Midwife charged in DC? Karen Carr, CPM...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I am having a hard time understanding is why was she turned in. What kind of women seeks out a midwife to perform a high risk delivery, after being turned away many times, and then doesn't have the decency to conceal her identity when things go wrong. She knew the risk from the beginning. I understand that she is greiving but you also had to know that she was operating under the radar.

So now other women that want a real non-intrusive old school midwife have even fewer options and have to either decide to go unassisted or pick some medwife that is bond more by her standard of care than the situation in front of her.

The mother is not the one that turned her in. The admitting pediatrician, who hates homebirth and is personally working to get it outlawed completely, is the one who issued a complaint. The state of Virginia then filed criminal charges against Carr. The parents themselves were not interested in testifying, although they were ultimately threatened and forced by the state to give a statement.

Typically when a family is requesting care that is outside what a hospital or physician would consider "normal", and seeks the care of a direct-entry homebirth midwife, they on some level are accepting the consequences of the outcome. Very rarely do they press any charges.

Incidentally, direct entry homebirth midwives are legally allowed to attend breech homebirths in Virginia and many other US states.

[Anonymous]

Why is this thread being resurrected? there is so much blame to go around. What kind of parent seeks out a home birth for a known complicated birth?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am so depressed today, we experienced a death in the family. Thank-you, for making me lol picture guy.

[Anonymous]

What need up happening with the appeal? Is she still practicing?

[Anonymous]

I know there was an appeal last summer. I have searched online court documents and can't find any updates to the appeal.

[Anonymous]

Bump.

[Anonymous]

NP - I remember first hearing about Karen Carr when I was expecting my first, back in 2011. That was related to an infant death in Virginia, I think.

And lo and behold, another infant death in 2021, when she was attending, this time in Maryland: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2023/home-birth-midwife-karen-carr/?itid=hp-top-table-main_p001_f005

This woman needs to be barred from attending any births or practicing midwifery anywhere, ever. JFC. And I had all three kids with CNMs in the hospital! I am not at all anti-midwife, but WTF. This was entirely preventable.

[Anonymous]

NP. When I saw the story on the WaPo website (https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2023/home-birth-midwife-karen-carr/) right now, I remembered this thread and wondered if the midwife in today's story was the same as the one I'd read about on DCUM so many years ago, when I was pregnant with my midwife-delievered VBAC baby. I'm shocked that yet another baby has died, but in a way I'm relieved to know that there's only one notoriously dangerous midwife in our area. Maybe now something will be done.

My heart goes out to this family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. When I saw the story on the WaPo website (https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2023/home-birth-midwife-karen-carr/) right now, I remembered this thread and wondered if the midwife in today's story was the same as the one I'd read about on DCUM so many years ago, when I was pregnant with my midwife-delievered VBAC baby. I'm shocked that yet another baby has died, but in a way I'm relieved to know that there's only one notoriously dangerous midwife in our area. Maybe now something will be done.

My heart goes out to this family.

I was stunned by today's story, having read about the Timmerman case after it happened. That Carr is still "practicing" is a travesty. I had CNM care throughout my pregnancy, and recommend it. Carr's behavior is inexcusable.

[Anonymous]

I really wish they had identified the defense’s midwife expert. There is a midwife in my city who has what is practically a cult following.

[Anonymous]

In this day and age using a midwife why?

Oh o guess the dumb Bible thumping crowd not liking science

Being a parent means doing the best even in childbirth that means a hospital

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this day and age using a midwife why?

Oh o guess the dumb Bible thumping crowd not liking science

Being a parent means doing the best even in childbirth that means a hospital

You are cruel and ignorant.

Midwives are hired by people who are tired of decades of being disrespected and mistreated by misogynist medical professionals who put hospital profit and provider convenience over mothers and babies health and comfort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this day and age using a midwife why?

Oh o guess the dumb Bible thumping crowd not liking science

Being a parent means doing the best even in childbirth that means a hospital

There's variety in midwifery care. Both of my DDs were delivered by CNMs (Certified Nurse Midwives) in a hospital. I had to be induced, and I received epidurals both times. Prenatal and postnatal care was attentive, excellent, and evidence-based.

Delivery by CNMs in a hospital setting is best of both worlds, in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this day and age using a midwife why?

Oh o guess the dumb Bible thumping crowd not liking science

Being a parent means doing the best even in childbirth that means a hospital

There's variety in midwifery care. Both of my DDs were delivered by CNMs (Certified Nurse Midwives) in a hospital. I had to be induced, and I received epidurals both times. Prenatal and postnatal care was attentive, excellent, and evidence-based.

Delivery by CNMs in a hospital setting is best of both worlds, in my experience.

People need to understand that there is a tremendous difference between a CNM (tons of training) and a CPM (basically an apprenticeship). Karen Carr is a CPM.
Never ever hire a CPM.