Homebirthing Families in MS Need Us NOW!

"Action isn't a burden to be hoisted up and lugged around on our shoulders. It is something we are. The work we have to do can be seen as a kind of coming alive. More than some moral imperative, it's an awakening to our true nature, a releasing of our gifts."  ~ Joanna Macy

Where were you when you found out that the state of MS was about to pass a law to outlaw direct entry (non-nurse) midwifery?
Twenty months ago, I recieved an email from my midwife alerting me that there was a fast moving effort in Jackson to restrict midwifery to nurse midwives only.  The law would outlaw the midwives who care for home birthing families.  Amazingly, the supporters of home birth in MS joined hands across the state and built a wall to stop that law from going any further.  Organizations across the country were impressed with our fast action. Where do we stand now?

We have been building relationships - with legislators, Department of Health, MS Nurses Association.  Here it is bluntly:  If we don't get this bill passed to license midwives, someone else is going to get a bill passed to make direct entry midwives illegal.  We have to pass the "Midwife Standrds Act" which requires midwives optain the CPM credention to be a Licensed MS Midwife. We have done a lot of work to make sure we have the very best law in the US.  One that improves home birth for mothers and babies while elevating the profession of midwifery.

To accomplish this, I need you each to take a moment to reflect.  What will MS be like in 10 years if the "Midwife Standards Act" is passed?  What if ACOG gets its way and puts an end to direct entry midwives?  I have a pretty clear picture in my mind of what I want to see for MS families.  Just talk to a midwife or homebirth family in one of the 26 states that has licensed midwives, like FL or TN.  Ask them what acess to and care from idwives is like in their state.

What is your role in this? 

To pass the "Midwife Standards Act" we need help from every corner of the state. We need YOU to contact your legislators right now to let them know how important this issue is to their constituents.  Personally, I am working my way from my own district out to other areas - calling legislators.   I am willing to spend several days a week in Jackson while they are in session (January-April).  However, I have had to ask myself, what will I do if we don't have money to pay for these trips?  I have turned down opportunities for paid work, so that I can dedicate more time to this.  So, I am already working with a reduced income.  In addition to the countless hours I dedicate, how much can I take from my family's budget to pass this legislation?

I am asking for your help.  There are several states working on passing similar legislation with big budgets and paid lobbyists.  Thankfully, we have a few families that are donating enough time to be "lobbyists."  We work on a very small budget.  Please read the options below and think about how your family can help the families on MS for generations to come.

Thank you, Bianca Wooden
Co-Founder and President
Contact me anytime: 228.233.0686, me@biancawooden.com

Can you offer your time?
1 min: CLick on "Update your Preferences" at the bottom of this email and make sure we have your address and phone number.

5 min: Forward this email to a friend that wants to keep homebirth legal

15 min: Write a note to your Senator or Representative and tell them how much the "Midwife Standards Act" means to you.

30 min: Call your Senator or Representative and tell them how much the "Midwife Standards Act" means to you
1 hour: Join a board member for a meeting with your Senator or Representative
5 hours: Set up a booth at a local park or farmers market to spread the word.
20 hours: Volunteer to be our "Fundraising Coordinator" and organize an online fundraising effort.

Can you donate money?
$3: Send you a bumper sticker so you let others know about us.
$10: Stamps and envelopes to mail 15 letters to legislators.
$20: Make 200 flyers to distribute to legislators.
$30: Gas for a board member to drive to Jackson (just one way).
$100: Hotel room for a board member to spend the night in Jackson.

Other: Donate an item or service for a fundraising auction.

2011-2012 Board of Directors

The newest Mississippi Friends of Midwives Board of Directors have been officially installed and already been working hard! We've held a few events across the state to promote our organization and educate our local communities about midwifery. We've been creating goals for the upcoming year and have lots in store!!!

President, Bianca Wooden
email: me@biancawooden.com
phone: 228.233.0686
Bianca is a founder of MS Friends of Midwives and served as Treasurer for the past year.  Bianca's first birth was attended by a CNM in Atlanta with no complications or interventions.  When she got pregnant 5 years later in south Mississippi, she sought out a provider and hospital that was familiar and comfortable with natural birth.  After much research and education, she decided on a home birth with a CPM as her caregiver. Bianca is an advocate for improving birth outcomes and hopes that in the future, MS will have midwives available across the state, working in homes and birth centers in collaboration with local OBs and hospitals - to provide the very best care. Bianca's family lives in Ocean Springs.

 Vice –President, Mandi Sanders
email: goodearthgourmet@gmail.com
phone: 662.791.1663
Mandi is a founder of MS Friends of Midwives and served as Board Member for the past year.  After researching and visiting local hospitals and obstetricians, Mandi was disappointed with not only the philosophies and outcomes of these facitilites, but also the lack of options available to pregnant and birthing women in her area. Mandi sought out alternative care that would be supportive of natural childbirth. This led her down the path of midwifery care and deciding to birth at home. Both of her children were born at home in Mississippi attended by CPM's out of Memphis, TN.
Mandi is passionate about natural childbirth options and better education for women about their bodies' amazing capabilities.She currently resides in Starkville, MS and is busy with all things related to mothering 2 boys, Tripp (3) and Charlie (1).

Secretary, Kathy Petersen
Kathy is a founder of MS Friends of Midwives and served as Secretary for the past year.  When Kathy was pregnant the first time, she started reading about all things related to pregnancy and birth, in preparation for a planned home-birth with a CNM. Afterward, she continued her interest in all things related to birth, gave birth at home a second time (this time in MS, with a CPM from Memphis as the midwife), and started Woman to Woman Childbirth Education blog on WordPress. Kathy lives with her family in Ripley, MS.

 Treasurer, Maddy Dietrich
email: madeline.dietrich@yahoo.com
phone: 769-220-2120
  Maddy has become increasingly interested in birth in the last several years, and  firmly believes that women deserve the choice of midwifery care.  The care is holistic, superior, and what every woman needs in their pregnancy journey.   She has been married for a little more than three years and has one 15-month- old daughter named Maria, who she is blessed to stay home with.  She and her husband are expecting their second child in October.  She believes that birth is normal, and wishes to empower women to embrace their God-given abilities and trust their bodies. They live in Hattiesburg.

Board Member, Laura Dearman
email: lmd328@gmail.com
phone: 601-214-3144
Laura is a stay at home mama to Henry, 2.5 and Liza, 9 months.  After the highly managed birth of Henry, she became consumed with reading and learning about natural childbirth while planning an intervention-free birth in a hospital setting during Liza's pregnancy.  After reading home birth birth stories, Laura sought and found a Mississippi based DEM to attend their daughter's birth at home.  The more Laura learns about women's natural ability to give birth, the more important she feels it is to empower women by promoting and advocating natural childbirth.

Board Member, Jess Eddleman
email:  ilovelabor@gmail.com   
phone: 601.405.5743
Jess is married and has one son who will be two in June. She lived in Jackson as a teenager, graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi, spent five years in Portland, OR and then returned back to Jackson after the birth f her son, to be closer to family. Her pregnancy and experience wither own midwives sparked an interest in birth. She is now serving as a doula in the Jackson area.  She is working towards DONA-certification.

Board Member, Toni Hill
email: whozyourdoula@yahoo.com
phone: 662-255-8283
Toni Hill became fascinated with women's health when she was her mother's doula at the age of 14.  She is the mother of four children that she home schools.  She is a doula and a childbirth educator in Northeast Mississippi.  Toni is the project coordinator of the Northeast Mississippi Birthing Project which supports and educates pregnant women until their children reach a year old.   Toni supports mothers with breastfeeding as a La Leche League leader and as a lactation specialist with the Mississippi state department of health.  Toni advocates for all women to have access to care, evidenced-based information, and better birth outcomes.  Toni lives in Tupelo with her husband Jimmy and her four home-schooled children; Precious (14), Jimmy III(9), Preston (7), and Patience (4).


We are excited for the great things the next year has in store for us! We are overwhelmed with the support in our state and thrilled for the community we have helped create amongst home birth and midwifery-supporting families in Mississippi. If you want to get involved, but are unsure of what to do or where to start, PLEASE contact one of the board members. We're here to help!