We need for CPM's to be protected by the law to practice outside of hospital. For all women to have the choice to birth where they want to. This is about to be made into law in the UK and is certainly part of government guidelines. I had my 2nd baby at home there and it kills me that in order to do the same here in Iowa I have to hire an illegal midwife. And if I ever want to obtain my dream of BEING a midwife I have to train as a nurse or work illegally or move. I would rather have a midwife who trained for 3-4 years as just a midwife than one who trained for 3 years as a nurse and only 1 as a midwife.

The state of maternity care in this country is appalling. I think this year we placed in the upper 20's as far as maternal death rates! 1 being the lowest and 50 being the highest. If our current trend of having everyone be in hospital and our ridiculous c section rates are so great then why are so many of us dying? Studies have shown that just PLANNING a homebirth halves your chance of having pain meds, forceps/venthouse, and c-sections. This is healthier and cheaper for everyone involved!

Not really reproductive health (or is it. Maybe it is), but better breastfeeding education is needed. How can we expect women to stick with it and value it if our own Doctors aren't even up to speed with it?