Intro: It's been a bumpy journey in the debate over midwifery but the issue still gained supportive testimony from two mothers at the Senate General Laws committee hearing on Wednesday.
Erika Navarrete (Nahv-ah-rett) has more from Jefferson City. Mother and family physician, Laura Baumstark, testified in favor to make midwifery safer by legalizing it and bringing it above ground.
Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Erika Navarrete. Intro: A concerned gynecologist urged the Senate Pensions Commitee to consider stronger regulations on the bill allowing midwifery practice in Missouri. Erika Navarrete (Nahv-ah-rett) has more from Jefferson City. Dr. Dave Redfern presented the need for an agreement between midwives and physicians to properly care for life threatening complications that arise without warning during birth.
He also urged the committee to mandate liability insurance for midwives.
The importance of the mandate was prompted by a recent case in Ohio.
Redfern noted the need for the protection of Mennonite and Amish communities whose religions forbid them from using hospitals.
From the state capitol, I'm Erika Navarrete.
Actuality: MIDWIFE4.WAV
Run Time: 00:09
Description: "Those few physicians of us who understand midwives and work with them put ourselves at risk professionally and legally working with those families."
Expecting mother Susan Renoe said it's foolish and extreme that legislation has restricted all women to one type of birth.
Actuality: MIDWIFE6.WAV
Run Time: 00:15
Description: "The patient, however, returned to the midwife had a home birth had complications relating to the size of the baby, was subsequently transferred to the hospital where the baby had profound neurologic damamge. The midwife didn't have insurance, the physician did.
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