Legislation to allow licensed Certified Professional Midwives to deliver babies in all out-of-hospital birth settings has been filed in the House of Representatives.
House Bill 312 (HB312), sponsored by State Rep. Ben Harrison (R-Cartwright), would broaden the scope of midwifery care in the state.
In addition to cleaning up technical language, the bill clarifies and codifies the intents of the original midwifery legislation passed in 2017. It enhances legislative language surrounding midwives administering state-required timely newborn screenings. HB 312 also solidifies Alabama families' rights to access a licensed Certified Midwife's care in all out-of-hospital birth settings, including free-standing birth centers.
"We need clear, up to date code language that enables safe and sustainable practice and regulation of out of hospital midwifery," said Nancy Megginson, Legislative Chair of the Alabama Midwives Alliance. "Alabama's licensed Certified Professional Midwives care deeply about the safety and wellbeing of Alabama families and their newborns who are born outside of hospitals. The HB 312 Midwifery Housekeeping Bill solidifies Certified Professional Midwives' ability to provide the highest standards of evidence based midwifery care in line with current best practices."
For years, midwifery practitioners have struggled to expand the level of care the state will permit midwives to perform.
Last year, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama filed a lawsuit on behalf of several doctors and midwives against the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to combat proposed rules by ADPH to regulate birth centers in Alabama.
Related: Circuit judge blocks ADPH birthing center rules from taking effect.
Many women nationwide have been switching to alternative methods of birthing children other than in the hospital, often choosing to have a midwife, doula or both attend their birth.
RELATED: Alabama advocates continue struggle for birthing rights
There are many reasons for choosing midwifery care over hospital care. Some have had previous negative experiences with a hospital birth. Others prefer a less medical approach to what they consider a natural bodily function that requires no medical intervention outside of emergencies.
Birthing centers offer a middle ground between a hospital birth and home birth, allowing mothers to give birth while still having access to certain medicines and interventions in the case of an emergency. Otherwise, the mothers can give birth as they see fit, in line with their preferences.
While there are various levels of certification for different kinds of midwives, they all require extensive training, and licensed midwives have stringent regulations dictated by the state.
Alabama has only allowed certified professional midwives (CPM) to perform births for five years, although they are still excluded from participating in hospital births.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
