"Reclaim Your Right to Birth Right"

Ever wish you could find an article that sums up everything you ever wanted to say about maternity care in the US?  The perfect article for passing on to friends and family members who just don't understand why we don't all need to be utilzing the "best" medicine has to offer for every birth?  This perfect article would be written by a well-respected obstetrician who can tell the inside story and who has the wisdom and the temerity to question what she sees and preach what she knows to be true.

Thank you Dr. Christiane Northrup, for writing, "A Woman's Nation: Reclaim Your Right to Birth Right" for the Huffington Post.

Health Care Reform Gets Us Where We Live

So much of the talk about health care reform lately is about the cost of it: will it add to the budget deficit?  Will it include cuts to Medicare?  Will it tax rich people’s “gold-plated” insurance plans?

It’s easy to forget that the reason we’re talking about this in the first place is that people need better care primarily for their bodies and minds, not for their pocketbooks.  Of course we’re all worried about the cost of things, but on a deep level we’re more concerned about what will happen to us when we’re vulnerable; when we’re sick; when we’re old; when we’re depending on someone else to keep us well and safe.

Or when we’re giving birth.

Maybe that’s why Senator Debbie Stabenow’s memorable exchange with Senator John Kyl really hit home with us at the MAMA Campaign.  We’re trying to focus the health care reform debate on the needs of, well, Mamas, women giving birth.  But there haven’t been a lot of Mamas in the health care debate on television.  We’ve mostly had economists instead.

But Senator Stabenow’s words remind us that there are powerful women in this country who care about actual health care, and maternity care.  So you have Senator Amy Klobuchar recalling her less-than-stellar birthing experiences and calling for something better.  And she’s not the only one.  There are more women in Congress now than there have ever been before, and they’re speaking, if anyone’s willing to listen.

Everyone "needs" maternity care

Rachel Slajda from TPMDC summed up one of the more entertaining highlights from this week's hearing on the hill regarding the many ammendments to the Senate Health Care Bill.

Just before the Senate Finance Committee wrapped up for the long weekend, members debated one of Sen. Jon Kyl's (R-AZ) amendments, which would strike language defining which benefits employers are required to cover.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) argued that insurers must be required to cover basic maternity care. (In several states there are no such requirements.)

"I don't need maternity care," Kyl said. "So requiring that on my insurance policy is something that I don't need and will make the policy more expensive."

Stabenow interrupted: "I think your mom probably did."

The amendment was defeated, nine to 14.

While it's certainly gratifying to see that there are Senators like Stabenow who understand the importance of maternity coverage in any health reform bill, it is equally alarming to hear the indifferent tone from Senator Kyl as he disregards the plain fact that poor maternity outcomes in this country affect everyone.

UPDATE: Missoula Mamas Fun-Fundraising Activities

MAMA Activist Erin with baby WillaMontana is racing ahead in the race to be the most active state in the MAMA Campaign (it's a foot race with the state of Washington!).  We hope this update from MAMA Campaign Steering Committee member Dolly Browder can help inspire you to hold an event in your community.

Thank you Missoula Mamas!

The Political March and Silent Auction Fundraiser dates are less than a week away and the Missoula Montana group is working through a myriad of details. I am pleased that the volunteers have been able to have their young kids at the meetings and activities. This  usually means that several young children from 4 months to 10 years are part of the work.

The activity that I most enjoyed this last week was a sign-making party for the Political Action March. The photos I’ve included show the spirit everyone has for the cause of Certified Professional Midwives. Erin Sipe provided poster board, paints, markers, staple gun and her house for the event. She has the youngest and oldest children of the group. Her 4 month old baby sat in her bouncy chair happily watching as her older brother helped to entertain the three other kids. Sunshine Kempel’s son took paint brushes to his sign with so much gusto it left some paint on the plastic covering the floor. Soon he and Rachael Atkins’ son had paint on their feet. Sunshine’s husband provided the wooden sticks for the signs and Rachael brought duct tape and wording from the MAMA Campaign website. All three mothers have given many hours of their time and deserve a big hand from the MAMA Campaign Steering Committee.

Some quotes from the Political Action Walk signs: I (heart) my CPM; Midwives For Everyone; Certified Professional Midwives in Medicaid Act; Born At Home (kid’s sign); Include CPMs For All Mothers; etc.

The Silent Auction/Food/Music Fundraising event has so many details, I will be amazed when it actually happens. A local pizza place has donated a dozen pizzas with the tomatoes, vegetables and herbs for the pizzas donated by a local organic farm. A local bar will provide wine and beer. We also will provide juice and water for the non-alcoholic crowd.  Music will be provided by Trent Atkins’ (Rachael’s husband) band, The Workers. Trent has written a song for the event that is playful and serious about why Certified Professionl Midwives are a good choice for maternity care.

Today, I took the event flyer with me to the Missoula Farmer’s Market and the local large organic food store and was impressed at the enthusiasm and interest people showed. Some already knew about the events through email or Facebook groups, but everyone was excited to support CPM issues. I also emailed press releases to three local newspapers.

Three more mothers volunteered to help out. Everyone’s support is so appreciated.

Dolly Browder, CPM

534 amendments...how about one more?

For those of you who are out to impress your friends and co-workers with your health reform knowledge, here is a list of all 534 amendments, and their sponsors, submitted to the current mark of the Senate Finance bill (Baucus D-MT).  

Don't blur your eyes looking for the amendment that recognizes CPMs as eligible providers...yet.  We're still working diligently on it and need your continued support!
The MAMA Campaign