tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post8320215372225515580..comments2024-03-11T11:13:12.066-05:00Comments on Homeschool and Etc.: Religious Freedom in Every SphereHappy Elf Mom (Christine)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15047347624037697311noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-75813527712047374052013-03-22T15:34:02.916-05:002013-03-22T15:34:02.916-05:00Thank you for responding, Daja. You would think a...Thank you for responding, Daja. You would think a simple waiver signed by clients that they understand Brenda is unlicensed would satisfy the state and preserve religious freedom at the same time. <br /><br />I am so sorry she is going through this, and I agree: you're an adult and you should get to choose.Happy Elf Mom (Christine)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15047347624037697311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-49562430237594557182013-03-22T10:20:36.760-05:002013-03-22T10:20:36.760-05:00Oh, one more thing:
Unlicensed midwifery is not a...Oh, one more thing:<br /><br />Unlicensed midwifery is not a crime in California. It is only a crime to represent oneself as a licensed midwife if you are not. Brenda has never done so. She even advertises that she is unlicensed. She calls herself a Traditional Christian midwife and every client she has had in 22 years has signed the Religious Exemption Clause. The text of which is in the petition I've linked to.<br /><br />She has committed no crime. This is religious persecution and a direct attempt to limit the choices women have in birth.<br /><br />The establishment wants their piece of the pie. *sigh*The Provision Roomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00368915745404217340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-39105982758337011312013-03-22T10:17:49.337-05:002013-03-22T10:17:49.337-05:00Daja here. She is unlicensed by choice.
Here'...Daja here. She is unlicensed by choice.<br /><br />Here's how things are, at least in California: In order to be licensed a midwife agrees to practice a certain way. She must have an OB as back-up who approves who she can and cannot assist. This doctor must be within a certain mile radius of each client. So this itself limits her practice area. Then, she will have to carry malpractice insurance, which is extremely high for a home birth midwife, necessitating that her fees be so high that many women cannot then choose to birth with her. Then she must also be on the doctor's malpractice insurance, which again, raises her fees. Because of this insurance issue she has to limit her practice to a very narrow definition of "low risk." This means women who are over 35, are overweight or obese, have more than a certain number of children (I think it's five), have any health concerns such as high blood pressure, anemia, auto-immune disorders (even those which do not really affect birth in any way), are carrying twins or triplets, have a breech or posterior baby, etc. cannot choose to be assisted at home by her.<br /><br />I'm not saying that there isn't a place for the licensed midwife, but the unlicensed ("direct entry" is the term because they apprentice directly under a seasoned midwife) midwife serves a really important role in our system.<br /><br />She gives options to women like me, who could never afford to pay a licensed midwife. Brenda's fees are a quarter of what others charge. Plus, I have seven children. That makes me "high risk" according to the state. But, I am not high risk. I am actually extremely healthy.<br /><br />Then there are those women who for religious reason refuse medical care (Jehovah-witnesses, Scientology, Muslims, Amish, New Age, and every religion conviction in between) in the hospital for one reason or another. Are these women not to be able to be supported in childbirth? Must they all birth alone at home? That can hardly be seen as a good idea. So, again the unlicensed religious midwife serves an important role.<br /><br />So, Brenda has chosen not to be licensed for a variety of reasons. She feels that midwifery is her calling and that without the direct entry midwife there are many women who would be completely alone. She has been practicing safely and without complaint for 22 years. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Provision Roomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00368915745404217340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2212741399857110313.post-16697361723944870352013-03-22T05:16:54.929-05:002013-03-22T05:16:54.929-05:00Why is she unlicensed? Why is she unlicensed? Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.com