What is Citizens for Midwifery?

Citizens for Midwifery is a non-profit, volunteer, grassroots organization. Founded by several mothers in 1996, it is a national consumer-based group promoting the Midwives Model of Care.

A grassroots organization means a large number of people implementing a coordinated strategy to achieve change. The goal of Citizens for Midwifery is to see that the Midwives Model of Care is available to all childbearing people and universally recognized as the best kind of care for pregnancy and birth. Citizens for Midwifery also endorses the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative™.

Citizens for Midwifery (CfM) uses the term “citizens” to refer to all the people who live in a place and support or need access to the midwives model of care. We do not use this as a legal or exclusionary term.

If you are interested in maternity care that is ...

• Safe

• Respectful

• Family Centered

• Health Promoting

• Cost Effective

Then Citizens for Midwifery (CfM) has information and resources you need!

The Key is the Midwives Model of Care

At the core of the Midwives Model of Care is deep respect for the normalcy of birth and for the uniqueness of each childbearing person and family. This approach to maternity care promotes health and helps to prevent complications. Care providers who practice this model of care have excellent outcomes while providing safe, individualized care.

Access to the Midwives Model of Care is severely limited or nonexistent in many places due to state laws and regulations, hospital policies, economic structures, and misinformation that prevent or discourage qualified caregivers from providing this kind of care.

Citizens for Midwifery works to change those factors that restrict the availability of the Midwives Model of Care.

Core Values

Citizens for Midwifery has outlined our most basic core values relating to both maternity care and to the role of Citizens for Midwifery in efforts to improve maternity care.

Core Values About Maternity Care

• Pregnancy and childbirth are normal, healthy processes.

• Access to midwives and the Midwives Model of Care is vital to normal childbirth.

• Respect is at the core of the Midwives Model of Care. Every client should be treated with respect in every phase of their care from pregnancy through postpartum. Respect includes, but is not limited to complete information about tests, treatments, and procedures, fully informed consent, preservation of privacy, and polite respectful communications by all involved with their care.

• Pregnancy and childbirth effect the physical, mental, and psycho-social well-being of mothers, babies, and families, therefore maternity care should not only avoid harm, but also provide benefits to them.

• Maternity care should be grounded in evidence, and care providers should be accountable to the client and family for the mental and physical outcomes resulting from their actions or inactions.

• Clinical decisions in maternity care should be focused on promoting the overall health and well-being of the mother-baby dyad; these decisions should never be influenced or determined by economic considerations or legal fears.

• The use of practices, medications, and medical procedures should be based on the needs of each individual, baby, and the circumstances of each pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum experience with the client's full understanding and consent and based on the best evidence available. Routine protocols not based on research evidence should be avoided.

• Maternity care is an important aspect of health care in the United States and must be included in all discussions of health care policy.

• The quality and cost of maternity care and its outcomes directly or indirectly affect every US citizen.

Core Values of Citizens for Midwifery

• The public has a right to be involved in maternity care policy, and CfM is a powerful voice for consumers.

• CfM works to improve access to the Midwives Model of Care in all settings for birthing families of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, races, religions, sexual orientations, abilities, and socioeconomic circumstances.

• Coalition-building, communications, and networking with other organizations are essential for achieving our vision.

• The education, credentialing, regulation, and licensing of midwives are of critical concern to consumers, because they determine whether or not childbearing families will be able to get the kind of midwifery care they want and need.
  

The Midwives Model of Care

The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.

The Midwives Model of Care includes:

• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle

• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support

• Minimizing technological interventions

• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

Copyright © 1996-2018, Midwifery Task Force.  All Rights Reserved

What does Citizens for Midwifery do?

• A consumer-based grassroots organization promoting the Midwives Model of Care.

• Provides information about midwifery, the Midwives Model of Care and related childbirth issues.

• Encourages and provides practical guidance for effective grassroots actions for midwifery.

• Participates in national coalitions and efforts to increase access to midwives and high quality maternity care.

• Speaks up for consumer interests regarding midwifery and maternity care

• Works to change factors that restrict access to midwifery and the Midwives Model of Care.

CfM has provided assistance to midwives and birth activists in states across the US , including those that have passed laws allowing midwives trained in the Midwives Model of Care to attend births outside the hospital. 

Citizens for Midwifery helps you...

Learn

• Why the Midwives Model of Care works

• About different kinds of midwives in the U.S.

• Facts about maternity care

• What you can do

Connect

• With resources about birth and midwifery

• With the experience of others

• With friends of midwives around the country

Take Action

• Promote the Midwives Model of Care

• Change public opinion and change legislation

• Use effective communication techniques
  

Join CfM!

Become informed, and join with others to ensure access to the Midwives Model of Care. Donations (they are tax-exempt) also support CfM's work and are greatly appreciated.

Collaborations and Partnerships

CfM has participated in numerous collaborations and partnerships with other midwifery related organizations. We are so grateful for these opportunities to bring a consumer voice into these conversations and work. 

 Recent Work:

2018 CPM Symposium: CfM was a convening partner along with NACPM, AME, and NAABB. Read more on our blog about the convening and consulting partners for the symposium.

Legislation and Policy Webinar Series: CfM served as a partner in a series of webinar's with NACPM and AME. 

MANA and CfM Joint Statement on Waterbirth: CfM served as a partner in reviewing and drafting the research to develop this joint statement. 

MANA Home Birth Data 2004-2009: Consumer Considerations By: Lauren Korfine, PhD.  A consumer take and perspective on this data 

MAMA Campaign: Coalition of NACPM, MANA, NARM, MEAC, ICTC (now NAABB) and CfM who worked to achieve federal recognition of CPMs in the Affordable Care Act. Work has continued post ACA under NACPM.