Dear Mothers, Midwives, and Birth Choice Advocates-

Some of you may already be aware that there is a critical threat to access to home birth in Virginia.  After a mere 3 years of licensure, the scope of practice of Certified Professional Midwives is in jeopardy.

On Thursday, February 21, the Virginia Board of Medicine voted to initiate a review of regulations for Licensed CPMs with a focus on adding specific restrictions on which women/babies will be "allowed" to have a CPM attended home birth. This decision was not based on any evidence of a problem, but on two letters sent to the Board by maternity care providers with no experience in home birth, or knowledge about the CPM credential.

In restricting access to home birth for women who make informed decisions concerning their own health care, the Board of Medicine is supporting a process of eliminating choice for women.

There are many critical points along the way where the voice of the public not only must be heard, but can actually stop this threat in its tracks!  Please take action right now and then forward this request to everyone you know who cares about autonomous decision making in health care. 

Urgent Action:

The first step in a NOIRA (Notice Of Intention for Regulatory Action) is for the Board of Medicine to send it to the Governor for approval.  Therefore, the Governor needs to hear from the public RIGHT NOW.

Please let him know that, as a citizen of the Commonwealth, you support the practice of midwifery by CPMs and that you are satisfied with the current regulations that allow for autonomous discretion by the midwife and her client regarding acceptance into care.

Address your letter to:

Office of the Governor Timothy M. Kaine

Commonwealth of Virginia

Patrick Henry Building, 3^rd Floor

1111 E. Broad St.

Richmond, VA 23219

Points to make in your letter (please choose one or two of these and then add your own to make it personal):

• The General Assembly passed the CPM licensing statute in 2005 because women were already choosing to birth at home with or without qualified providers to attend them.

• The CPM statute specifically states that no women can be forced to see a physician during their care.

• The current C-section rate in Virginia is 32.91%, as compared to the WHO recommendation of 10-15% and a national average of 31.1%.

• Forcing women to have a baby in the hospital cannot be done.  By restricting the practice of CPMs, the BOM will be re-creating an unsafe situation. Women who want to resist the threat of unnecessary, non evidence-based care will likely once again choose to birth at home without skilled attendants to monitor them and their baby.  Restrictions such as those proposed will essentially be a requirement for CPMs to abandon their clients in specific situations.

You can view the CPM statute and regulations here:

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+CHAP0719  (statute)

http://www.townhall.virginia.gov/chapter/ViewChapter.cfm?Vac=127&Chapter=130

Please send your letter to the Governor right away.  We suggest you also send a copy of your letter to each of your legislators.  You can find out who your legislators are by visiting the Virginia Birth PAC website: www.vabirthpac.org or visit the Virginia General Assembly website: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform

Thank you for your continued support of midwifery and access to care.  In three short years some have forgotten what VA families are willing to do to maintain their rights and freedoms.

For more information on this issue, please join our mailing list or visit the Background Summary.

Thank you for your continued support and attention-

Brynne Potter, CPM

Julie Martin, CPM

Policy Coordinators, Commonwealth Midwives Alliance

www.commonwealthmidwives.org