We are still here
Did you know that Georgia has a rich history of traditional community midwifery? Prior to the invention of the Georgia Medical Association, there were at least 5000 black midwives serving Georgia families. Unfortunately, the Sheppard Towner Act began the aggressive campaign to eradicate the midwife in 1925. By 1930, the state government was directly overseeing the midwives’ training and providing tools, such as incubators.
“We would go into the home and take the incubator, set it up the day before, and have it ready for the baby. We’d give the mother some instructions. Then we’d go back every day and weigh the baby, and see that it was being fed correctly and everything” (Pauline English, Oral History Interview, 79)
“We had to take the incubators out and hook them up. If there was electricity, then it was very satisfactory. But if not, we had to use hot water bottles or hot bricks wrapped and it was not very satisfactory at all” (Beatrice Parramore, Oral History Interview, 42)
In 1947, nurse-midwifery was established in Georgia, requiring the oversite of physicians for hospital delivery.
Sadly, in 1963 the state of Georgia stopped issuing licenses for midwives. I suppose they thought this would be the end of us. But midwifery did not die there.
Families continued to seek out providers for autonomous birth at the location of their choosing (home!). Like a ripple in a pond, word began to spread. Midwives used old textbooks and traveled to get training so that they could better serve these families.
In 1983 Spellman College launched the Black Women’s Health Project “to empower Black women to attain healthy living and overall physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.” Two years later the Georgia Midwifery Association was started to “provide standards and guidelines for direct-entry midwives who practice in out-of-hospital settings”.
Today there are between 50 and 60 community midwives serving Georgia families, a shadow of what once was. Only a handful of these are Black midwives, available to serve the community with the worst outcomes and the greatest needs. Racial divides have separated midwives, causing inequities and further harm to at risk communities. NACPM is proud to collaborate with Community Midwives National Alliance in seeking licensure for all community midwives in Georgia. Together we have coo-authored the current bills in Georgia legislature, with careful, inclusive language to ensure that every community gets the midwife they deserve.
Current Georgia Legislation
We have been quiet in this space, but the work continues. The Legislative Committee has been engaging in strategic planning for this legislative session. We still have two active bills: Senate Bill 111 and House Bill 806. A Midwife Day at the Capitol Building is being planned for 2022. Stay tuned for that!
Current National Legislation
While Georgia has been plodding along, Illinois, Oklahoma, and D.C. have all passed legislation increasing access to maternity care providers such as CPMs. Congratulations to those states and the legislators that recognize maternal health as important!!!
Please Consider Making a Donation Today- Any amount helps!!
Your donation goes directly to funding legislative efforts and training the midwives of tomorrow! We strive for a diverse midwifery community with MORE MIDWIVES. Currently, the demand for community midwives is greater than we can meet. Check out these photos from our last midwife training day!
