My husband Brian wrote this letter to our legislator this month. Feel free to use it as an example of the way a homebirth supporter who ISN'T a Mom can appeal to lawmakers!
My name is Brian Whitehead and I am writing today to discuss my experience with homebirth.
Nine moths ago my wife gave birth to our daughter Robin in our home with a midwife and two doulas. The experience was - as anyone who has had a baby knows - grueling, difficult and exhausting, but by chosing to undergo this life-changing event at home I was able to be an integral part of my wife's labor and our daughter's birth. I have talked to other fathers who had the misfortune of having traditional hospitals births with their wives and it is my opinion that homebirthing is the superior option.
Our birth was overseen by a trained, competent professional. It was safe and inexpensive. It allowed us to have this rare and special event transpire in the comfort and familiarity of our own home.
I am relatively new to Iowa, having moved here four years ago to get my MA from the University of Iowa. As someone who plans on spending my future and raising a family in this state, I cannot remain silent while this practice is still - inexplicably - not fully protected by law.
Please consider my experience when making legislative decisions in the future.
Brian Whitehead
Showing posts with label letterwriting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label letterwriting. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
November Letter Writing Challenge: Write for CHANGE!
Dear Friends,
As snow begins to fall in Iowa I think back to last winter when I was enormously pregnant, carefully making my way down icy sidewalks to Presidential primary events, and then caucusing for the first time about 10 weeks before my daughter's homebirth. Robin was with me when I saw John Edwards, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama speak in Iowa, and she was with me to see Obama elected president this week.
No matter who you caucused or voted for, I think we can all agree on a change that needs to happen for women in our state and in our country: they need full access to a model of care that respects and honors their bodies and births, and that will come through licensure of professional midwives. This is a great time to send a letter on the theme of CHANGE to our local, state, and national representatives urging them to implement midwifery and homebirth into the future of our healthcare system.
President-elect Barack Obama has created a website devoted to citizens' ideas about change and we encourage you to send a letter to him, as well as your local represenatives and our state representatives, arguing for midwifery as a part of your vision for change.
Barb at the Navelgazing Midwife has created a wonderful letter that we encourage you to use, edit, adapt, etc and send send send. A highlight from the letter:
I hereby ask that non-nurse midwifery become a prominent part of your developing health plan.
To reward your efforts, you will receive a FREE FOIM BUMPER STICKER for every letter you send! Email Lauren at laurendoula@yahoo.com to let me know what you wrote (if you'd like to share) and who you sent a letter to and you will receive a free sticker. HELLO! THAT IS AWESOME. YES WE CAN!
Lauren
clerk
As snow begins to fall in Iowa I think back to last winter when I was enormously pregnant, carefully making my way down icy sidewalks to Presidential primary events, and then caucusing for the first time about 10 weeks before my daughter's homebirth. Robin was with me when I saw John Edwards, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama speak in Iowa, and she was with me to see Obama elected president this week.
No matter who you caucused or voted for, I think we can all agree on a change that needs to happen for women in our state and in our country: they need full access to a model of care that respects and honors their bodies and births, and that will come through licensure of professional midwives. This is a great time to send a letter on the theme of CHANGE to our local, state, and national representatives urging them to implement midwifery and homebirth into the future of our healthcare system.
President-elect Barack Obama has created a website devoted to citizens' ideas about change and we encourage you to send a letter to him, as well as your local represenatives and our state representatives, arguing for midwifery as a part of your vision for change.
Barb at the Navelgazing Midwife has created a wonderful letter that we encourage you to use, edit, adapt, etc and send send send. A highlight from the letter:
Because I wholeheartedly support your desire to overhaul medical insurance availability…
Because I believe that home birth is a viable and safe option for women in the United States…
Because the mechanism for licensing non-nurse midwifery exists in this country through the North American Registry of Midwives…
Because studies increasingly demonstrate that non-nurse midwives are a safe option for women having normal pregnancies…
Because studies prove a midwife’s presence maintains low cesarean rates and saves an enormous amount of money when normal pregnant women utilize midwives instead of obstetricians…
Because non-nurse midwives are paid the least of all obstetric care providers even as they provide comprehensive quality care…
Because requiring Medicaid to include paying non-nurse midwives would save our country millions, if not billions, of dollars as women having normal pregnancies use the most cost effective care provider…
To reward your efforts, you will receive a FREE FOIM BUMPER STICKER for every letter you send! Email Lauren at laurendoula@yahoo.com to let me know what you wrote (if you'd like to share) and who you sent a letter to and you will receive a free sticker. HELLO! THAT IS AWESOME. YES WE CAN!
Lauren
clerk
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