November 22, 2009
UTNE READER

Midwifery's Renaissance

(Page 6 of 6)

Utne Reader March / April 2007
Marsden Wagner, Born in the USA 
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As midwifery becomes better established in the United States, it becomes more difficult for the obstetric establishment to perpetuate the myth that midwives are not as safe as doctors. Pushing the 'safety' issue has backfired as a way for obstetricians to protect their territory. As more state legislatures look carefully at the data and realize that they have been denying families a safe maternity care option, momentum will grow and laws that support and protect midwives will spread to other states.

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Another reason midwifery is going to grow: Americans believe in a free market economy with open competition. Obstetricians and midwives both offer primary maternity care.

Finally, midwifery will continue to grow as more women come to appreciate that maternity care is not primarily a health issue but a women's issue. Midwifery plays an important role in strengthening women's control over their own bodies and reproductive systems.

Excerpted from Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First (University of California, 2006).

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  • midwifelynda 7/7/2009 3:07:17 PM

    Thank you for this timely piece (although the book is already three years old). As I have said over and over, re: serving women during pregnancy and childbirth: what we need is for women to have the safe and satisfying options, and THEN we need a smooth transition into the medical world if their care warrants it. I hope I live to see it in every state and territory for every woman and baby.

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