[Carry_Okie]

I can't agree with you.

My wife has managed both newborn nurseries, has worked L&D and OB-GYN, and is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit for a total of 30 years. She's seen far more cases than you disagrees with you.

She says, "I wanted the midwife and the rocking chair. What I needed was a fetal monitor."

Peas and apples. Midwives work in hospitals too, with all the monitoring equipment.

And another friend has a child with brain damage due to the midwife's failure to recognize cord strangulation.

I have a step-sister who had the same complication under "supervision" from a physician.

Thanks, I'll take the guy with the residency and the board certification. And with all the time he spent getting board certified, he deserves better pay.

Thanks, but I'd rather let the market decide. Right now, midwife compensation is under the control of physicians.

[AnAmericanMother]

My anecdotal evidence is kind of out of date -- since my youngest is 18 -- and probably the 'birthing rooms' have better equipment. All my friend had was a DopTone and it was inadequate to the situation, and she was IN the hospital.

I'm not in the business directly, but I did medmal defense when I was in private practice, so at the time I knew who the bad apples were. I personally chose my OB because he was the director of OB surgery at my hospital (a very common surgical procedure is named after him), and he had a stellar reputation for coolness under fire and vast experience.

Admittedly he was an older guy in the South (he's gone to his reward now), where midwives have been equated with "granny-women" for years. But he was very open to discussion and new ideas (his attitude towards natural childbirth ought to be a model for every OB - as it turns out I went natural and it was a breeze, but he cautioned me up front it it was 'not for everybody' and I liked that) and I'm sure if he were still alive he'd be examining the options just like he always did.

If the midwives are good, the attitude of OBs will change. But if the government gets involved, they will screw it up. Guaranteed.

[NautiNurse]

I'd rather let the market decide. Right now, midwife compensation is under the control of physicians.

What portion of ObamaCare would be market driven?

[Lizavetta]

I'm with you on this one. There have been countless f*ckups under the 'care' of board certified OBs and everyone knows it.

That said, I would never have a home birth with a lay midwife - never never never. I did, however, have hospital deliveries with a certified nurse midwife (who worked for an OB) who, as far as I'm concerned, walks on water. Had the monitoring, had an epidural for one, everything was great. With one I started hemorrhaging after the birth and she took care of it immediately.