Affecting Change in Alabama: Rally in Montgomery for Midwifes' Rights

On March 29 2007 from 10 am to 2 pm supporters for the certification of midwifes in Alabama will be holding a rally at the capital in Montgomery. On the 6th floor of the house you will find people from all backgrounds handing out information and speaking about their own experiences to Alabama Representatives in hopes of getting this very important bill passed into legislation. Expect to see practicing midwifes, doulas their patients, homebirthers, home schoolers, their parents and many others who support midwifery and birthing mother's right to choose home birth as an option for delivery.

There are several types of midwifes, and while they all have training in natural childbirth, they are not allowed to attend home births in Alabama. Those who do practice in Alabama are forced to either leave the state to attend births or work in a hospital under a doctor's direction. This leaves pregnant women who want a midwife to attend their labor few options; Leave the state while in labor and hope they make it in time, Have an unassisted birth at home, or give birth at a hospital. Most Obstetricians refuse to keep a pregnant woman as a patient if they find out that the woman will birth with a midwife. Most insurance companies do not cover midwifes, causing those who want a midwife to pay out of pocket when they could use that money for their new baby.

But if legislation passes to allow midwifes to be come certified in Alabama that may change, giving pregnant mother more birthing options. More than half of the states in the U.S allow midwifes to attend home births. Home births have a much lower intervention rate and mortality rate. The U.S has one of the lowest scores in industrialized countries for mortality rates/ interventions during birth, with Alabama being third from the bottom in the U.S. The top reason for hospitalization being labor and delivery. While there's no doubt that some labors do need intervention (howbeit rare) most pregnancies progress fine with no need for hospitalization, episiotomies, epidurals and c-sections, which have become commonplace in American hospitals.

Midwifes have to jump through loops to practice in Alabama and as they currently cannot become certified in Alabama can have problems getting insurance themselves. Since Alabama ceased offering certification for midwifes they and their supporters have been lobbying for it again. The state of Alabama told these midwifes that they could continue to practice home births in Alabama if they were certified in the state, but no longer offer the certification needed. Not everyone will choose to have a home birth, many preferring to be in a hospital, but for those who want the most natural setting to give birth (in the comfort of their own home being in control) they are not left with many options. One thing I've learned from my own home birth is that each woman has to choose for herself.

It's not right for the state to make the choice for you. If you're unsure how you feel about this subject, research the subject, and if you agree that women should have the option of choosing what type of care to receive (even if a midwife is not for you) then support the local midwifes in your area. Contact them and ask what you can do to help bring more attention to this problem. Write or sign a petition, write or call your local lawmakers and talk to your friends and family. Midwifes deserve our help, and so do the babies they deliver.