CPM Symposium and the voice of future midwives

so i've been talking for awhile now about the place midwives should take in public health. in canada, the U.K. and many other countries around the world midwives play an integral role in women's health beyond maternity care. 

i'll be writing more on this in the next few months, but in the meantime check out the Future Midwives Alliance. 

as student midwives we have to decide how we envision our future roles in public health. we also must recognise the role in public health we play today. we have a unique place in woman's life that goes beyond bettering reproductive health for mothers and babies, beyond creating a sacred space for which women can birth. 

we are moving into a position where we have a responsibility to function as a bridge for the public and other health care providers to increase the over all health of women and in turn our communities. this may not be a role that everyone wants to embrace, but it is a role that we all must support. 

take a look at the actions aimed at the upcoming CPM symposium in washington this coming march. 

although the intentions of the symposium are admirable, they are neglecting to include the voices of future midwives, those of us who will be supporting, working with in and moving these ambitions forward. the future midwives alliance is trying to get student representation present at the symposium so that our voices are heard. 

if i weren't going to be on call, and if my wonderful midwife wasn't going to be there, lobbying on the steps capital hill, i'd be there...someone has to be here for our mothers! leave it to the student midwives. thankfully there are two of us!

i encourage all student midwives out there to take a look at these websites, think about where you see yourself, and ask yourself what are your limitations to practice? 

is it possible for midwives to be primary health care providers? should we be?

Below is what CPM symposium aims to achieve:

Our Intended Outcomes

• a fresh, strengthened sense of ourselves as valuable and primary care providers and midwifery educators in the U.S.
• a dynamic new community of CPMs and educators where many more voices are engaged in creating the maternity care system of the future
• a mutually-held appreciation of the essential roles of education and professional association in strengthening the profession of CPMs
• a clear sense of being equipped to act to achieve our goals
• a deep appreciation of our past, our present situation, and an open thinking about where we can go from here
• a renewed vision and concrete next steps for effectively carrying forward the profession
• a variety of vehicles for engaging CPMs and educators beyond the scope of this event

We ask ourselves: What will success for the profession look like if....

• ...CPMs are fully established as primary maternity care providers in the U.S.? 
• ...the CPM workforce reflects the racial and cultural diversity in the U.S. population?
• ...CPMs serve underserved and vulnerable populations?
• ...CPMs serve childbearing women in all settings?
• ...educators and students have the resources necessary to prepare the CPM workforce of the future?
• ...CPMs achieve Federal recognition: for midwives, schools, educators, preceptors and students?
• ...CPMs are fully reimbursed for the range of services and care they provide by all private and public plans?
• ...CPMs attend 5% of U.S. births in the next ten years?
• ...CPMs schools and preceptors teach to evidence-based maternity care?
• ...CPMs fulfill their potential to improve outcomes for women and babies and reduce disparities in the U.S.?
• ...there are adequate educational opportunities to educate enough CPMs to fill the need for midwives?