Illinois Friends of Midwives

It's been a big week for CPMs in Illinois! Congrats to Holistic Birth Collective for passing HB5013, which allows CPMs to be primary birth attendant in birth centers Additionally language in Medical Ominous bill HB4343 further opens the door for CPMs to be Medicaid providers.

Last year, we passed a law to officially license and certify midwives in Illinois. Access to these services needed to be as equitable as possible, and expanding Medicaid coverage will create more options to mothers who need it most. Read more: senatorcristinacastro.com/news/306-castr…

Huge thanks to @senatorcastro for all the support you've given CPMs this session. Thank you so much for what you've done for parents and midwives!

A unapproved and surprise gut and replace AFTER it passed committee? That’s bold. Iowans need to speak up and let their senators know a move like this is NOT in the best interests of mothers and babies.

"Increasing the number of midwives who meet global training standards, as CPMs do, has consistently shown a significant decrease in maternal & neonatal mortality, as well as a decrease in billions of dollars globally in healthcare costs." #Midwives #MaternalHealth #Iowa #ialegis

I just donated to support the education of Isis Rose, soon to be Central Illinois’ first Black home birth midwife. gofundme.com/f/student-midw…

Illinois desperately needs homebirth BIPOC midwives! Start your year off right with a donation to our Certified Professional Midwife students!! go.rallyup.com/bipoc-student-…

The work that midwives perform is both lifesaving and lifegiving. Here in Illinois, we’re taking a big step toward advancing health equity in every corner of our state. wrex.com/news/illinois-…

WBEZ radio covers home birth midwives in Illinois and the new law to license CPMs. #twill #supportILmidwives wbez.org/stories/govern…

Midwife industry legitimized thanks to new law wcia.com/news/midwife-i… #midwives #birth #Illinois #maternalhealth

Hey, @BayStateBirth you get a mention in the interview, too - MA is #overdueformidwives #MAPoli

Thanks @senatorcastro for this great interview!#twill @WGNRadioNews wgnradio.com/pinch-hitters/…

CNMs have also had to fight for an expanded role in the health care system, but the legality of the care they provide has never been in question. It is the CPM credential that has recently concluded a 40 year fight for legality and should be celebrated.

Unfortunately, some media outlets have missed the distinction between CNMs and CPMs and erroneously reached out to CNMs, who absolutely provide valuable birthing care, though more often in a traditional hospital setting.

Certified Professional Midwives will be finally! recognized in Illinois! #twill @WCIA3 wcia.com/news/midwife-i…

My dad just sent this to me and I'm crying 😭😭😭 his message said "Yeeaaaaa" you guys he's so cute lol. @IL4Midwives @AskHeatherMS @QuiltingMidwife

Congrats #Illinois on becoming state 37! When will #Iowa join in finally licensing credentialed #midwives to improve access to quality & evidence based #maternalhealth care? #ialegis

@aweary13 @LtGovStratton @GovPritzker Yes. It is based on a nationally administered exam and certification

@LtGovStratton @GovPritzker Hopefully there will also be some sort of independent testing and certification for this license?

Having #midwives as licensed healthcare professionals in Illinois will save lives and ensure more women have access to quality birthing care. Thank you, @GovPritzker, for signing this bill into law! 👶🏼 Midwifery becomes a licensed profession in Illinois chicago.suntimes.com/2021/12/14/228…