BEFORE AND AFTER....

THE FOLLOWING IS A BREAK DOWN OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER AFFECTS OF MIDWIFE LICENSURE IN IDAHO.

1.Before the signing of the Idaho Midwifery Statute.....MIDWIFERY WAS LEGAL.

1a.After the signing of the Idaho Midwifery Statute.....MIDWIFERY IS ILLEGAL.
(All midwives must have a license)

2.Before legislation was put in place.....MIDWIVES RELIED ON THEIR TRAINING AND INSTINCTS WITH GREAT SUCCESS IN ASSISTING CHILDBIRTH.

2a.After legislation was put in place.....MIDWIVES TRAININGS AND INSTINCTS ARE INVALIDATED AND REPLACED WITH PRE-DETERMINED BARRIERS CAUSING THEM TO TURN AWAY IDAHOAN'S SEEKING THEIR SERVICES.

3.Before legislation was put in place.....MOTHERS HAD THE GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND MAKE PERSONAL INFORMED DECISIONS AS TO WHERE THEY WOULD GIVE BIRTH AND WITH WHOM WOULD ATTEND.

3a.After legislation was put in place.....MOTHERS HAVE HAD THEIR GOD GIVEN RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY AND ARE NOW FACED WITH FEWER OPTIONS AND UNSAFE CHOICES.
(Forced hospital C-sections and un-attended home birth)

4.Before legislation was put in place.....THERE WERE MANY MIDWIVES TO CHOOSE FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.

4a.After legislation was put in place.....MANY MIDWIVES HAVE QUIT OFFERING THEIR SERVICES AND/OR OPTED TO LICENSE IN ADJOINING STATES THAT HAVE BROADER OPTIONS FOR LICENSURE, THUS REDUCING IDAHOAN'S OPTIONS FOR CARE.

5.Before legislation was put in place.....MIDWIFERY CARE WAS AN AFFORDABLE OPTION TO MOST IDAHOAN'S.

5a.After legislation was put in place.....MIDWIFERY PRICES HAVE INCREASED DUE TO LICENSURE FEES AND OTHER VARIABLES.

I hope that this information helps make it clear as to why this Midwifery Licensure bill is very damaging to Midwifery and the consumers in Idaho.

Please take the time to get involved in preserving Midwifery and our rights!