So is anybody else going down? I'm going to try and make it with MIkhail.
Great news everyone!
Marsden Wagner, MD has been confirmed as a speaker on our behalf at December
18th's hearing at the capitol! This is the same day ACOG is scheduled to
speak! What a dynamic morning this will be! We want as many homebirth
supporters as possible at each meeting and I wanted to send this notice out
to you all with plenty of time so you can plan your schedules accordingly.
For those of you who don't know Marsden Wagner, he is a
perinatologist/
neonatologist, the former Chief resident physician in
pediatrics @ UCLA Hospital, the former 15-year Director of the World Health
Organization' s (WHO) Women's and Children's Health division, and the author
of several books such as "Pursuing the Birth Machine," "Creating Your Birth
Plan:
<
http://www.amazon. com/Creating- Your-Birth- Plan-Definitive/ dp/0399532579/ sr=1-2/qid=1165805878/ ref=pd_bbs_ sr_2/104- 8213455-7395913? ie=UTF8&s= books >
The Definitive Guide to a Safe and Empowering Birth," and most recently, "Born
in the USA:
<
http://www.amazon. com/Born- USA-Broken- Maternity- Children/ dp/0520245962/ sr=1-1/qid=1165805878/ ref=pd_bbs_ sr_1/104- 8213455-7395913? ie=UTF8&s= books >
How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First."
Marsden is an absolute, unparalleled expert on the subject of the medical
model vs. the midwifery model of care. Please read his article "Fish Can't
See Water: The Need to Humanize Birth" at
http://www.marsdenw agner.com/ fish.html If you have never heard him speak,
PLEASE, arrange your schedules to be at the hearing on the 18th! You don't
want to miss it! (And if you have heard him before, you already know why
you don't want to miss it!) He is PASSIONATE! DYNAMIC! INSPIRING! And
even a little sarcastic at times! :-) How could you not be when you're
talking about the excellent, personal, evidence-based care from midwives vs.
the cookie-cutter, one-size-fits- all treatment from most medical care
givers?!
If you haven't already, please buy & read Marsden's latest book, "Born in
the USA:
<
http://www.amazon. com/Born- USA-Broken- Maternity- Children/ dp/0520245962/ sr=1-1/qid=1165805878/ ref=pd_bbs_ sr_1/104- 8213455-7395913? ie=UTF8&s= books> How a
Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First." To
my knowledge, it is not available in stores yet, although most will special
order it for you or you can go to
http://www.amazon. com/Born- USA-Broken- Maternity- Children/ dp/0520245962/ sr=1-1/qid=1165805878/ ref=pd_bbs_ sr_1/104- 8213455-7395913? ie=UTF8
<
http://www.amazon. com/Born- USA-Broken- Maternity- Children/ dp/0520245962/ sr=1-1/qid=1165805878/ ref=pd_bbs_ sr_1/104- 8213455-7395913? ie=UTF8&s= books>
&s=books.
Thursday, December 14 (this week): Homebirth midwife Terri Anthony Rieder &
Dr. John Schilling will speak about what a homebirth midwife actually does
and the physician-midwife relationship, respectively. Dr. Schilling is a
committee member & homebirth-friendly OBGYN. This hearing is important so
that the committee knows the skills a homebirth midwife needs & so that they
see just how well-trained homebirth midwives are and also how important &
essential a good back-up physician is to her. Terri & Dr. Schilling will
discuss how this relationship affects the pregnant woman's continuity of
care if a physician referral becomes necessary. This is an essential
element of the licensing & public education process- creating a respectful
relationship between midwives & physicians. Representatives from the
American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) will also speak.
We've already discussed driving directions, parking, bringing children,
coming late, emailing your written testimony to Sally.Fox@house.
Sally.Fox@house. ga.gov> ga.gov if you cannot attend the hearings,
anything else? There are only 3 hearings left. PLEASE MAKE YOUR MIDWIFE
(or your wife's or sister's, etc.) A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW! COME
TO AS MANY MEETINGS AS YOU CAN!!! WE NEED TO BE SEEN & HEARD! IT'S OUR
TIME! Oh, how things are lining up for Georgia!!!!
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions! I look
forward to meeting you all downtown this month!
Peace & Blessings,
Jennifer Fargár
GFOM Volunteer, www.gamidwifery. org
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