Homebirth is legal in Rhode Island! Rhode Island licenses CPMs (certified professional midwives) to provide midwifery care in our community. Our Perinatal Resource Directory has a list of midwives licensed to provide care in RI. Below are some additional resources for families considering their options.

”The Midwives Alliance recognizes the safety of homebirth for healthy women with a skilled midwife and timely access to medical care when needed. Childbirth has inherent risks,* as does all of life. Each birth setting carries a particular set of risks and benefits. Each woman must evaluate which set of risks and benefits are most acceptable to her and most in keeping with her belief system and her family’s best interests.* There is no significant statistical difference in outcome in terms of maternal or perinatal mortality between hospital and out-of-hospital birth; however, there is increased morbidity in the hospital.* Complications for mothers and babies associated with the unacceptably high rates of inductions, cesarean sections, and other overused interventions in U.S. hospitals are well documented and cause for concern.”

*Citations available in the full text here.

Local Resources: