I can't imagine being in labor for 56 hours, and being so scared of the medical system that this scenario was your first choice.

OK, to get my own biases out of the way, I had a successful home birth.  This pregnancy meant I was unable to complete my own midwifery studies as at the time, there was a time limit for completion in the UK.  However, the minute I heard Dr Jones say, "footling breech', my brain said, "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!"  For any medical professional to sign off on a home birth for a footling breech is gross professional misconduct and negligence.  If you happen to be there, no one knows it's a footling breech and you have to step in until the ambulance arrives, that's different.  But a planned home birth for a footling breech?  What on earth was this midwife thinking??????

I delivered with a midwife group (in hospital) in Canada and you always need (at least) two midwives at a birth because  after the birth there are two patients.

As someone way too close to this situation, i appreciate that your reacting to this and not immediately judging Emily and Crayton for their choice to have a delivery at home. While i personally think it was a poor decision, shes had terrible medical experiences, and they have to deal with the loss of a child. Some many comments in articles and videos regarding this situation are horrible to the parents.

My youngest was breech up until 38 weeks with her feet pressing against my cervix. The OB and midwife both made it very clear to me that if my water broke before my scheduled c-section I should immediately call an ambulance because of the risk of prolapsed umbilical cord. They specifically said don't drive to the hospital or call a taxi, call an ambulance. (baby ended up turning head down so it wasn't an issue in the end)

I did so research. She had NO medical training. Her website is still up. So she is still attending births. She was also paid to attend the first birth. Which ended in a emergency c-section! So she knew this mom history.

My heart bleeds for these parents who were traumatized by hospital birth, found what they felt was a safe alternative that ended in the death of their child amd more trauma. How awful!

I was in labor for 26 hours. They didnt believe that my water broke at home even though I was having contractions. I pleaded with them to check and the fluid that shows the hormone they look for when the water breaks, wasnt there after 3 checks. I was not dilating either. I was in so much pain. Apparently my sons head was stuck at the cervix and the fluid was unable to get out. Ran a fever, given antibiotics, induced, the baby had a fever when he got out. The whole thing was traumatizing. My second child did not have that issue. I had switched practices at that point.

A friend of mine was a lay midwife. There was a lot of mutual hostility and disrespect in both directions between herself and any licensed medical professionals with whom she interacted - until - One time when she had a mother/ baby that was in some distress and took them to the hospital, the OB invited her into the room with him and asked if she would like him to tell her what he was doing. He was extremely kind and non-judgmental, but explained thoroughly but he was doing to deal with the situation.
The result was that she became very aware of how much she did not know. She went back to school for her master's degree and became a certified midwife.
Happy ending for many potential mothers and babies, because of the kindness of one person

I do believe hearing that the first experience with going to hospital was not a pleasant one ie. removal of agency, not enough of an explanation etc. so I could see them hesitating more the second time around even when the same person was advising them to go to the hospital again. Neither here nor there, but I can see the previous experience making a difference.

When I took spinning babies, explicitly told us not to say that we are certified in spinning babies. They said to say we “attended a workshop” or that we “received training in”, but not that we are certified.

I had two home births and they called EMS when they were saving me from hemmhorage even when i asked them not too because i felt fine. They took every precaution possible. Like midwives should...

I'm uncomfortable that I needed more medical training to handle and train cadaver dogs for Search and Rescue (needed first responder training and certs in case I find someone who is still alive while searching for the dead) than this "midwife" did.

So he admits to having limited knowledge about the birth process but was offended by the decisions of healthcare staff attempting to save their first baby?

I’d love to see an episode on this with you and Legal Eagle

As a resident of a state that has midwifery as a registered nurse specialty, I find all of this fascinating.

In Australia, it would be illegal to say you’re a midwife if you didn’t have a degree in midwifery. Either doula or birthing support person would be the limit to what you could call yourself. This clearly is an issue in the first place to allow people to be called a midwife.

In addition to the "underground" aspect of midwifery, Nebraska hospitals are actually very reluctant to allow vbac births (weird, right?), so I actually understand the desire to find someone who could help. Such a sad situation all around, and I feel like it was made possible by a 'perfect storm' of law, general attitude, and the desire to just try to have an okay birthing experience.

I have a college acquaintance that I haven't seen in over a decade, but she is now "certified" hypnotherapist, having studied at the Modern Mystery School. She teaches classes on things like Sacred Geometry and Astral Traveling. She is also "certified" in energy healing. I believe one of the more recent posts I've seen from her, she's become a "real life fairy". You reading and responding to the certifications listed on her contract reminded me of this acquaintance.

The 56 hours was for Sabra's birth. They're talking about Vera's birth now.