Kansas Midwives

Kara Rowley, CPM, LM
 
I am a certified professional midwife offering homebirth and complete pregnancy care including prenatal and postpartum care, lactation counseling, nutrition, pregnancy and childbirth education, and well-woman care. Serving Wichita and surrounding area.
 
Philosophy
Women birth best where they feel safest and most comfortable, which is often in their own home. Women's bodies are designed for giving birth. With good prenatal care, emotional support and encouragement women are fully able to give birth naturally and safely at home. Studies have shown that planned homebirth with a certified professional midwife is just as safe as birth in a hospital or birthing center. As a midwife I emphasize good nutrition and regular exercise as well as trusting the Lord. I want to empower parents to make informed decisions and have confidence in their ability to take responsibility for their family's care.
 
Services
I attend every birth with either another midwife or skilled birth attendant. I carry oxygen, sterile instruments, a fetoscope and Doppler (to monitor the babies heart beat), an infant resuscitator and emergency items, as well as general equipment to care for the mother and baby. I keep records during the pregnancy and birth, which I provide a copy of to the family. I will certify and file a legal birth certificate with the Kansas Vital Statistics Department. The State of Kansas requires specific tests for the mom and baby, which I perform or the parents can waive by signing a release form. I educate parents at each visit on issues concerning pregnancy, birth, well-family care, nutrition, nursing, choices in vaccinations, and parenting. After the birth we clean up and start the laundry leaving the mom and baby comfortable in their own bed.
 
Training
I started my training working for one year as an apprentice midwife in the US. I then trained at a free birth clinic in Manila, Philippines. This was an amazing and challenging experienced. The women we worked with and got to know were from the nearby squatter area and thus poor and often malnourished. In working with them I experience handling many complications and emergencies. It also gave me a stronger resolution that good nutrition and exercise is key to a healthy pregnancy. At the same time I was doing my clinical training I was also enrolled in the National College of Midwifery and graduated with my Associate Degree in Midwifery. I then passed the North American Registry of Midwives to be a Certified Professional Midwife. I am current on my neonatal resuscitation certification. I am Licenced as a midwife in Texas. At the moment Kansas does not have a licensure but the North American Registry of Midwives certification of Certified Professional Midwife is a National certification.
 
Finances
Having a baby can be expensive, but the cost should not be the deciding factor in the blessing of having children. I have an insurance filing company I work with who can verify if your insurance. Will pay me. Please call or e-mail me to discuss charges.
 
Status of Midwifery in Kansas
In March of 1996 the Kansas Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the practice of midwifery stating that "midwifery is separate and distinct from the practice of medicine." The court generously referred to "the historically separate practice of midwifery" and it's use of "traditional and time honored techniques" as "not the practice of medicine or surgery even if some of these techniques fit within the technical definition of the practice of medicine or surgery." Additionally, the court wisely pointed out, "In their ordinary usage, the terms in KSA 652802(a) used to define the healing arts clearly and unequivocally focus on pathologies and abnormal human conditions. Pregnancy and childbirth are neither pathologies nor abnormalities." Way to go Kansas Supreme Court!
 
Status of Midwifery in Missouri
In June of 2008 the Missouri Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling and upheld a 2007 law that allows legal midwifery in the state. The law states that "any person who holds current ministerial or tocological certification by an organization accredited by the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) may provide services" - this would include both CNM/CMs certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board and CPMs certified by the North American Registry of Midwives. Good Job Missouri!
 
It is my joy to serve families during the special time of pregnancy and birth. If you have questions concerning midwifery or my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation visit please call me or email me.
 
Blessings,
Kara Rowley, CPM
Phone: 316-204-2238
Email: karamidwife@gmail.com
Website: karamidwife.com