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Preserving Safe & Healthy Birth Choices for New York Families
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Preserving Safe & Healthy Birth Choices for New York Families
Previous post: Tuesday is stand-up-for-midwifery day!
Next post: Thursday is Friends and Family Day
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As the community Resource coordinator for Rochester Area Birth network i get calls all the time from women seeking a Midwife. All too often there has been no Midwife to attend them because of the Written Practice agreement.
It is only by the grace of two bold physicians who bucked the political system and risked their livelyhood that we now have two licensed Midwives in our area who can attend homebirths. Most other areas are not so lucky.
Dear Ms. Nolan:
I wanted to share with you my personal experience working with midwives for the birth of my daughter in November 2007 and for my upcoming birth, which will be any day now.
I did a lot of reading, research, and questioning before choosing a midwife for the birth of my daughter. I chose homebirth because I was drawn to the one-on-one care that she could provide, in addition to her decades of experience and her CNM credential.
Giving birth naturally, without pain medication, was very important to me and I knew that a midwife would support my goals while also keeping me and my baby safe.
With both pregnancies, my midwife has paid me regular visits, more as my due date approached, and ordered the necessary tests to insure my health and my baby’s health. She referred me to a wonderful doctor for the 20wk ultrasound. She tested me for gestational diabetes and group B strep and spends an hour with me at each visit to talk about any concerns I have.
My midwife lost her WPA when St. Vincent’s closed. At that time I was 30 weeks pregnant. I am now nearly 38 weeks pregnant and am hoping that this legislation passes so that my midwife will not encounter any restrictions in attending the birth. I believe it would compromise my health and that of my baby to switch care providers to someone who has not been seeing us all along.
Midwifery care has meant so much to me. Not only has my midwife helped me with the medical aspect of pregnancy and childbirth, she has offered emotional support and counseling in making the transition to motherhood, both first-time and now from 1 to 2 children. Her breastfeeding knowledge helped me to succeed and she was available in the postpartum period to watch me for signs of postpartum depression. I feel that because she got to know me so well, she was ably equipped to tell the difference between the normal hormonal swings and PPD.
I am asking you to support the Midwifery Modernization Act so that midwifery care is available to all who want it.
Annie Frisbie
I am writing to share my personal story with you in support of the Midwifery Modernization act. I am a mother of two children, both born with the support of midwives. I knew that along with the support of midwives comes the foundation of the network with which midwives are trained to interface. When I chose a midwife, I also selected the option of physicians and high-tech interventions should the need for them become apparent.
I chose midwives rather than obstetricians because I am healthy with no risk factors. Statistics and instinct told me that birth can often be a normal, nonmedical event. As I became more familiar with midwife care throughout my first pregnancy, I also noticed that I received very personalized, one-on-one care consistently from the same care provider. My friends who received care from physicians in busy practices often had a very different experience.
My first midwife consulted with her cooperating physician toward the end of my pregnancy when I experienced a minor complication. New York State’s requirement for a piece of paper was not the reason she did this. She consulted another professional because she wanted to provide the best possible care.
The only thing that negatively impacted my experience of midwifery care was New York State’s requirement for a written practice agreement. I learned that my first midwife was uncertain if her practice agreement would be renewed, that physicians who sign them are often pressured by malpractice insurers not to take on additional liability. After the birth of my first child, my first midwife moved out of state, due in part to the ease of practicing elsewhere.
I met a local certified midwife who wanted to begin practicing again but was unable to secure a practice agreement. Mothers turned into citizen activists as we organized to support her in securing a practice agreement, but our efforts failed. When I became pregnant with my second child, I traveled three hours round trip for prenatal care from a midwife.
Both of my midwife-assisted births were beautiful, safe events. Women in New York State need unimpeded access to a wide range of well-trained providers. Your support of the Midwifery Modernization Act significantly improves our access to care.
(This was also sent to DeFransico as well)
Dear Assemblyman Stirpe,
I want to take this time to share my personal experience with a midwife during the pregnancies and birthes of my daughter in 2007 and my son in 2008.
I switched to midwifery care around 28 weeks during the pregnancy of my daughter. I felt for the unmedicated and natural birth that I intended that a midwife was going to be my best option.I respected her credentials in her midwifery training and the personal experiences she has had. I received the most personal care I have ever received. Appointments last upwards of an hour and the entire family was included in my prenatal care. My then 5 year old son was allowed to “help” with measuring my stomach for fundal height and even got to listen on the fetoscope to his baby sister.
When I went into labor on my due date, it was a snowstorm. Through the snow my midwife came to be with me during my labor. I had a very long 34 hour labor and my midwife did not leave my side throughout the entire labor. She was by my side to comfort me, and was constantly monitoring my daughter to make sure she was tolerating my labor ok. After my daughter was born my midwife stayed with me for over an hour making sure I was ok and doing the newborn assessment of my daughter.
When I found out I was pregnant with my son, who due in June, 2008, I didn’t think twice about who I was goin to call when I saw the positive on the home pregnancy test. My first phone call after my husband was to my midwife. The pregnancy was progressing normally. I had all the standard intial blood work done by a local lab. Around 20 weeks I also had an ultrasound to check the babies anatomy as well as to look for any defects.
During the course of the pregnancy during routine blood draws it was found that I had gestational idiopathic thrombocytpenia purpura, which basically means that my platelet levels during pregnancy were dropping. My midwife had never dealt with this before so consulted with her OB that her practice agreement was signed with. I consulted with the OB and he was also unsure of what this meant for my unborn baby and the future of my prenatal care. My midwife contaced a perinatologist and we set up an appointment to go and meet with him. If anyone would know how to approach the prenatal care of someone with gestational ITP it would most definitely be him. This appointment with the perinatologist was made without a WPA in place between the midwife and the perinatologist. After meeting with the perinatologist we determined that there was no reason tthat my pregnancy and birth could not continue to be overseen by a midwife. He felt confident in her abilities. The only recommendation we were given from the perinatologist was that I continue the monthly blood draws to make sure my platelets do not drop below a level that would be dangerous to both myself and my unborn son, and to draw cord blood from the umbilicall cord after the birth of my son to check his platelet levels. My midwife and I then continued to do some research on this condition and found a slew of natural minerals and supplements that would help stabilize my platelet levels. I started taking them and followed the perinatologists recommendations for the monthly blood draws. With the supplements that my midwife and I spent many hours reasearching we were able to stabilize my platelet level.
For the birth of my son once again my midwife did not leave my side. Not only was she there was a medical professional but she was my strength and my courage to get through what I thought was the most difficult experience of my life. 56 hours later my beautfiul son was born into three sets of hands-mine, my husbands and my midwifes’.
I feel that the care of a midwife is what got me through my 2 pregnancies and 2 “endless” labors. During both of the labors my midwife stood by my side-to encourage me, support me and be my strength.
Within the past 6 months my husband and I started talking about trying to conceive another baby. I contacted my midwife to let her know this. She intially wanted to do a pre-conception blood draw to check my platelets to make sure they were high enough that she felt comfortable with me trying to conceive and to decide whether or not she wanted me to start my supplements. Within the time that I had my blood drawn, to the time that my midwife received her results she lost her WPA. Because of this my husband and I ultimately decided to stop trying because I felt so comfortable with my midwife and her abilities that I didn’t want to transfer to another medical professional. I have also lost the ability to see my midwife for routine gynecological exams; in which I feel it is very important to find someone that you are comfortable with, knows your history and knows your body.
The care I have received from my midwife is like no other I have ever received before. My midwife has become a part of my family through my pregnancies, during my births and during the post partum period. I have even had outings with my midwife outside of any pre/post natal care.
I am asking you to please support the Midwife Modernization Act so that midwife care is available to all those that are looking for the experience that a midwife brings to your pregnancy, labor and birth.
Sincerely,
Danielle Decker
Clay, NY
Dear Senator Saland and staff,
My name is Ellen, I am a constituent who lives in Canaan, and I am writing to ask you to get the leadership of the assembly to bring the Midwifery Modernization Act (S5007) to a floor vote this week. I also want to tell you why you should vote for this bill. Many people misunderstand the role of midwives in our medical care system and how they cooperate with the rest of the system. I know firsthand that licensed midwives are a great, safe option for pregnancy care. After one baby with a mixed OB/midwife practice, I had my second baby under the care of nurse midwives. I got so much more time to ask questions, so much more personal attention, and a lot more freedom to have my baby the way I wanted and needed to. It was great! Doctors are not free to practice this way–it is not called the Midwives Model of Care for nothing! I knew that had anything been abnormal in pregnancy, the midwives would have referred me to an obstetrician for complications. Midwives are trained to handle emergencies during birth, so I didn’t worry about that either. I recommend that everyone use a midwife for their pregnancy care, birth and postpartum care, and their regular gynecological care as well. Why not choose a care provider who has time to talk to you and answer your questions??? The Midwifery Modernization Act will remove the requirement for a Written Practice Agreement with a doctor–which will make it easier to practice as a licensed midwife in New York, where we greatly need more and better maternity care for women–but it makes no other changes to midwives’ scope of practice (independent, but consulting with MDs whenever necessary). The WPA is not a consultation or oversight agreement. Please vote to remove it so midwives can practice in areas where no MDs are willing to provide a signature to their competitors. Thanks!
–Ellen Harris-Braun, mother of two boys and happy midwifery client for life
Midwives are the safer choice…
When I found out I was pregnant there was no doubt in my mind that I would choose a midwife for my prenantal care. The midwifery model of care embraces women, their families and the wellbeing of their unborn children. From the first visit with my midwife I felt comfort in her thorough physical and emotional assessment. She truely took the TIME to understand how I felt about my pregnancy and addressed any questions or concerns I had. During the course of my pregnancy she always alotted sufficient time for appointments and advised me on how to keep baby and myself happy and healthy. I had her cell number and could call to speak with her at any hour without seeming like I was imposing.
When I went into labor (I had a homebirth) my midwife arrived with all birthing supplies neccessary including equipment to monitor myself and the baby, holistic and pharmaceutical medications, oxygen and most importantly her undivided attention! There was no just coming in when the baby was crowning. I felt safe in her presence and she allowed my body and baby to take their NATURAL COURSE. This is very important-minimal intervention means fewer invasive procesures,i.e. frequent vaginal checks, pitocin (labor stimulant), intreuterine monitoring and cesarean section to name a few. Less intervention equals happier, healthier mothers and babies, less risk for infection and lower medical costs!
A week after delivery my midwife visited me at home to assess us both!
It is my view that midwives are especially judicious with safety because they have encountered fierce resistance from so many in the medical community. In fact many industrialized nations worldwide utilize midwives to birth babies and in turn have lower mother and infant mortality rates.
Midwives are the safer choice! So safe and special that I had both my children (6 years old & 8 months old) with midwife, Sakina O’Uhuru.
Please allow women to have a safe CHOICE in how to birth their babies!
Dear Senator Seward:
I am writing to urge you to support and vote for the Midwifery Modernization Act that is currently scheduled to come to the floor of the NYS Senate.
I am a constituent and had both my children at home with a mid-wife. I chose to birth at home because I don’t feel safe in hospitals and birth intervention rates increase dramatically when women in labor are stressed. For my second labor my water broke more than 24 hours before I finally went into active labor with the help of my midwife, who is also a licensed acupuncturist. If I had been birthing at a hospital I would have had a cascade of interventions to speed the process along. Instead, at home under the care of my midwife, I was able to bring my youngest daughter into the world with no interventions and no complications.
I do not believe that every woman can or should choose homebirth but it must be preserved as an option for women in NYS. Women should be able to give birth under the care of a licensed practitioner wherever they feel safe. Giving midwives the ability to serve clients without the obligation of a practice agreement will preserve this safe, affordable option for women in New York, many of whom live in rural areas where doctors who understand and support natural childbirth are few and far between.
If you have any questions about the legislation please feel free to contact me.
Thank you in advance for your support of the women of New York State.
Sincerely, Asha M. Sanaker
(sent to McEneny and Breslin)
I’m writing in support of the Midwifery Modernization Act. I want to tell you why my pregnancy and birth were safer because I had midwives’
care.
First, I have a complex trauma history and PTSD. That put me at high risk for labor complications because if the birth process or health providers’ actions trigger a PTSD reaction, it can interfere with the progress of labor. I chose to work with midwives who understand how trauma can affect birth, and who took the time to help me identify possible triggers and help me make a plan to manage them. With their help and support I was able to feel safe and have a simple, uncomplicated birth. I would have had a much harder time trying to do this with an OBGYN, who would simply not be available to work with me
in such detail even if they were educated about trauma issues – which most aren’t.
Second, my baby was born more than 2 weeks after my estimated due date. My care team strongly suspects that she was NOT any later than she should have been — my due date was just wrong because my cycles are irregular. My baby was born tiny at 6 pounds, 14 ounces. If I
had been in the care of an OBGYN, I would have been pressured to induce labor much sooner – and my baby might well have been unnecessarily premature as a result, with all the costs that entails. An OBGYN is trained to see pregnancy and labor as medical conditions to be managed. A midwife is trained to see them as natural processes to be supported, with intervention only as needed. I am very grateful I could work with midwives who allowed my baby’s process to unfold at its own pace!
My midwives collaborate with doctors as a matter of course, as good professionals collaborate all the time. That would not change at all without the requirement of a written practice agreement. What would change is that many more women would have access to such excellent, low-cost, evidence-based care.
Please, do what you can to ensure the passage of the MMA. Thank you for your attention to this issue.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Tell
Dear Assemblyman Barclay,
I am writing to express my support for the Midwifery Modernization Act, which is set to go to vote soon.
I decided to have a home birth with a licensed midwife, because statistics show that home birth is a safe choice for healthy, low risk women. I strongly believe in the ability of a woman’s body to successfully birth her baby while using as little intervention as possible. The first question I asked my midwife while interviewing her to be my care provider was, “What do you do in case of an emergency?” She assured me that she brings to the birth medicines and supplies that she could use to control bleeding, or to stabilize the mother or baby if needed. I trusted her judgment and knowledge. I went on to have better pre-natal care with her, then I had with previous births attended by a Certified Nurse Midwife, and an OB. She spent time with me explaining various aspects of my pregnancy and gaining my trust. I had all the various tests that any other pregnant woman would receive if she was under the care of a doctor. The only difference was that I was well informed about each test and procedure and what the results actually meant. I had a say in how I was treated.
Complications arose during the actual birth. My midwife calmly and quickly decided that I needed to be transported to the hospital. She did not consult with the physician with which whom she has a Written Practice Agreement. He was in Ithaca, and I am closer to Syracuse. Instead, she called the hospital alerting them to my situation as we made our way there. When we arrived, she was armed with my comprehensive health history and my extensive pre-natal records. The transition of care was seamless. After a few more hours of labor and monitoring, the decision was made for me to deliver via cesarean section. The problem in my labor would have happened under the care of a doctor, or at home with a midwife. She recognized the problem early, and got me to the proper care in plenty of time. In essence, she did exactly what she said she would do during our first interview. She, and every other midwife, has the mother’s and the baby’s best interest in mind. They will consult with physicians if needed without a Written Practice Agreement.
At the end of this month, my midwife will lose her Written Practice Agreement for no cause other than the OB’s mal practice insurance won’t permit him to sign anymore. She cannot find anyone else to sign this piece of paper. I urge you to please, vote yes to the Midwifery Modernization Act. It will NOT expand their scope of practice in any way. It will only continue to give New York families a safe, high quality, and cost effective choice regarding their health care.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Sarah S. Maurer
Meridian, NY
As a parent, and as a responsible adult, I make a conscious effort to make educated decisions about my health and that of my family. Probably the most important decision I have ever made as a parent has been choosing a the care of a midwife over an obstetrician in all three of my pregnancies.
When I was pregnant for the first time I really didn’t understand why a person would choose a midwife, as I never really knew how they differed from doctors, and I’d only ever known people who’d had their babies in hospitals with doctors. Fortunately, my local public library in Binghamton had an outstanding selection of books on pregnancy and birth, including one that discussed birth options and how to choose a care provider. That got me started on an intensive period of research that ultimately led me to choose the highly customized and attentive care of a midwife. Both of my first two pregnancies were uncomplicated and I received excellent and professional care leading up to and including the birth, as well as for several weeks afterward.
Sadly, our first midwife chose to leave our area a couple of years ago, in part due to the constant threat of losing the written practice agreement that only one doctor in the entire region was willing to sign. She now practices in a more hospitable area outside of New York. This left us with few options during my second pregnancy. The nearest midwives were north of Ithaca, about one and a half hours from my home. We made the drive for every prenatal visit and then the midwife had to drive that distance to attend my birth. Now, in my third pregnancy, I am not sure how to proceed. My midwife is still there, but I have no access to her. Right now I should be content knowing that my care provider is chosen and well established and that I can relax knowing I am in good hands. Instead, I have not yet had a single appointment (I’m 11 weeks pregnant), I am worried and upset, and I have no idea what to do. To give you an idea how important this is to us, my husband accepted a job in Oklahoma for several months just so I would have access to homebirth midwives. We have not yet established a relationship with anyone here because my kids and I are missing the familiar comfort of our home, and we are hoping and praying that the NY midwife bill will be passed and we can go home.
For us, it seems ridiculous that while my midwife’s working relationship with her consulting physician is unlikely to end anytime soon, the lack of the formal written agreement is the only thing standing in the way of my midwife to resume her practice, and for me to get the care I need. Responsible midwives value their relationships with local doctors, whether it is legally required or not. Passing the current midwifery bill would free midwives all across the state and allow women to continue to choose the excellent care midwives provide. Hospital births are obviously what most women choose. For the rest of us who want (and meet the criteria for) an out-of-hospital birth, losing the option is unacceptable and heartbreaking.
Please support this bill. By doing so you support women in New York as well as the wonderful professionals we choose to help us bring our babies into the world.
Sincerely,
Julie Taber
Dear Assemblywoman Millman,
I am writing to you today in support of the Midwifery Modernization Act. On May 25, 2009 my daughter Leela was born safely at home and delivered by a midwife and her assistant. On that day my husband, who initially thought me mad, declared it was the best decision we could have made.
I never questioned my desire to give birth at home with a midwife. Initially I was trying to avoid the hospital; I have a life long dread and fear of them. But, once I did the research to convince my husband it was the right thing to do, any doubts I might have had were rendered moot.
The only statistic I can quote anymore is the 33% C-section rate in NYC. My gut initially said this was a problem, and research later proved I was right. We have the highest C-section rate in the developed world, and the highest infant mortality rate to go along with it.
If asked, people will tell you I like to have control. That wasn’t going to change to suit the policies and legal directives of a doctor or hospital. During labor, as I walked around my apartment, surrounded by the things that make me most comfortable, I told my doula I couldn’t imagine how people did it in hospital. My midwife allowed me to do whatever I needed and worked around those needs.
My family asked why I would choose a midwife over a doctor, and my answer was always that birth is a physiological process, not a medical diagnosis. Barring any medical problems, a pregnant woman does not need a doctor. My midwife has delivered hundreds of babies over the span of 20 years without drugs or surgical intervention. When my labor stalled at 24 hours, we discussed transferring to the hospital. When I asked what my options were, I knew she was giving me information backed by all of her experience and because of that experience she was able to safely deliver my daughter. Never in 30 hours of labor or 9 months of prenatal care did I fear for my or my daughter’s safety.
I sincerely hope you will do what it takes to ensure women have the choice to see a midwife for care. Additionally, I sincerely hope you do what it takes to ensure the midwives of New York state are allowed their livelihood. To do otherwise is simply unconscionable.
Sincerely,
Hester Farabee
Sent to State Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee:
I am writing to urge you to support the Midwifery Modernization Act, allowing midwives to practice in New York without a written physician agreement.
This bill is urgently needed to provide women with safer choices in childbirth (as well as women’s health services). As a mother of three, I have my midwives to thank for safe, natural birth. As a midwife, I have helped thousands of babies into the world. Statistics clearly show that midwives deliver safe and humane care to women and babies worldwide. Yet, sadly, in this country, fewer jobs exist for midwives than ever, and homebirth-a safe and state-supported choice in the Netherlands, Denmark and many other countries, is not a viable alternative.
Over twenty plus years of practice, I have witnessed the skyrocketing cesarian section rate, largely due to unneccesary and dangerous ‘medical’ intervention.
Please help the midwifery profession survive and thrive in New York!
Thank you,
Neila Smith-Dorfman
When I was pregnant with my first son a midwife became available at a local hospital. I had visited all of the local Drs and felt that I wanted a more natural birth. When I met the midwife and discussed with her what she did to aid laboring mothers I was sold. Over the nine months of pregnancy we became very close so when I went in to labor I had not only a midwife by my side but a friend too! She coached me through the labor and encouraged me to move. I was in labor for only one hour and needed no pain meds. it was a wonderful experience. When Idecided to have my next son the choice of using a midwife was obvious.
My midwife decided to change hospitals to one a bit farther away but when I became pregnant with my third son I too changed hospitals so that my midwife and friend could deliver him too. My birth experiences would not have been as wonderful and beautiful as they were had it not been for her. Thank you to all the midwives you are a blessing!