Action Alert: Midwives in Virginia

Experiences have clearly shown that an approach which "de-medicalizes" birth, restores dignity and humanity to the process of childbirth, and returns control to the mother is also the safest approach.
~Michel Odent, MD

There's something to be said for those who are anti-midwife, and that's this:
They're dangerous.

No matter your political affiliation or beliefs on certain aspects of women and choice, you probably agree that we should be allowed to give birth where we choose, as long as child and mother alike are safe.

This is why two new Virginia bills are worrisome.

Republican Delegate Matthew Lohr (Harrisonburg) has introduced two anti-midwife bills, presumably due to pressure from anti-homebirth and anti-midwife OBs in his area. Even after promising to pull the damaging Bill 2163 to Brynne Potter, CPM, he has dug in his heels and is going forward with it.

House Bill 2167 states: That the Board of Medicine and the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall review all regulations, policies, and guidelines related to reimbursement of services provided by certified professional midwives to ensure that no reimbursement is made to certified professional midwives providing services in high-risk situations including high-risk home births.

House Bill 2163 states: Board shall adopt regulations governing the practice of midwifery...
The regulations shall (i) address the requirements for licensure to practice midwifery, including the establishment of standards of care, (ii) be consistent with the North American Registry of Midwives' current job description for the profession and the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives' standards of practice, except that prescriptive authority and the possession and administration of controlled substances shall be prohibited, (iii) ensure independent practice, (iv) require midwives to disclose to their patients information on health risks associated with home deliveries including but not limited to special risks associated with vaginal births after a prior C-section, breach births, births by women experiencing high-risk pregnancies, and births of twins or multiples.
(Italics added on the Bill page. Bold added by me.)

This is entirely redundant:

• CPMs are required by their certification to give a written informed disclosure regarding their experience, training, and the risks and benefits of home birth to every client at the beginning of care.
• The NARM Job Analysis (cited in the VA statute) specifies the principles of informed consent and the conditions that may require additional education and informed decision making. The conditions cited in HB 2163 are included in this list.
• The NACPM standards of practice (also cited in the VA statute) refer to informed consent and requirements for education and information of CPM clients.
• The Virginia Licensed Midwife regulations already require that informed consent be obtained before any invasive procedure is performed.

My 2 cents (I've got more than 2, but I thought I'd spare ya.):
First off, I know of no midwife who would have a woman give birth at home if she is high risk. Though many midwives support a woman's decision to have a VBAC, that is hardly a "high" risk. (I wonder...how "risky" is it to perform major surgery on a woman every pregnancy, anyhow?...Yes, Shaye, I'm thinking of you!)
I would also like to firmly state that my care practitioners for Baby E's pregnancy put me at a higher risk with their love of new fangled tests and contraptions. (Luckily, I trusted myself, my body, my baby, and my partner more than them!)
I mean, how easily can a woman push a baby out when she is stressed so?
There is something to be said for the medical interventions and their ability to put a woman and her child at a "high risk."

God forbid women bring children into this world in a peaceful environment with caring, professional, nurturing care providers. Oh wait: God wouldn't forbid that!

So here's what you and I can do about it:

1. Please send Delegate Lohr an email (DelMLohr@house.virginia.gov) TODAY telling him that you would like him to pull these bills from the docket and to work to help increase access to midwives, rather than restrict it. You can also call his office: (804) 698-1026.
2. Contact your legislators and tell them that you oppose HB 2163 and HB 2167. You can visit the VA Birth PAC to find out who your legislators are and register to receive updates on this important issue. The VA Birth PAC also gives you numerous reasons to use when you address Delegate Lohr. But if you need more inspiration, I suggest you read the letter Brynne Potter wrote to him, which includes,

   Since your bill would essentially mandate surgery for the underprivileged women in your community, I highly encourage you to become educated about the risks of cesarean section, especially when a woman has more than one.

   
   
3. Call the free constituent phone line (800) 889-0229 (outside Richmond) or 698-1990 (Richmond area) and OPPOSE HB 2163 and HB 2167
4. Forward this Action Alert to all Virginians you know.
5. Also, put this blog on all the networking pages you are a part of, like Twitter or Facebook, especially if you aren't from Virginia. I'm fixing to Stumble and Socialbrowse it.

And thank you, my dear natural birth lovers.

Women's strongest feelings [in terms of their birthings], positive and negative, focus on the way they were treated by their caregivers.
~Annie Kennedy & Penny Simkin

...Treat us well!