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6/9/2023
Home Birth Sliding Scale Fees Last week was International Home Birthing day! The dream of accessing midwifery care or having a home birth is unfortunately not an option for everyone.
Let’s go down memory lane for a bit. Shortly after I experienced a devastating life event (Hurricane Katrina), I found out I was pregnant with the last of my babies. We moved back to the Tupelo area from Moss Point, MS because we had lost our home. It was hard, to say the least. I knew all about midwives because I was a doula and the patience of midwifery care is what I sought in that moment. Medicaid was the only insurance I had since we had both lost our sources of income, but I was unable to secure the care of a midwife. I contacted every midwife I could find (which was not easy either). I asked for payment plan options. I offered to barter. I offered to do whatever I could do to get midwifery care because I felt like my baby and my actual life deserved and needed it. Well, in the end I had to have a doctor for my care and delivery in the hospital, so I became my own midwife. For a long time, I didn't understand why these women were unwilling to support me. Being down on my luck was not by any fault of my own. It definitely wasn't my baby’s fault. I continued to move on, of course, because that’s the only thing one can do. That’s enough about me! Let’s talk about the here and now. I’m now on the receiving end of the calls I once made in tears. Unfortunately, I now understand why all of those midwives told me no. If you ask a midwife for a discount, reduced fee, or even to pay over time, you are essentially asking her to not be paid. I'm not sure that flies with most folks that work. As much as most of us love our jobs, it is pretty impossible to do it without pay. There has to be money for staff that support your care, office fees, supplies, cell phones, car payments, car insurance, fuel… etc. Oh yeah, and most of us like to eat and feed our families too. Well, this midwife is willing to take a reduced fee several times per month for the greater good of the community, our apprentices, and most importantly your family. I get inquiry calls and emails from lots of folks who are interested in midwifery care. Many of these people are uninsured or on Medicaid. Some of these folks still pay for our services before the deadline. Some of these folks barter with us to cover their services. Many of these people do not have access to regular healthcare when they are not pregnant…. that’s another post for another day... but they move into a healthy pregnancy and just want midwifery care and a home birth. There are, of course, a number of stipulations around this sliding scale opportunity but there are options. Please complete the form below to see if you qualify.
1/25/2023
Vote NO to HB 1219 Hey y’all! There are two bills proposed in both the Mississippi house and senate. The first bill of concern HB1219/SB2916 would straight up outlaw midwifery! To prevent this, you need to call/text/email your representatives this Wednesday to say NO to HB1219 and SB2816.
BILL #1 HB1219/SB2916 https://openstates.org/ms/bills/2023/HB1219/ Representatives:
Mississippi Code Title 73 Professions and Vocations 73-25-33 Practice of Medicine currently reads: “The practice of medicine shall mean to suggest, recommend, prescribe, or direct for the use of any person, any drug, medicine, appliance, or other agency, whether material or not material, for the cure, relief, or palliation of any ailment or disease of the mind or body, or for the cure or relief of any wound or fracture or other bodily injury or deformity, or the practice of obstetrics or midwifery, after having received, or with the intent of receiving therefor, either directly or indirectly, any bonus, gift, profit or compensation; provided that nothing in this section, shall apply to females engaged solely in the practice of midwifery.” The last part, “provided that nothing in this section, shall apply to females engaged solely in the practice of midwifery.” is what protects community midwives from prosecution for practicing medicine without a license. Section 12 line 926 replaces this section and does not mention midwives. Read it and ask your representatives not to pass this or to add back in the line about exempting midwives if they do want to pass the rest of the bill SAMPLE MESSAGE #1: Dear Senator _____ [or Representative _____], I am writing in OPPOSITION to SB 2816 [or HB 1219]. My baby was born safely and peacefully at home under the watchful eyes of a Direct Entry Midwife [OR my baby arrived safely because I had a midwife who was diligent about risk assessment and facilitated a timely transfer of care prior to birth.] Mississippi has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country and studies have shown that the Midwifery Model of Care can improve birth outcomes for low-risk moms. Mississippi needs our midwives!!!!! Please vote NO to SB 2816 [or HB 1219] SAMPLE MESSAGE #2: Dear Senator _____ [or Representative _____], I am writing in OPPOSITION to SB 2816 [or HB 1219]. My baby was born safely and peacefully at home under the watchful eyes of a Direct Entry Midwife [OR my baby arrived safely because I had a midwife who was diligent about risk assessment and facilitated a timely transfer of care prior to birth.] If Mississippi outlaws midwives, the rate of unassisted home births will skyrocket, and the consequences may be catastrophic. Please vote NO to SB 2816 [or HB 1219] and ensure that Mississippi mothers continue to have access to highly trained, out of hospital midwives. SAMPLE MESSAGE #3: Dear Senator _____ [or Representative _____], I am writing in OPPOSITION to SB 2816 [or HB 1219]. While I have not personally had a child at home, I believe that every woman should have the right to birth where she desires and with the provider of her choice. I am asking you to Please vote NO to SB 2816 [or HB 1219] BILL #2 The other bill to look at is HB1081/SB2793
Better Birth Mississippi - a nonprofit org which promotes the licensure of midwives. This bill creates and requires licensure for community midwives. Read it and decide if you think it should pass or not. Then ask your representatives to vote for it if you want this licensure for community midwives offering homebirth services in Mississippi or to vote against it if you do not want licensure. Please call, email, and write to your Senator and Representative today! Please take the time to share this with any and everyone you know whether they are in Mississippi or not. With the maternal health crisis growing for birthing families and many hospitals facing closure, now is not the time to outlaw or restrict community midwifery, which has been around forever and has proven time and time again to be a safe and cost effective choice for low risk families. If you are able to schedule an in person visit, which is the most preferred way of contact, and would like to have a midwife present to answer their questions, let me know and I’ll come if I can. You are also welcome to give them my phone number if they would like to call me with questions. A list of representatives to contact first can be found here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KwBv06a9ET5Lb8386tVUnSkzux7qQOEcYlXhg24l-_o/edit |
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LocationWe are located at 1800 West Main St. Tupelo, MS
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