives carefully. Because licensure is voluntary anyone can call herself a midwife in Utah. This has both good and bad aspects. The good is that you are free to choose the best midwife for you regardless of what the government or anyone else thinks about your decision. The bad part is that the burden is completely on you to determine if your midwife is qualified. A licensed midwife does have some restrictions put on her practice most of which are in keeping with national midwifery standards some of which are imposed by restrictive medical opinion, but she can carry and use potentially lifesaving medications. You will also know that she has completed a comprehensive certification process and is current on her neonatal resuscitation and CPR certifications. On the whole, birth is a very safe thing and most births will go beautifully regardless of who the attendant is. Part of what you are hiring is a support and an encourager. Part of what you are hiring is someone to know when things are no longer going fine and knows how to avoid emergencies when possible and manage them effectively when they do occur. Visit Utah Friends of Midwives or contact us for more information about making midwifery care available to every woman who wants it. |
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