Doctors' opposition to home birthing riles midwives, moms

Here's a current reading on the local take on home birth. From today's Detroit News:

Doctors' opposition to home birthing riles midwives, moms:

"The debate centers not only on where a woman should give birth, but also on who's best qualified to perform the delivery. Experts with the AMA and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say a hospital is the safest setting because it offers the best resources to handle unexpected complications. And, they say, physicians and midwives with a nursing background are best suited for the job.

That stance has outraged midwife advocates who say nursing certification isn't necessarily a prerequisite for a successful home birth. They say home births are a safe alternative for women who choose them -- some for religious reasons, some because they prefer more privacy and less medical intervention.

The issue is complicated because states have different rules regarding use of midwives, and there are several different levels of midwife certification. Some include formal nursing certification, some do not."