When the argument about abortion comes up, please remember there are other choices women should have the right to make.
One of them is where to birth her baby.
Midwifery is illegal in the state of Alabama due to ignorance on the part of our state politicians. Please read this and if you feel called to do something about it, take action. We need to support ALL rights of women, not just the right to an abortion.
Good Morning, all.
I write with our Mailing of the Week. Please take the time to print out two copies of the fact sheet below, one for your representative and one for your senator.
Take the time to write a quick, handwritten note to send with the fact sheet on the rigorous educational requirements for Certified Professional Midwives. Make sure that you state clearly that you want their support for HB199 sponsored by Rep. Laura Hall.
Again, if you are unsure of who your elected officials are visit http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/house_zipsearch.html and enter your zip + 4. If you are unsure of your zip + 4, just put in your 5 digit zip and hit enter. It will then allow you to input your mailing address to find your information.
We have a meeting in the morning with the state medical lobbyist. Keep us in your thoughts!
Thank you for all of your work. Let's keep it up!
Jennifer
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The Educational Requirements of Certified Professional Midwives
The North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) administers the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential, the only national credential that sets the standard for education and certification of midwives who practice primarily in out-of-hospital settings.
The NARM Written Examination is used in 22 states that have a regulatory process.
I. A CPM can be educated through any of the following:
► Programs accredited by Midwifery Educational Accreditation Council
► Certified as a Certified Nurse Midwife/Certified Midwife
► PEP, a competency-based education program
II. A CPM must have didactic education that includes:
A. The Core Competencies developed by the Midwives Alliance of North America, which include anatomy and physiology relevant to childbirth
B. Content Areas
► Midwifery Counseling, Education and Communication
► General Health care Skills
► Maternal Health Assessment
► Prenatal
► Labor, Birth and Immediate Postpartum
► Postpartum
► Well-Baby Care
C. Skill areas included in NARM’s Candidate Information Bulletin
III. NARM requires that the clinical component be:
► At least one year in duration
► Equivalent to a minimum of 1350 clinical contact hours
► Under the supervision of one or more preceptors
IV. The clinical component must include:
A. After observations, the applicant must attend a minimum of 20 births as an active participant.
B. Functioning in the role of primary midwife under supervision, the applicant must attend a minimum of:
1. An additional 20 births:
a. A minimum of 10 of the 20 births attended must be in homes or other out-of-hospital settings; and
b. A minimum of 3 of the 20 births attended must be with women for whom the applicant has provided continuity of care, which includes at least 4 prenatal visits, the birth, a newborn exam, and one postpartum exam.
2. 75 prenatal exams, including 20 initial exams;
3. 20 newborn exams;
4. 40 postpartum exams.
V. NARM Skills Assessment
VI. The NARM Written Examination is the final step. This is a 350 question exam, requiring approximately 8 hours to complete. Students who successfully complete one of the educational routes in item one may sit for the NARM Written Examination.
North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) • 1-888-842-4784
5257 Rosestone Drive, Lilburn, GA 30047
www.narm.org | 
