Citizens for Midwifery is proud to be part of the National Birth Policy Coalition, and strongly supports the Big Push for Midwifery campaign, which is in alignment with the mission of Citizens for Midwifery.

Citizens for Midwifery supports fair licensure for midwives, and supports the Certified Professional Midwife credential as the basis for licensing. Licensing of midwives benefits women and families by increasing access to midwives and by providing for appropriate regulation and accountability.

For mothers and babies, access to maternity care is a primary concern, but increasingly women are also concerned about the kind of maternity care they will receive. Does care avoid unnecessary interventions? Is it based on best practices and good evidence? Is it effective in promoting healthy mothers and babies? Are care-providers respectful of mothers and the process of birth? Certified Professional Midwives, who practice in line with the Midwives Model of Care, satisfy these concerns. The Midwives Model of Care is a woman-centered model of care that has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma and cesarean section.

Citizens for Midwifery supports the respectful, evidence-based Midwives Model of Care as the standard for maternity care in all settings. However, the economic incentives inherent in current health care institutions make the Midwives Model of Care virtually non-existent except for midwifery care provided outside of hospitals.

Citizens for Midwifery deplores the actions of medical and obstetrical professional organizations to prevent passage of midwifery licensing bills and to limit the ability of certified midwives (Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Nurse-Midwives) to provide care to the full extent of their education and credentials. Such actions, and the beliefs and attitudes they represent, harm mothers and babies by impeding access to providers practicing the Midwives Model of Care.