In North Carolina a woman can legally give birth to her baby anywhere she wishes, including her home and choose whoever she wants to be with her during her birth. At this time, there is no licensure in North Carolina for Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) or traditional midwives and they are prohibited from practicing midwifery under the current law.
Certified Nurse Midwives are approved to practice in North Carolina, but those with homebirth practices must work in conjunction with a doctor ( “back up doctor”)
The current restrictions on midwives in North Carolina began in 1983 with the Act to Regulate the Practice of Midwifery. It requires midwifery practice to be regulated through the Midwifery Joint Committee, (which includes representatives from the Board of Nursing and the Board of Medicine (intern, surgeon, etc.), Certified Nurse Midwives, Obstetrician/Gynecologists or family physicians) and enforced according to G.S. 90-178.3 of that act.
The legal inconveniences of homebirth are not limited to CPMs or traditional midwives. Certified Nurse Midwives must have a doctor to back them up. Doctor backup sometimes puts limits on their capabilities because they must follow certain protocol at the risk of losing their nursing license.
Regardless, midwife attended birth continues to gain popularity in North Carolina. According to the NC State Center for Health Statistics, in 2002 there were 117,307 babies born, of those Certified Nurse Midwives caught 10,840 (9.2%) and “other attendants” (could be midwives) caught 415 (.3%). Unfortunately, the report did not give the place of birth.
If you would like to see Certified Professional Midwives or traditional midwives have the option to obtain NC licensure, you can help make it happen! If you are not familiar with the legislative process, brush up. Stay up-to-date on current legislation that affect midwives and of course find out who your representative is and write your representative to let him/her know your views. Tell all your friends, family and neighbors about the vast benefits that midwives bring to birthing families. Post flyers around your town directing folks to this website, so they too can learn about all their birthing options in North Carolina.
