Physicians group out of step as Health Care Organizations supporting CPMs increases

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 17, 2009)—Two major health care organizations have joined the growing number of groups calling on policy makers to increase access to Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and out-of-hospital maternity care. Acknowledging the large body of evidence supporting the safety of home delivery with CPMs, who are specifically trained to care for mothers and [...]

Crunching numbers

I was finally able to get some figures to try and determine what the cesarean section rate is running with my local hospital.  It’s difficult to get an exact number because of the way they have their figures broken down.  You have to get the actual birth rate from one site for a calendar year [...]

Not all physicians support AMA stand on home birth

Not all physicians agree with the AMA’s position, however. Dr. Andrew Kotaska, noted Canadian researcher and Clinical Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanton Territorial Hospital, issued the following response: I would invite ACOG to join the rest of us in the 21st century. Modern ethics does not equivocate: maternal autonomy takes precedence over medical [...]

Physician group seeks to outlaw home birth!

Father Knows Best Meets Big Brother Is Watching Is Jail for Moms Next? WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 16, 2008)—Just in time for Father’s Day, at its annual meeting last weekend, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a resolution to introduce legislation outlawing home birth, and potentially making criminals of the mothers who choose home birth with [...]

ACOG State Legislative Update–Who’s afraid of a few “lay” midwives?

The ACOG recently published their yearly state legislative update. The main topic was those troublesome ‘lay’ midwives and home birth. While the document is full of the typically misinformed information and erroneous assumptions about midwives, it has the flavor of someone who is afraid–very afraid. Let me quote from the document and set the record [...]

Pennsylvania reverses rulings against midwife Diane Goslin!

It’s about time we had some good news on the legal front.  Why are we allowing the financial and philosophical ‘competition’ to control this vital right of women to birth where and with whomever they desire?  Story follows: In a stinging blow to both the Pennsylvania Medical Board and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Pennsylvania Commonwealth [...]

The Trust Birth Conference

I’m going. This conference is sponsored by Ancient Art Midwifery Institute and Carla Hartley. She says it will be her last one and it is worth putting everything else aside to attend. Some of the biggest names in the birth community will be there. Dr. Sarah Buckley, Dr. Michel Odent, Dr. John Stevenson, Jan Tritten, [...]

Midwives without nursing degrees risk prosecution

By Michele Munz ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Sunday, Jan. 20 2008 Missouri, Illinois drive midwives underground • First of two parts Kris’ husband, Bill, is setting up a round, 2-foot-deep tub between the living and dining rooms, next to a bookshelf with pictures of their two sons and their Halloween artwork. The boys are asleep in [...]

The Business of Being Born

This movie is being screened in many local areas but will be available by DVD through Netflix in February.  If you have an opportunity to see it locally, please go and invite every woman of childbearing age to go with you.  Reserve a copy through Netflix.  It’s not perfect, but it explains a lot of [...]

The realm of responsibility

It is the role of a midwife to evaluate every situation and determine if each situation resides inside a “normal” box.  Even variations from the norm must be thought about in terms of risk vs benefit and considered in the light of the midwife’s level of experience and expertise and ability to help.  Sometimes you [...]