Media Alert

CONTACT:
Leanne Pearce Reed
(205) 902-8362 or leanne.pearce.reed@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 28, 2009

Alabama Families Walk Across the State to Raise Awareness About Lack of Access to Certified Professional Midwives 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (September 28, 2009) – Hundreds of Alabama citizens are walking in a state-wide “Walk for Midwives” event on Saturday, October 3. The effort is hosted by the Alabama Birth Coalition and is raising awareness about the need to change state law to authorize Certified Professional Midwives, who are specially trained to provide out-of-hospital maternity care, to practice legally. Beyond Birmingham, walks are planned in multiple cities across the state, including Huntsville, Dothan, and Cullman.

“Families in Tennessee and Florida have been benefiting from the services of Certified Professional Midwives for years,” said Susan Petrus, who was forced to cross state lines in order to deliver her last baby under the care of a Certified Professional Midwife. “It is high time that Alabama families had the same opportunities.”  

Certified Nurse-Midwives are trained to provide hospital-based care and are legally authorized to practice in all 50 states. Fewer than 1 percent of nurse-midwives nationwide provide maternity care in private homes or freestanding birth centers, and there are zero nurse-midwives in Alabama that provide out-of-hospital care. As a result, families in most parts of the state who choose to give birth outside of the hospital—most often for religious, cultural or financial reasons—are left with no access to legally-practicing midwives with expertise in out-of-hospital delivery.  

“The first step is to license and regulate Certified Professional Midwives so that families who choose out-of-hospital delivery have access to providers who have met the appropriate educational, training, and credentialing standards,” said Leanne Reed of the Alabama Birth Coalition, a consumer advocacy group that is working to expand maternity care options in the state. 

Demand for the services of Certified Professional Midwives is on the rise throughout the country, while The Big Push for Midwives, a national campaign to license them in all 50 states, has been making steady progress. Since 2005 six states have passed legislation legally authorizing Certified Professional Midwives to practice, and last year Idaho became the 26th state to do so. Legislation is pending in an additional 18 states. 

“The research consistently shows that Certified Professional Midwives have excellent outcomes at significantly reduced costs,” said Reed. “The state of Washington commissioned a study that found a biennial savings to public and private insurers of more than $3 million. The incredible outpouring of energy generated by the Walk for Midwives should compel policymakers in Alabama to take notice and to recognize the need to change our laws so that families in our own state have access to the safe, proven, and cost-effective care offered by Certified Professional Midwives.”   

Birmingham’s Walk for Midwives will begin with breakfast at 8 a.m. at Rojo, located at 2921 Highland Avenue S.  The walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. 

Cullman’s Walk for Midwives will begin with a bake sale at 8:30 a.m. at Heritage Park, located at 1705 Lee Ave SW.  The walk will begin at 9 a.m.

Dothan’s Walk for Midwives will begin at 2 p.m. at Eastgate Park, located at 2049 Sanitary Dairy Road. 

Huntsville’s Walk for Midwives will begin with a pre-walk gathering at the Starbucks on University Drive at 10 a.m. The walk will follow at Big Spring Park, located at 700 Monroe St. SW.

All are welcome to walk a distance that is comfortable and to learn more about the issue and the Alabama Birth Coalition. For more information please visit www.alabamabirthcoalition.org.

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