The Big Push for Midwives Campaign 2008 – Legislation, NOT Prosecution
CONTACT: Steff Hedenkamp, (816) 506-4630, RedQuill@kc.rr.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 18, 2008
MEDIA ALERT
National “Big Push for Midwives Campaign” to Launch
20 states already signed up for nationally coordinated advocacy campaign or regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)
WHAT: The Big Push for Midwives Campaign will launch next week in Chicago on “PushDay” to advocate for regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Big Push Campaign is also pushing back against the attempts by the American Medical Association to deny American families access to legal midwifery care.
Following the PushDay news conference about the national campaign launch, there will be several activities, including a book signing by author and journalist Jennifer Block for her book “Pushed,” a film screening of the Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein documentary, “The Business of Being Born,” and a viewing of The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project created by midwife pioneer Ina May Gaskin.
WHY: Currently, Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), who work predominantly in hospital settings, are licensed and legal in all 50 states. Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), who specialize in out-of-hospital delivery, are licensed and legal in fewer than half of our states. CPMs:
– Are specifically trained to provide out-of-hospital maternity care for healthy women experiencing normal pregnancies.
– Offer a family-centered model of care, which is associated with reducing the incidence of c-section, birth injury and trauma, as well as significantly reducing the cost of maternity care.
– Play a vital role in reducing the two most preventable risk factors for infant mortality: low-birth weight and premature birth: babies born too small or too soon.
– Serve a disproportionate percentage of underserved populations, including low-income, rural, inner-city, immigrant, and uninsured families, as well as those Americans who choose out-of-hospital birth for deeply held cultural and philosophical reasons.
WHEN THURSDAY, JANUARY 24 at Courtyard by Marriott, 30 East Hubbard Street, Chicago
AND ● 1 p.m. – “PushDay” News Conference
WHERE: ● 1:30 p.m. – “Pushed” book signing by author and journalist Jennifer Block
Viewing of The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project by Ina May Gaskin
● 2:30 p.m. – Film screening of documentary “The Business of Being Born”
In addition, multiple states will have PushRallies and PushParties to kickoff the Big Push Campaign
such as Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Dakota.
WHO: The Big Push for Midwives Campaign is the first initiative of the National Birth Policy Coalition (NBPC), which was established in 2007 and is focused on increasing access to the Midwives Model of Care in all settings, as well as supporting legislative initiatives that promote the autonomous practice of Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Nurse-Midwives. So far, the NBPC has been endorsed by more than 20 organizations, including national and state midwifery organizations,
as well as state consumer organizations.
CONTACT: Media inquiries about the news conference, book signing, film event, or participating states
PushEvents should be directed to Steff Hedenkamp (816) 506-4630, RedQuill@kc.rr.com.
Filed under: Midwifery | Tagged: birth activism, Chicago, Ina May Gaskin, Jennifer Block, midwivery, push for midwives campaign, Pushed, Ricki Lake, The Business of Being Born, The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project | Leave a comment »
Birthfriend's place to ponder 