May12, 2013

Indiana Increases Access to Maternity Care

The Governor of Indiana just signed a bill licensing CPMs, making Illinois surrounded on three sides by states that recognize the importance of homebirth safety. It is unacceptable that the state of Illinois continues to turn its back on homebirthing families. Now is the time to let your legislators know that you want Illinois to get in line with its neighbors and allow our midwives to practice without fear of prosecution.

Go to this website http://gis.elections.il.gov/map_viewer_update/default.aspx to find your STATE representative and senator and write them today. Here are some talking points you can use:

-I can go across the border to (Indiana, Missouri, or Wisconsin – pick the relevant one) to have my baby in a hotel with a CPM, why can’t I just stay home?

-Wisconsin midwives are building a birth center for the families of northern Illinois, and there’s already talks of one going up in western Indiana. Shouldn’t Illinois babies be born in Illinois?

-28 states now recognize Certified Professional Midwives and none have tried to take away licensure. If it works for the majority of the states, why won’t it work for Illinois?

-The Illinois midwives are attempting negotiations with the Illinois State Medical Society right now. Please support this effort to increase access to safe, effective, and low cost maternity care.

Legislators prefer personally written letters with handwritten envelopes. This is the most effective way to contact them. Write your legislators today and let’s bring our underground midwives into the light!