BIG PUSH FOR MIDWIVES RALLY - THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME OUT!!

An enthusiastic crowd of mothers, fathers, babies, midwives, and freedom-lovers gathered in the state capitol today to celebrate the birth of PA Families for Safe Birth (PFSB.)

The rally was held in concert with other state rallies as part of The Big Push for Midwives Campaign which is the first initiative of the National Birth Policy Coalition. The NBPC is focused on increasing access to the Midwives Model of Care in all settings, as well as supporting legislative initiatives that promote the autonomous practice of Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Nurse-Midwives.

Keynote speaker, Krystn Madrine, said, "We are part of something that is much bigger than what you see here. All across the country today people are coming together to support the idea of midwives." She reminded us that, "(We) are part of the tapestry of the movement toward having better birth".

Marsden Wagner, former director of Womens and Childrens Health of the World Health Organization said, "Pennsylvania is in a mess. You have a Medical Board who is attacking midwives. You have obstetricians in this state who say that homebirth is dangerous, that midwives are dangerous." Part of the mission of PFSB is to raise awareness and support for families choosing an out-of hospital birth as a safe, appropriate option. Dr. Wagner reminded us that all of the evidence supports the claim that midwife-attended birth is safe.

One of the goals of PFSB is to support legislation that will license Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in Pennsylvania, giving them freedom to serve Pennsylvania's women. "We are ready for, and demanding change," said Salem, Executive Director of Birth Without Boundaries, International. "We need each one of you. We need our midwives; regardless of what two letters come before the 'M.' We need our midwives, period."

"We are in the very early stages of our pregnancy," said Ms. Madrine. "Nobody can see. We aren't showing yet. We're still having some morning sickness. We are still deciding which vitamins to take." But like the growing child, she said, the movement toward childbirth freedom is living and growing and swelling across the country. "So you can get involved and have an impact. It has to come from you." she told the consumers, saying it is time for us to give back and to stop the harassment of midwives.

"At the end of the day," said Dr. Wagner, "this is all about freedom. The families of PA do not today have freedom to choose the kind of birth they want where they want it. The sanctity of all families has been taken away from you. PA families must get the truth, because the truth will make them free."