Campaign to Legalize Certied Professional Midwives in Maryland : Fact Sheet

What are CPM?

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIVES (CPM): are knowledgeable, skilled and independent midwifery practitioners. meet the standards for certication set by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) only international credential that requires knowledge about and experience in out-of-hospital birth.

What is MFSB?
Maryland Families for Safe Birth (MFSB) is a grassroots, consumer-driven advocacy organization MISSION : Introduce legislation to recognize licensure of Certied Professional Midwives (CPMs) and regulate the practice of midwifery Monitor and deter legislation that would be detrimental to families and care providers who choose out-of-hospital birth Support organizations who offer, through education and other means, information, support and advocacy regarding the midwifery model of care

26 states across our country recognize CPM's as medical professionals and license them in their state.
What this means to mothers,and their babies...
Healthier babies: fewer babies compromised by prematurity, low birth weight and effects of overused medical interventions, such as induction and cesarean section, that can lead to costly stays in Neonatal Intensive Care units and future health challenges Low Infant Mortality : nations with the lowest infant mortality employ midwives as the primary maternity care providers for the majority of women Cost Effectiveness : there is significant value and cost-savings potential of midwifery care for patient and healthcare system Right to Choose : Woman should have the right to choose the birth experience they desire

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events and includes: monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle; providing the mother with individualized education, counseling and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery and postpartum support; minimizing technological interventions; and identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.

It is important for individuals voices be heard on this matter. Please sign the petition at : http://signon.org/sign/legalizing-certified

Over 2,000 people have signed the petition, including 34 regional elected officials
Delegate Steven R. Schuh, Maryland House of Delegates Republican, District 31, Anne Arundel County

Dartmouth College, B.A., 1982; Harvard University, M.B.A.; Johns Hopkins University, M.S. Managing Member, Schuh Advisory, LLC 2007 -Elected to Maryland House of Delegates Member, Appropriations Committee, 2007-10 Assistant Minority Whip, 2011

Delegate Schuh has expressed interest in taking this before the the Health and Governmental Operations Committee. Let him know you appreciate him do this! House Ofce Building, Room 156 6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 841-3206, (301) 858-3206 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3206 (toll free) e-mail: steve.schuh@house.state.md.us fax: (410) 841-3764, (301) 858-3764

Personal Reflection: I was the 1685th signature on an online petition to legalize CPM in Maryland. I included some personal comments when signing as well. This led to me being contacted by Danielle M. Iman, a legislative aide for Delegate Schuh. Ms. Iman requested my contact information. A few days later, Delegate Steve Schuh personally contacted me and briefly stated that he would like to bring this before the Health and Governmental Operations Committee and thanked me for my involvement. I have had the personal experience of Midwives for both births of my two children. I believe the model of care they provided me with was the best care for my family. It is a passion of mine to educate mothers unfamiliar with Midwifery, in the hopes that this practice becomes more recognized.

Point of Contact: Steve Schuh - Steve.Schuh@house.state.md.us Danielle M. Iman, Legislative Aide

References Maryland State Archives. (2011). Maryland House of Delegates. Retrieved November 26 from http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14631.html.

Maryland State Archives. (2011). Maryland House of Delegates. Retrieved November 26 from http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14631.html

Midwives Alliance of North America. (2011). Denitions. Retrieved November 26 from http://mana.org/definitions.html MoveOn.org Civic Action. (n.d.). Legalize Certied Professional Midwives in Maryland. Retrieved November 26 from http://signon.org/sign/legalizing-certified

National Association of Certied Professional Midwives. (2001). What is a Certied Professional Midwife? Retrieved November 26 from http://nacpm.org/what-iscpm.html. North American Registry of Midwives. (2011). Advocacy. Retrieved November 26 from http:// narm.org/advocacy/