Midwives Charged After Baby Dies Following Water Birth

A baby died after a home water birth went went horribly wrong, and law enforcement has begun placing the blame.

Mary Stewart Barhite, 43, and Jacqueline Lynn Proffit, 45, of Indian Trail, N.C. have been charged for practicing midwifery without licenses.

The pair helped the woman- who has withheld her identity- give birth after she went into labor in her Charlotte, N.C. home.

At some point, the procedure took a bad turn and the baby was unresponsive after it was delivered. Emergency services were contacted and although the baby was eventually transported to the hospital, it was too late, and the child died soon after it had arrived.

Water birth is the process of delivering a baby underwater, and while critics argue that it is very unsafe, a growing number of women consider it to be an ideal option.

The temperature of the water during this method plays a vital role in the well being of both mother and child. The water is supposed to be slightly heated and warm, but not excessively hot.

It is preferred by many women because it promotes a more relaxed environment, and allows for an easier transition from the birth canal to outside for the baby.

Critics argue that water births can cause water inhalation and result in a baby drowning to death.

"The safety and efficacy of underwater birth for the newborn has not been established. There is no convincing evidence of benefit to the neonate but some concern for serious harm," a 2005 statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics read.

Under North Carolina law midwives must be registered nurses and supervised by doctors during any birth.

It is unclear whether the women actually posed as midwives, but sources have suggested that the pair may have offered to help the woman after she went into labor but never actually claimed to be medical experts.

They both face misdemeanor charges for practicing without a license.