8 ms·

Can you expand a bit on what you mean by "midwifery is illegal"? To me, that sounds as odd as "dentistry is illegal" ...

by inglesp 12y ago

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
pyre 12y ago
This could be a translation error, but "birth nurses" seem to be called "midwives" in the UK whereas that's not the case in the US (at least as I understand it).
- wiredfool 12y ago
  There are different certifications. One in the US is Certified Nurse Midwife, essentially they are RNs with a certification in midwifery as well. They can have privileges at hospitals, which is a very useful backup in cases where something goes wrong in a non-911 sort of manner. There are also Certified Midwifes, which have a somewhat less medical oriented training and may not be able to bring patients into a hospital as 'their patient'.
  - pyre 12y ago
    (A little late but...) I said that because, for example I stubbled across a UK show called 'Midwives' and it was about a maternity ward. Most of the people there are what I would call 'nurses' in the US, even if they are Nurse-Midwives by certification. I was expecting the show to be about something more akin to home-births. I have an aunt that's a neo-natal nurse, and I've never heard her refer to fellow nurses as midwives (but I've never directly asked her before).
scott_karana 12y ago
I suspect he means that in some jurisdictions, you need to be a licensed medical practitioner of some sort, so the traditional "on the ground" experience of midwives by itself won't qualify.
- DanBC 12y ago
  In the UK a midwife is a qualified registered specialist nurse. It's a protected term - you can't call yourself a midwife withoutthe qualification and registration. Most midwives are employed by the NHS. Obviously they're not doctors - they can't prescribe medication or perform surgery.
ensignavenger 12y ago
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_birth#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_birth#United_States for a bit of insight into the US legal situation.

Can you expand a bit on what you mean by "midwifery is illegal"? To me, that sounds as odd as "dentistry is illegal" ...

by inglesp 12y ago

Can you expand a bit on what you mean by "midwifery is illegal"? To me, that sounds as odd as "dentistry is illegal" ...

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

pyre 12y ago

This could be a translation error, but "birth nurses" seem to be called "midwives" in the UK whereas that's not the case in the US (at least as I understand it).

wiredfool 12y ago
There are different certifications. One in the US is Certified Nurse Midwife, essentially they are RNs with a certification in midwifery as well. They can have privileges at hospitals, which is a very useful backup in cases where something goes wrong in a non-911 sort of manner. There are also Certified Midwifes, which have a somewhat less medical oriented training and may not be able to bring patients into a hospital as 'their patient'.
- pyre 12y ago
  (A little late but...) I said that because, for example I stubbled across a UK show called 'Midwives' and it was about a maternity ward. Most of the people there are what I would call 'nurses' in the US, even if they are Nurse-Midwives by certification. I was expecting the show to be about something more akin to home-births. I have an aunt that's a neo-natal nurse, and I've never heard her refer to fellow nurses as midwives (but I've never directly asked her before).

scott_karana 12y ago

I suspect he means that in some jurisdictions, you need to be a licensed medical practitioner of some sort, so the traditional "on the ground" experience of midwives by itself won't qualify.

DanBC 12y ago
In the UK a midwife is a qualified registered specialist nurse. It's a protected term - you can't call yourself a midwife withoutthe qualification and registration. Most midwives are employed by the NHS. Obviously they're not doctors - they can't prescribe medication or perform surgery.

ensignavenger 12y ago

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_birth#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_birth#United_States for a bit of insight into the US legal situation.