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Midwives solve birthing problem |
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Monday, 21 July 2008 |
Letter from Jennifer Jeppson
Moorhead, Minn.
Recently, the local news ran a story about the closing of the maternity ward at a hospital in Valley City. The story summed up the choices of the laboring mothers in the area with “mothers here will have to plan ahead and take into account the drive to either Jamestown (a distance of 28 miles) or Fargo (a distance of 56 miles).” No other options were mentioned.
Not too long ago, the issue of midwifery in North Dakota was raised in the legislative house, with one contemplative member asking if “his might be a viable option for women in rural areas.” At the time, the question wasn't answered and the issue was allowed to die. Due to the circumstances mentioned above, I think the time has come to revive that discussion and answer the question with a resounding YES!
With an aging population and more and more people moving to the larger cities, or even out of state, it is becoming more and more costly for hospitals in rural areas to provide maternity services. Eventually more, if not all, will have to refuse to provide those services so that they can cut costs and continue to offer care to the members of their community. Laboring mothers will be left with no choice but to drive, sometimes hours, to a hospital in another city to deliver their babies.
In a state that spends so many months buried in snow and dealing with blizzard after blizzard, only trouble can come from forcing our laboring mothers to drive long distances to receive medical care.
This is a situation that can be easily solved by introducing legislation that will make it safer and easier for midwives to provide care to clients; care that can be given without fear of arrest and criminal charges. Let the midwives do the driving and our laboring mothers stay at home, secure in the knowledge that a professional, trained midwife will come to HER when she's ready to deliver rather than her having to travel to receive care.
Jeppson is moderator for North Dakota Birth Action.
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