THURSDAY AT 6: Licensed to give birth? A look into the world of midwifery

Published: Feb. 16, 2016 at 5:21 PM EST|Updated: Feb. 23, 2016 at 6:23 PM EST
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LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - When you make the decision to get pregnant, it's life changing.

There are a million more choices to make in the following nine months, arguably none more important than where to give birth. To some, the hospital, is a natural, easy answer.

But there are thousands of women in the world, including plenty in WAVE Country, who choose to give birth at home with the help of a midwife. Some consider it controversial, but for others it's a personal choice.

Kentucky has a long and rich history of midwifery, dating back to the 1950s.

Midwives need a permit to practice, which was no problem until 1975 when the state said it will no longer issue those permits. So the baby battle continued for 41 years.

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Right now, Senate Bill 85 is awaiting the light of day in Frankfort, expected to be heard this week. Should it pass, it would license midwives in Kentucky who have achieved certified midwife credentials.

"There's a stigma about home birth that it's reckless or irresponsible and dangerous," said Meredith Kosko, a labor and delivery nurse, and a mother of three who's given birth at home. "I think the more that you educate people about the safety of it and the safeguards that you put in place, the better people understand that you're not just making some crazy hippy decision, that this is a well thought-out plan."

Coming up Thursday on Wave 3 News at 6, we dive deeper into the world of midwifery, the requirements and training to become a midwife, and why some Mothers choose to give birth at home, rather than under the glowing lights of a hospital room.

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