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Appeal for Indiana midwives

Subj: Appeal from Indiana
Date: Thu, May 25, 1995 7:22 PM EDT
From: jhughes@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
X-From: jhughes@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu (J. Hughes)
To: midwifery@aol.com

Karin Evans
2105 N. Salisbury St.
W. Lafayette, IN 47906
317/497-0191

May 17, 1995

Dear Family and Friends,

As you know, Laura was born at home, with the help of two local midwives. Jonathan and I feel that Laura's and our lives have been immeasurably enriched by these women. Their work made a personal, joyous, and empowering pregnancy and birth experience possible for us. They have also been important support for us throughout Laura's babyhood. What you may not know is that our midwives and others like them ("direct-entry" midwives, who train through rigorous study and apprenticeship) operate outside the law in the state of Indiana, at great personal risk.

Although it is a felony in Indiana for a person who is not an M.D. to deliver a baby, the legal climate has for some years been neither openly accepting nor openly hostile toward these midwives. However, there has been a sudden and serious change for the worse. Legal action has been taken against an Indiana midwife, and we have joined in the efforts of the Indiana Midwives' Association to raise money for her legal fees and for the ongoing effort to legalize this type of midwifery in Indiana (it is already legal in 17 other states). The purpose of this letter is to ask you to help too.

The style of midwifery practiced by these women represents an extremely important option for mothers and their families. Even if you would not consider giving birth at home with a midwife, supporting this option supports the essential principle that women should be able to choose how and where to give birth, and with what kind of practitioner. These midwives have a remarkable record. They participate in setting and maintaining professional standards for themselves. They work with doctors, certified nurse-midwives, and hospitals to ensure that homebirth families have safe back-up plans when needed. Their work does not in any way represent a threat to public health. Quite the contrary--research has consistently shown that midwives' clients experience significantly fewer complications associated with pregnancy and birth, resulting in fewer medical procedures, surgery, use of drugs, etc.

Midwives' services are essential alternatives for many women. Midwife-attended homebirths are affordable for women without insurance, or whose insurance excludes maternity, as is often the case. Our midwife's total fee for all prenatal care, the birth, and postnatal care was a mere $900. A hospital birth alone, excluding pre- and postnatal care, costs an average of about $5000. Midwives also serve women in religious communities whose beliefs discourage them from going to hospitals.

I have never written a fundraising letter in my life before now. However, Jonathan and I feel very strongly about this issue. Jonathan has already accompanied one of our midwives to Indianapolis to lobby for the needed legislation and written letters to legislators as well. Now what the midwives need is money--most urgently, $10,000 for legal costs. A contribution to their fund is the best "birthday" gift you could give Laura, and the best "birthright" gift you could give me and countless other women who might wish to choose them as birth practitioners. Please join us in supporting these women. Give generously if you can. But even small amounts add up, and your support will be greatly appreciated. Make your check payable to S.A.F.E. (this is a fimd set up by the Indiana Midwives' Association; as far as I know contributions are not tax-deductible).

With love and thanks,
Karin Evans

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