If you live in Iowa, I ask you to please write your representative to ask them to support a licensure bill for Certified Professional Midwives.
You can find your legislator here by entering your address: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators
The main points are that midwives would be able to be licensed by the state of Iowa to practice. This includes those who are CPMs, Certified Professional Midwives. Twenty-eight states (and counting) have passed similar bills. The term ‘Midwife’ would then join the ranks of other professions that need to be licensed by the state (eg. physicians, nurses, chiropractors, podiatrists, mental health counselors, athletic trainers, barbers, massage therapists, etc.). The bill would establish a Board of Midwifery. This would follow the NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) and NACPM (National Association of Certified Professional Midwives) definitions and standards for midwives. NARM is the organization that oversees the CPM National Board examination. This is an important bill because it changes the legal climate for midwives. Without this change, CPMs cannot practice in Iowa, and women do not have access to quality midwifery care in most parts of our state.
Women choose home birth midwives for many reasons, including safety, better outcomes, fewer interventions and comfort. I myself have had three babies at home and had a couple of very scary situations. I knew I was in good hands. The OB at the hospital after Elivette’s birth told me that my midwife had already done what needed to be done to save my life.
You can copy and paste the following letter and easily email your representative asking them to support this very life changing bill.
Women choose home birth midwives for many reasons, including safety, better outcomes, fewer interventions and comfort. I myself have had three babies at home and had a couple of very scary situations. I knew I was in good hands. The OB at the hospital after Elivette’s birth told me that my midwife had already done what needed to be done to save my life.
You can copy and paste the following letter and easily email your representative asking them to support this very life changing bill.
Dear Representative _______________,
Greetings.
I’m writing today as your constituent to ask you to support the bill to license midwives in Iowa. Certified Professional Midwives undergo high quality education and training, and their care has been associated with excellent outcomes for mothers and babies. Midwife licensure ensures that all midwives meet standards of professional competence, and ensures that all Iowa families can access safe, affordable maternity care.
This bill is important to me because women need choices, safe options, on where to birth. Many more women would be afforded this amazing option by licensing Certified Professional Midwives.
By allowing midwife licensure for Certified Professional Midwives, Iowa would be the 29th state to have this opportunity, including Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota.
I can see by the bills that you sponsor that you care about women and the rights of the individual.
Voting for this bill would fit right in with what you stand for.
Thank you for representing me, and for your attention to this important issue.
(be sure to sign your letter with your name and street address)