Citizens for Midwifery has outlined our most basic core values relating to both maternity care and to the role of Citizens for Midwifery in efforts to improve maternity care.

Core Values About Maternity Care

• Pregnancy and childbirth are normal, healthy processes.
• Access to midwives and the Midwives Model of Care is vital to normal childbirth.
• The Midwives Model of Care outlines a type of care and is not limited to the education or any specific category of provider.
• Respect is at the core of the Midwives Model of Care. Every woman should be treated with respect in every phase of her care from pregnancy through postpartum. Respect includes, but is not limited to complete information about tests, treatments, and procedures, fully informed consent, preservation of privacy, and polite respectful communications by all involved with her care.
• Pregnancy and childbirth effect the physical, mental, and psycho-social well-being of mothers, babies, and families, therefore maternity care should not only avoid harm, but also provide benefits to them.
• Maternity care should be grounded in evidence, and care providers should be accountable to the mother and family for the mental and physical outcomes resulting from their actions or inactions.
• Clinical decisions in maternity care should be focused on promoting the overall health and well-being of the mother-baby dyad; these decisions should never be influenced or determined by economic considerations or legal fears.
• The use of practices, medications, and medical procedures should be based on the needs of each individual woman, her baby, and the circumstances of her pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum experiences with her full understanding and consent and based on the best evidence available. Routine protocols not based on research evidence should be avoided.
• Maternity care is an important aspect of health care in the United States and must be included in all discussions of health care policy.
• The quality and cost of maternity care and its outcomes directly or indirectly affect every US citizen.

Core Values of Citizens for Midwifery

• Citizens have a right to be involved in maternity care policy, and CfM is a powerful voice for consumers.
• CfM works to improve access to the Midwives Model of Care in all settings for women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, races, religions, sexual orientations, abilities, and socioeconomic circumstances.
• Coalition-building, communications, and networking with other organizations are essential for achieving our vision.
• The education, credentialing, regulation, and licensing of midwives are of critical concern to consumers, because they determine whether or not childbearing women will be able to get the kind of midwifery care they want and need.