Latest on MA Midwifery bill?

[Cathieq]

Anyone know the latest? I haven't been on much because I've been busy with our summer travels and our sweet baby. I recently got a nice letter from my State senator saying she supports it. Now that I'm no longer hugely pg, I'd love to get more involved. I'm still so mad that HB didn't turn out to be a viable option for us.

[xmasbaby7]

Well, that's great, because we will need as many moms and people to help as possible this upcoming year.

The bill did not pass in the House by the conclusion of the legislative session, so the bill we be refiled in December and have to pass in the House and Senate all over again.

Consider joining the MFOM yahoo group (MA_Friends_of_Mdiwives) or emailing your info to info@mfom.org so that you can be made aware of the latest lobbying efforts that will start again this fall.

We were told we did an incredible job raising the visibility of the bill among the legislators, and it is unusual for any bill to pass its first time in a session, so we feel good about the foundation we laid this past year and our upcoming prospects.

Thanks for your help!!!!

[plantmama]

There was an editorial (not a letter to the editor, a whole editorial) in our paper (the Providence Journal) about how silly it was that it didn't pass and how safe home birth is.
This was last week I think?

[jule]

Wouldn't it be great to send Rep Pedone (the one who blocked the bill) a copy of Henci Goer's "the thinking woman's guide to a better birth" or something similar and ask him to read it before he decides to block the bill again next session. Just maybe it would change his mind!!!

[PassionateWriter]

be careful what you wish for everyone. MWs are regulated and HBs are mandated to be covered by insurance in NH but they are pushing alot of women out of that option w/ their regs. :(

[xmasbaby7]

It IS really disappointing what happened in NH.

If our bill doesn't pass, I can imagine a newer one being submitted by the Mass Medical Society much more like NH's with a physician tilted board that has stripped midwives of their scope of practice.

The current bill in MA we are hoping to pass creates a board with a far different composition of members promising much more consumer friendly regulations.

The horrible force that wrote the AMA's federal resolution to outlaw home birth is right here in Massachusetts, so if we don't get CPMs licensed, I fear aggressive prosecution of homebirth midwives more like CT and MO.