Talking Points
Writing a letter to your legislator or an op-ed for your local newspaper? Doing an interview with the media? These talking points can help.
1. Iowans deserve better access to the midwives model of care.
The Midwives Model of Care recognizes pregnancy and birth as normal life processes, and has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma and cesarean section.
Citizens for Midwifery
2. Licensing midwives in Iowa is in the interest of public health and safety.
Out-of-hospital birth is increasingly in demand in Iowa. Licensing midwives is the best way to ensure that those families who choose out-of-hospital birth will have access to the safest possible care. National and international public health research organizations such as the American Public Health Association and the World Health Organization support increased access to midwifery care in all settings.
APHA Resolution
WHO Care in Normal Birth
3. Certified Professional Midwives are specialists in out-of-hospital birth.
The CPM credential is the only nationally accredited midwifery credential that requires clinical experience in out-of-hospital birth. CPMs must meet rigorous educational requirements for the acquisition of knowledge and skills, and must pass both a hands-on skills assessment and an 8-hour written examination. Supervised clinical experience in out-of-hospital settings is required, as well as continuing education to maintain certification. CPMs provide full prenatal, birth, and postpartum care to low-risk women, and are trained to recognize deviations from normal, and to refer, consult, or transfer care if appropriate.
North American Registry of Midwives
4. Planned out-of-hospital births are safe and result in fewer cesareans and other costly interventions.
In June 2005, the British Medical Journal published the latest study in a large body of medical research showing that out-of-hospital birth for healthy women using Certified Professional Midwives results in outcomes equal to those of low-risk women giving birth in hospitals, but with far fewer avoidable and costly interventions.
CPM2000 Study Published in BMJ
For more information, please feel free to download, refer to, and share our Factsheets
1. Iowans deserve better access to the midwives model of care.
The Midwives Model of Care recognizes pregnancy and birth as normal life processes, and has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma and cesarean section.
Citizens for Midwifery
2. Licensing midwives in Iowa is in the interest of public health and safety.
Out-of-hospital birth is increasingly in demand in Iowa. Licensing midwives is the best way to ensure that those families who choose out-of-hospital birth will have access to the safest possible care. National and international public health research organizations such as the American Public Health Association and the World Health Organization support increased access to midwifery care in all settings.
APHA Resolution
WHO Care in Normal Birth
3. Certified Professional Midwives are specialists in out-of-hospital birth.
The CPM credential is the only nationally accredited midwifery credential that requires clinical experience in out-of-hospital birth. CPMs must meet rigorous educational requirements for the acquisition of knowledge and skills, and must pass both a hands-on skills assessment and an 8-hour written examination. Supervised clinical experience in out-of-hospital settings is required, as well as continuing education to maintain certification. CPMs provide full prenatal, birth, and postpartum care to low-risk women, and are trained to recognize deviations from normal, and to refer, consult, or transfer care if appropriate.
North American Registry of Midwives
4. Planned out-of-hospital births are safe and result in fewer cesareans and other costly interventions.
In June 2005, the British Medical Journal published the latest study in a large body of medical research showing that out-of-hospital birth for healthy women using Certified Professional Midwives results in outcomes equal to those of low-risk women giving birth in hospitals, but with far fewer avoidable and costly interventions.
CPM2000 Study Published in BMJ
For more information, please feel free to download, refer to, and share our Factsheets
