Midwifery Organizations
Midwifery care is a priviledge. Historically, (for centuries) women were always cared for by midwives, but with the advent of modern medical care, birth became something to be managed, and something that generates money, and midwives were demonized - but we never went away!
We are grateful for modern medicine! Don't get me wrong, because there are times when that is exactly what is needed - be it a compassionate epidural, a rare but truly needed surgical birth, or a babe who needs a little more support; but it is an ongoing battle for midwives to stay in practice and have the autonomy to give clients choice and the individualized care that they deserve - that is their human right - as intelligent people in charge of their own bodies and health. The American Congress of Obstretics continues to build hurdles for us to leap. We ask that you look at the following links so that you understand some of the politics and what happens behind the scenes of the day-to-day work that we do, and if you are moved to do so, give some support. CAM and CFAM in particular work directly for you, the consumer, here in the state of California.
All of these organizations have Facebook pages that you may "like" for up-to-date information, and sometimes urgent political action items. By supporting these organizations, you help ensure a voice and a choice for yourselves, and your children in the future.
California Association of Midwives (CAM)
The mission of CAM is to provide continuing education for midwives, educate the public about home birth, and to improve and maintain midwives' legal status. Please click the link below and read on:
California Families for Access to Midwives (CFAM)
CAFM was created for YOU, the consumer, so you can be involved in preserving your right to birth where and withwhom you wish. It is a a newly formed statewide, nonprofit coalition committed to ensuring that all California families have access to safe, affordable midwifery care. They were very instrumental in helping to make recent positive changes in our law.
Please click the link below and read on:
Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA)
The Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), established in 1982, is a professional membership organization that promotes excellence in midwifery practice, endorses diversity in educational backgrounds and practice styles, and is dedicated to unifying and strengthening the profession, thereby increasing access to quality health care and improving outcomes for women, babies, families, and communities.
Click the link and read on for more interesting information:
North American Registry of Midwives (NARM)
NARM’s mission is to provide and maintain an evaluative process for multiple routes of midwifery education and training; to develop and administer a standardized examination system leading to the credential “Certified Professional Midwife” (CPM); to identify best practices that reflect the excellence and diversity of the independent midwifery community as the basis for setting the standards for the CPM credential; to publish, distribute and/or make available materials that describe the certification and examination process and requirements for application; to maintain a registry of those individuals who have received certification and/or passed the examination; to manage the process of re-certification; and to work in multiple arenas to promote and improve the role of CPMs in the delivery of maternity care to women and their newborns.
In the State of California, this is our route to licensure. (Though CPMs are not recognized as legal here - even though we have had the exact same rigorous training, testing and credentials, this is where we all begin.) In California we are required to take further steps for state licensure in order to practice legally.
There is a lot of great information on this site. Please read on.