Home birth is not illegal!

In the state of Nebraska, it is illegal for a CNM, Certified Nurse-Midwife to attend home births.

Certified Professional Midwives, Professional Midwives, Traditional Midwives, Birth Keepers, and Doulas are not written into the law. Therefore it is not illegal for these women to attend home births.

Locating home birth support in our state can be tough, but it's not impossible. If you decide on a birth attendant, ensure they align with your values and don't overlook any concerning indications.

Here is the current written law:

Nebraska Revised Statute 38-613 states:

“A certified nurse midwife shall perform the functions detailed in the practice agreement only under the supervision of the licensed practitioner responsible for the medical care of the patients described in the practice agreement. If the collaborating licensed practitioner named in the practice agreement becomes temporarily unavailable, the certified nurse midwife may perform the authorized medical functions only under the supervision of another licensed practitioner designated as a temporary substitute for that purpose by the collaborating licensed practitioner.

A certified nurse midwife may perform authorized medical functions only in the following settings:

In a licensed or certified health care facility as an employee or as a person granted privileges by the facility;

In the primary office of a licensed practitioner or in any setting authorized by the collaborating licensed practitioner, except that a certified nurse midwife shall not attend a home delivery; or

Within an organized public health agency.”