Portions quoted in the Independent article are highlighted.
Hello Michelle,
Thank you for reaching out to allow me to comment on the story you’re writing. I appreciate the opportunity to respond. I’m sorry for the delay, but I’m sure you’ll understand, given the nature of the bizarre allegations (as well as someone’s apparent misunderstanding of both the birth processes and our practices) you brought to my attention. Based on the questions you are asking, I would strongly encourage you to seek other viewpoints and other voices from within our church community. I will separate out my statements explaining our midwifery’s standard of care as only background information. But I do hope you will read that to help you better understand how we operate.
I’ve spent my whole life in an intentional church community that encourages wholesome, sustainable living—raising our own healthy food, caring for our children in the best possible environment, quality home education, and seeking to experience unity with God, our fellow man and His creation. Of course, that experience includes natural birth when possible.
We’ve never viewed our home birth care as a medical practice. Instead, we’ve enjoyed the blessings and richness of participating in one of life’s most beautiful moments in the sanctum and comfort of our own homes—with family members and friends supporting the woman in her right to choose the setting and place of her birth.
Please understand that HIPAA restrictions (as well as my own ethical boundaries) require me to limit my comments to only the facts regarding our standard of practice. I’ll trust you agree with the need to comply with the law and respect personal privacy and confidential medical data.
I’m a Certified Professional Midwife and a Certified Preceptor (instructor) with the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), which is accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA). I’m also a licensed paramedic, which allows me to administer certain types of medical care consistent with that certification and local protocols where needed and under the supervision of my medical director. My education and certification with NARM qualify me as a midwife, but I only serve as a traditional birth attendant, not a paid professional.
My goal has always been to preserve our faith community’s unique culture of personal care and friendship rather than to make a vocation out of a sacred experience (though I respect others who have made a career in midwifery or obstetrics). I’ve never received any compensation for the care I provide, never advertised my services to the public in any form, and never presented myself as a licensed midwife to anyone. This approach to midwifery is often referred to as a “traditional birth attendant” to distinguish it from the business-minded approach of other modern midwifery models, which require licensure. I believe that normal childbirth isn’t inherently pathological or a medical crisis, and the families I work with share this view.
Every woman deserves the right to choose her own birth method and setting, and my goal has always been to support their choices with my own love, experience and education, not as a professional but as a friend. Each family I assist receives a full disclosure statement and signs a thorough informed consent.
Our community functions as a team, bringing together certified doulas, paramedics, midwives, and doctors while also collaborating with world-class healthcare providers in Waco and Temple when necessary. Safety is always our priority, and we continually strive to raise the standard of care through ongoing education and collaboration.
The allegations you mentioned don’t reflect the reality of my experience nor any of the wonderful correspondence and communication I have received regarding any birth in my care.
The standard of care we follow has developed over decades, always with the well-being of mothers and babies in mind. We routinely refer to hospitals or OB/GYNs when needed, and our care always focuses on balancing the personal choices of families with the safest possible outcomes.
It grieves me to hear about these concerns, especially since they’ve only surfaced years after the births in question and were never brought to me either directly or from a third-party agency. As a fallible human, I count on and request feedback from those I serve in order to improve care and include outside help where needed. Home birth is meant to be a joyful and empowering experience, and I’m deeply saddened that some might feel otherwise.
Michelle, again, I strongly urge you to seek out other voices within our community who can provide a more balanced perspective on our birthing practices. Additionally, I invite you to come and visit, speak with me personally, and talk to the women in our church community whose experiences with home birth would contrast starkly with the allegations you’ve listed. A fair and balanced story would have to include such perspectives.
I understand this letter may contain more information than you can include in your story. But I request that you include a link to it so your readers will have full transparency on our communication.
I wish you well. Please let me know if I can help with anything further.
Kind regards,
Amanda Lancaster
Background Addendum:
- I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
- I am a licensed paramedic, trained in administering medical care and handling emergencies.
- TDLR requires licensure for those who “practice midwifery.” Texas law further defines one who is “practicing medicine” as anyone who “publicly professes” to be a healthcare professional; or “directly or indirectly charges money or other compensation for those services.”
- I have never advertised my services or sought or received compensation, maintaining a voluntary, community-centered approach to birth.
- All mothers in my care sign informed consent forms, clearly acknowledging that I am not a state licensed midwife and that they are seeking personal support, not professional medical care.
- In cases of high-risk pregnancies, our records prove how often we refer families to OB/GYNs or maternal-fetal medicine specialists. I regularly collaborate with doctors from Hillcrest and Providence hospitals in Waco.
- Our standard of care includes pelvic and cervical exams, as well as informal bedside ultrasounds, particularly in the third trimester to confirm fetal position to determine if home birth is still the best option. High-risk pregnancies are referred to specialists.
- Episiotomies are not part of our routine standard of care except as a life-saving measure and performed under the guidance of a doctor.
- Suturing is included in our training, and we refer mothers to specialists for postpartum complications such as incontinence or prolapse.
- In cases of hemorrhage, my paramedic training allows me to handle these emergencies and transport mothers to Hillcrest Scott & White, a Level II Trauma Center. If necessary for neonatal complications, we transport to Scott & White in Temple, which has a Level IV NICU.
- As Christians, prayer is a part of the decision making process, but is never a substitute for prompt action, especially in a medical emergency.
- All records are fully transferred to medical professionals in the event of transport, and I ensure complete transparency to facilitate ongoing care. Parents are also encouraged to be transparent regarding the care they’ve received.
- We focus on supportive postpartum care for mothers, encouraging healthy recovery but never recommending bizarre and dangerous levels of hydration.
- Amniotomies and the administration of oxygen are not routinely performed, though they are covered in our training for when they’re medically necessary.
- I have never been notified by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) of any complaints.
Conclusion
The allegations you sent me appear to stem from a misunderstanding and/or misrepresentation of the roles and practices within our community and its standard of care regarding childbirth and healthcare. I am deeply sorry that these individuals feel this way and that they’ve chosen to involve the media without ever raising their concerns and grievances to me or others involved in their care.
All the women I’ve served were my friends, and every birth-related correspondence I’ve received from parents has expressed deep gratitude. These allegations have only surfaced years after the births in question, after these individuals left our community. No concerns were raised to me at the time of the births, nor anytime since, until your request for comment.