The Witch Hunt is now Legal

To all homebirth advocates, midwives, doulas, mothers, fathers and activists who care about a woman’s autonomy to choose how she wants to give birth,
Please read this press release and if you want more information go to www.birthwithoutboundaries.com.

THE WITCH HUNT IS NOW LEGAL…

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 27, 2007

HOMEBIRTH MIDWIFE IS ORDERED TO CEASE AND DESIST BY THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICINE

The State Board of Medicine today ordered Diane Goslin, a Pennsylvania midwife who attends the homebirths of the Amish and Plain communities, to “cease and desist from the practice of medicine and midwifery.” Additionally, she was fined $11,000.

Goslin, a Certified Professional Midwife, who attended over 5,000 successful homebirths and trained many professional midwives, received her certification from NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) in 1998. Accordingly, she has received appropriate training and education, demonstrated competent midwifery skill levels as affirmed by peer-review and successfully passed nationally standardized examinations. Although 23 States grant midwifery licenses to midwives who achieve NARM certification, Pennsylvania does not.

While homebirth attended by a midwife has been a traditional practice within Pennsylvania Amish and Plain communities, this less costly practice has recently been under attack from the state medical board. The number of families choosing homebirth continues to increase as medical research demonstrates its safety and cost effectiveness.

The CDC recently released a report that shows national maternal mortality rates (Aug, 2007 National Health Statistics) are the highest they have been in decades. One of the factors, they say, is the rising Cesarean birth rate. In an effort to achieve a safe and satisfying birth, women are beginning to choose homebirth as an option. "The system is broken," said Dr. Marsden Wagner, the former director of Women and Children's Health at the World Health Organization. "The United States has the second worst newborn mortality rate in the developed world, despite the fact that it's one of the most expensive maternity care systems."

In the UK, homebirth was recently adopted as an option for birthing women by the National Health Dept., which stated in 2006, "We are committed to offering all women the choice of how and where they give birth." In April 2007, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (the UK equivalent to the US ACOG), released a joint statement with the Royal College of Midwives stating their support for home birth.

"A recommendation made by the Georgia Study Commission on Midwifery is applicable to Pennsylvania," said Ida Darragh, Director of NARM. "When a state has an underground network of health care providers, it needs to deal with the situation responsibly through regulation rather than prosecution."

Goslin’s lawyers plan to appeal the Medical Board’s decision.


           

Dont hate me (lol), I think its because I JUST woke up, but I dont understand. What are they saying? I seriously read that like 5 times trying to get it and my mind isnt here this morning I guess???   So can someone tell me lol. I wanna know whats goin on!

They're ordering a certified midwife the stop assisting in home births, fining her 11,000 dollars for doing so. They're pretty much OUTLAWING home births. I think families should have the choice of where they want to have their babies, but Pennsylvania is pretty much saying that either people HAVE to have their babies at a hospital, or have them at home with no medical help at all.

The mortality rate is really high though. If having babies at home are killing the infants I think something should be done about that. esp. if most of them are dying because of being born at home. IMO

Quote "The CDC recently released a report that shows national maternal mortality rates (Aug, 2007 National Health Statistics) are the highest they have been in decades. One of the factors, they say, is the rising Cesarean birth rate. In an effort to achieve a safe and satisfying birth, women are beginning to choose homebirth as an option"

It is saying that the mortality rate is highest and one of the facotors is the rising Cesarean rate. Having C-sections is dangerous too and can sometimes be more dangerous then having it natural which is why they are now starting to allow us to try VBAC instead of the old "Once a c-section, always a c-section".

From what I've read, a natural birth is healthier than a c-section, because something about the baby coming through the birth canal helps the airways open easier.....

that's outragous! I dream of having a home birth but, due to being GBS + i'm forced to recive antibiotics several times during labor. That does not prevent me from refusing unneeded treatments such as Epi etc for as long as I can (my last labor was 26 hours but, 14 were totaly unmedicated.) The choice is not to the state. A mother knows what's best for her family.      

Well, personally, I'd rather have a homebirth but DH insists on a hospital. But I will refuse the epidural. Any pain meds they want to give me, they can give me through an IV

I can't even imagine having a home birth. I want to be in the hospital so I can get emergency services if something happens. I would like to have a VBAC but because of the hospital policies I don't know if they will let me try or if I will have to have a routine C-section. I will find out when we confirm the pregnancy and I have my first OB visit.