My deep congratulations to the women and families of Missouri! I was raised in Missouri and I feel a close connection to the struggle of midwives in that state, where it is a felony to practice midwifery. My youngest sister was delivered at home almost 23 years ago by one of the most competent, talented midwives in the state, despite the illegal status of midwives. However, after many years of fighting, a midwives licensure bill just passed the Missouri Senate in its final hours. Unfortunately, there was not sufficient time for the bill to make it to the House, so they still have a fight ahead. But finally, there is hope. Do you ever wonder if we birth activists are making a difference? Be assured, we are. Read on for the media release in its entirety. . .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 16, 2008
Midwives Licensure Bill Passes Missouri Senate
Grassroots momentum sweeps Capitol as legislation 25 years in the making now heads back to the Missouri House in the final hours of the last day of session
(JEFFERSON CITY, MO)--HB2081, which included would provide for the licensure and regulation of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), passed the Missouri Senate today by a strong majority. CPMs are allowed in 40 states, 24 of which license and regulate them. Missouri law classified CPMs as felons.
"Today's vote was a victory for democracy, and we applaud the Missouri Senate for standing firm in the face of intense pressure from well-financed special interests out to protect their turf," said Laurel Smith, President of the Friends of Missouri Midwives. "The Senate chose instead to listen to the thousands of people from across the state who have been steadfastly and patiently demanding access to legal midwifery care for many years."
In addition to being trained as specialists in out-of-hospital birth, CPMs are experts in risk assessment who work in collaboration with physicians when mothers or babies develop conditions that require a consultation or
transfer of care. CPMs are also trained to ensure that all babies born outside of the hospital undergo state-mandated newborn screenings and are provided with legal and secure birth certificates.
"This bill ensures that midwives who have met the national standard and state regulations are legally available to provide care for families who desire out-of-hospital births. It also provides transparency and accountability through the state agencies that oversee midwife licensure and birth records." said Debbie Smithey, President of the Missouri Midwives Association.
Missouri is a priority of The Big Push for Midwives Campaign , a nationally coordinated campaign to advocate for regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and to push back against the attempts of the American Medical Association Scope of Practice Partnership to deny American families access
to legal midwifery care.
Media inquiries should be directed to Mary Ueland at (417) 543-4258, better_birth@yahoo.com.
