About Me

Founded by several mothers in 1996, Citizens for Midwifery is the only national consumer-based group promoting the Midwives Model of Care.
The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and childbirth are normal life processes, and the application of this women-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section. Our goal is to see that the Midwives Model of Care is available to all childbearing women and universally recognized as the best kind of care for pregnancy and birth.
Citizens for Midwifery also endorses the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative,,.
Citizens for Midwifery:

A consumer-based grassroots organization promoting the Midwives Model of Care. Provides information about midwifery, the Midwives Model of Care and related issues. Encourages and provides practical guidance for effective grassroots actions for midwifery. Speaks up for consumer interests regarding midwifery and maternity care. Works to change factors that restrict access to midwifery and the Midwives Model of Care. Works cooperatively with other organizations for improved maternity services.
http://www.cfmidwifery.org

Citizens for Midwifery on Blogspot: http://cfmidwifery.blogspot.com/

Special thanks to stock.xchng users batluck, jynmeyer, sunchasers, and valsilvae for photos used on this site!

My Interests

Safety in Birth Begins with
Midwives
* RESPECTFUL TREATMENT *
* PERSONAL ATTENTION *
* EMOTIONAL SUPPORT *
* CONFIDENCE IN OUR BODIES *
* EDUCATION AND INFORMATION *
Midwives are specialists in normal birth.
Midwives recognize that birth is a normal, healthy process.
Midwives focus more on women and babies as individuals and less on technology.
A thorough knowledge of birth allows midwives to minimize the use of technology and medical interventions.
Midwives do not expose women and babies unnecessarily to potentially harmful interventions.
Research shows that midwives are the safest care providers for the majority of women with normal pregnancies and births.

Poll
What is the status of direct-entry midwives (DEM) in your state?
Legal & regulated
Legal & unregulated
Illegal
Other
Don't know

View Results
Learn more about the status of midwifery in your area.
Facts

The U.S. has one of the worst infant mortality rates in the developed world- 28th in the world. Cuba, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic all have better infant mortality rates.
Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. have not improved in 20 years- 16th in the world.
Every country with maternal and infant mortality rates lower than the U.S. has universal health care AND midwives attending the majority of births.
The US cesarean rate is staggering- over 30%. Hospital-based midwives have a documented 10% cesarean rate in comparison.Unnecessary cesarean sections increase health care costs and contribute toward increased maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.
Planned homebirths for low-risk women are just as safe as low-risk births in hospitals.
For more facts and statistics about maternity care and midwifery, check out our new FACT SHEET !!!

I'd like to meet:

If you are interested in maternity care that is ...

Safe Respectful Family Centered Health Promoting Cost Effective then Citizens for Midwifery (CfM) has information and resources you need!

Take Action!

1. Add Citizens for Midwifery as a friend and put us in your Top 8!
2. Join CfM to receive the quarterly CfM News, keeping you informed on midwifery news and developments across the country. Your membership also helps to pay the costs of maintaining our toll-free hotline and of supplying information and brochures to the public.
3. Tell your friends about CfM! You can use the following text to copy into bulletins, blogs, emails, etc.
Are you concerned about the health of pregnant women and their babies? Did you know that the U.S. has the second worst newborn death rate in the modern world? Or that the maternal death rate has not improved in the past 20 years, despite huge increases in the amount of medical intervention during birth? What can we do to improve the state of maternity care in the U.S.? Citizens for Midwifery has the answer.
I just thought you should know about this great nonprofit organization promoting the Midwives Model of care- maternity care that is safe, respecful, family centered, health-promoting and cost effective. Check out their MySpace page and add them as a friend. Then visit http://www.cfmidwifery.org , where you can learn more about midwifery and the Midwives Model of Care!
To copy this text, right-click in the box and choose "Select all." Then, right click again to choose "Copy" or press Ctrl+C.
4. Add a CfM banner to your profile.
To add a banner to your profile, right-click in the following box and choose "Select all." Then, right click again to choose "Copy" or press Ctrl+C. Paste the code into your "About Me" or wherever you'd like the image to appear!

5.Join the CfM Grassroots Network.

Subscribe to grassrootsnews

6. Become an activist. Check out CfM's advocacy tools , including how to contact your legislator and a letter template .
7. Volunteer with CfM.
8. Shop Amazon.com through CfM and Citizens for Midwifery will receive a percentage of all purchases made!

My Blog

Core Values: Maternity Care and CfM

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 Maternit...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:25:00 PST

FAQs about midwives and midwifery

.text {color:000000}.titlebold {font-style:bold} What is a midwife? The Midwives Model of Care Midwives in the U.S. Direct Entry Midwives (including Licensed Midwiv...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:51:00 PST

NEW FACT SHEET: Facts About Maternity Care and Midwifery

Facts about Maternity Care and MidwiferyPrepared by Susan Hodges, President, Citizens for Midwifery, for NAPW Summit January 2007Pregnancy and childbirth are normal, healthy processes for the majority...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:26:00 PST

[grassroots news] Maternity care in the media

Grassroots Network Message 803017Maternity care in the media!Dear Friends,Two recent media piece on birth are evidence of heightened awareness about birth in the natio...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:29:00 PST

[grassroots news] Missouri update

Grassroots Network Message 803018Missouri updateDear Friends,Missouri advocates have posted the press release below. The case will be heard in the MO State Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 5! F...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:28:00 PST

[grassroots news] Now on Netflix: The Business of Being Born

Grassroots Network Message 802016Now from Netflix: The Business of Being BornDear Friends,Thanks to CfM Board Member Carolyn Keefe for bringing you the latest information on Ricki Lake's The Business ...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:23:00 PST

[grassroots news] Now on Netflix: The Business of Being Born

[grassroots news] Talking points re: ACOG’s press release

Grassroots Network Message 802015Talking points re ACOG's press releaseDear Friends,Following up on the ACOG anti-home birth press release (see Grassroots message 801012 or read the release at: http:/...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:34:00 PST

[grassroots news] PushNews press release "ACOG Out of Touch"

Grassroots Network Message 802014PushNews Press release "ACOG Out of Touch"Dear Friends,Following up on ACOG's anti-home birth press release, The Big Push Campaign has posted the press release below. ...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:28:00 PST

[grassroots news] Watch out for Medical Practice Act Amendments!

Grassroots Network Message 802013ALERT: Watch out for Medical Practice Act AmendmentsDear Friends,In two states midwifery advocates have discovered that a bill has been introduced to amend the Medical...
Posted by Citizens for Midwifery on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:49:00 PST