INTRODUCTION:Stand Up for
Healthy Birth & Home Birth!
Page Contents:
ACOG & THE AMA WANT TO OUTLAW HOME BIRTH!!
Recent statements from both the
American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists (ACOG) claim the hospital is safest for birth, attack the
training of Certified Professional Midwives, and suggest that women and
families should not have the choice to give birth at home. Further, the AMA has recently adopted
“Resolution 205” to promote anti-home birth legislation.
These resolutions and position
statements against home birth are not supported by any credible scientific
evidence, but serve the interests of obstetricians and medical doctors over the
needs or rights of women, babies, or families.
Both of these trade organizations have
public credibility and well-financed lobbyists, so they have a lot of influence
in government, insurance, and regulatory arenas. Legislation and regulations that could
effectively restrict access to homebirth in one form or another would not be
difficult for them to accomplish, especially in states that do not yet license
CPMs, but even in states that already have licensed midwives attending
homebirths.
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WHAT WE CAN DO!
The best defense is a good
offense! Citizens for Midwifery asks
that, as citizens, we reach out to our legislators and other policy makers with
information about ACOG and the AMA (and their state chapters) about their
motivations and agendas regarding maternity care.
We can also provide our legislators
with the scientific evidence about the safety of planned home birth with a
trained midwife, and the well-recognized principles of human rights supporting
women and families deciding where and with whom they will give birth.
The Goal: Legislators and policymakers will
- Read between the lines and question
agendas when they hear from medical lobbyists
- Question their supporting scientific
evidence and understand a bit more about the research
- Know why it is completely
inappropriate for these organizations to be allowed to control decisions about
public policy and restricting health care choices for pregnant women and their
families, choices that ARE supported by scientific evidence
- Understand that AMA & ACOG agendas
for maternity care conflict with research based approaches that promote healthy
birth that is more likely to result in healthy mothers and babies.
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CfM's TOOLKIT
We have assembled a comprehensive
collection of resources, how-to's, and materials to help you educate your
legislators and communicate these key ideas and information. The tool kit provides details about this
issue, plus lots of ideas and suggestions, to use to whatever extent you
want. Use what works for you, whether
you take action on your own or as part of a group.
You can stand up for homebirth choice
whether you had one or not. This action
is NOT about the homebirth experience. It IS about retaining our individual
ability to decide where we will give birth and to not be penalized for
exercising it, especially when the option under attack is evidence-based and
health-promoting.
We know that you understand the
importance of this issue! Do read about communicating with your legislator and
the many possible talking points. To be effective it is important to focus on healthy
mothers and babies rather than “a great experience”. The idea is for legislators to hear from a
lot of us, because they are certainly hearing from ACOG and AMA lobbyists.
ACOG and the AMA may have the big
bucks and lobbyists, but we can have an effect.
The power of organized people CAN overcome the power of organized money!
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HOW TO GET STARTED
Take some time to understand both the
issue and what your legislator cares about.
This tool kit includes the background and facts you need, as well as
resources for finding and learning about your legislators or “target
audience.” If you don't have the time or
the desire to read through this whole kit, below is a list of the most
important things to look at and a way to get started.
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KEY MESSAGES TO LEGISLATORS
We (women, babies, and families) need
your help!
Despite their claims otherwise, ACOG
and the AMA are abusing our trust by misrepresenting home birth and midwives
and by working to outlaw the choice of midwife-attended home births.
- ACOG and AMA are TRADE ORGANIZATIONS:
They seek to promote self-serving legislation that is more concerned with
market share than the safety and well being of mothers and babies.
- NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS for AMA and ACOG
positions: Recent position statements
and resolutions by these organizations are based on belief and innuendo, with
NO credible supporting evidence. Science shows us that planned home birth with
a trained midwife is safe for most women and their babies.
- US BIRTH OUTCOMES ARE GETTING
WORSE: With 99% of births taking place
in hospitals, the positions of the AMA and ACOG would not solve the problem of
poor and deteriorating outcomes. Instead
they would restrict all families to hospital-based, doctor-controlled maternity
care, that routinely promotes and uses unnecessary practices and procedures that
are proven to be harmful or risky to mother and/or baby. In most industrialized
countries midwives are the primary care providers, with better outcomes at far
less expense than the US.
- AMA and ACOG positions CONTRADICT
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS: No legislation
should interfere with fundamental human rights to have autonomy over our
bodies, including the right to give birth at home.
Your help is needed to stop ACOG and
AMA and protect planned homebirth, because one-size-fits-all maternity care is
harmful. Stand up for access to healthy,
evidence-based maternity care, including the choice of a midwife-attended
planned home birth.
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TOOLKIT CONTENTS --
Do you find this information
useful? Learn more about CfM and consider Joining CFM.
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