Comments on: Women birthing: Jennifer Crook Moore

By: Screening of “Miss Margaret” documentary in Eutaw | Birmingham Weekly

Fri, 01 May 2009 20:26:46 +0000

[...] once again allow midwives to attend at-home births. Midwife Jennifer Crook Moore of the ABC — recently profiled by this reporter in the Birmingham Weekly Women’s Issue — will speak prior to the screening. Moore lives in Birmingham but must drive to Tennessee in [...]

By: jewishjoy123

jewishjoy123 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:25:33 +0000

How I long to be able to give birth naturally in Alabama without fear of legal prosecution for my midwife. Trained midwives offer an amazing birth experience–one I wanted so much I drove to Tennesee (while in labor) to have. I had a VERY negative experience with my Alabama OBGYN's overcrowded office and inattentive care. She could never keep my info straight simply because she had too many patients. Midwives would reduce the strain on OBGYNs, giving them the time and energy they need to focus on high risk cases. That would produce better births for all women. Woman like Jennifer Moore are heros…and I stand behind them 100%. Alabama–get with the times and research–make midwifery regulated and legal.

By: Shayne Jackson Slingluff

Shayne Jackson Slingluff — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:28:14 +0000

Thank you Birmingham Weekly, fabulous article. I am one of the many Alabama women who has had to travel out of state to seek the expertise of a Certified Professional Midwife. My last child was born in Pensacola, FL with a CPM – a natural VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). I was forced to seek a CPM out-of-state because we do not have them here in Alabama, nor do we have birth attendants (OB's and/or legal midwives) who are trained in or supportive of this type of birth. I am proud of my home state for so many reasons and hope that our legislators will do what's right for Alabama mothers.

By: mns3

mns3 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:47:17 +0000

thank you for getting the message out that there are options in child birth for expecting mothers…

By: amyindeatsville

amyindeatsville — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:48:12 +0000

Great article. Alabama needs to allow women to choose the type of care they think is best. I would love to have a wonderful homebirth.

By: Joann_Estis

Joann_Estis — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:46:40 +0000

This is a great article! Thanks for publishing it! I hope that one day that homebirth will be an option for ALL women in Alabama – especially those of us out here in the more rural counties!

By: facebook-1532223150

facebook-1532223150 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:55:32 +0000

This is a great article. Thanks to Birmingham Weekly for running it. Moore's perspective about birthing women is beautiful and powerful, but unfortunately not something commonly seen in the typical hospital birth. I applaud Ms. Moore and other midwives like her. I hope that in the future, women everywhere have access to this kind of birth if they want it. We are supposed to be “the land of the free.” Are we really free if we are required to birth in a hospital, even if we don't want to?
The article emphasized that homebirth is safe. There is a recent Dutch study, very large in scope, that has come to the same conclusion. Here's a link: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,...

By: AndiLu

AndiLu — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:18:17 +0000

This is an amazing article! Thank you so much for covering this important topic and opening eyes.

By: michellehopkins

michellehopkins — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:18:24 +0000

I am so glad to see this article! Thank you, Birmingham Weekly for publishing this! More people in Alabama need to know about this issue. Low-risk women in Alabama should have the freedom to choose a homebirth with a midwife, since it is as safe as birthing in the hospital with a doctor. Thank you for addressing this issue!

By: blckwdfmly

blckwdfmly — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:30:04 +0000

This is a fabulous article! There should be more information like this promoted across our state. ~ Kathy, Logan AL

By: rebmidwife

rebmidwife — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:55:49 +0000

Well done article. Alabama needs to join the majority of states in the US offering safe, competent care for birthing families. ALMA ( Alabama Midwives Alliance) is working closely w/consumers to offer this kind of care and legislation is forthcoming. Please keep this important issue in the public eye.
Shannon Burdeshaw, ALMA President

By: ginnyrawls

ginnyrawls — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:46:51 +0000

Thank you so much for covering this important topic. While hospital births are the desired route for the majority of moms, it is disturbing to me that women in Alabama who prefer a home birth must choose to travel out of state or go it alone without the option of having an experienced certified midwife attend the birth. Because medical interventions are becoming more and more routine, it is increasingly more difficult to have a natural birthing experience in a hospital setting here in Alabama. A woman should have the right to choose the birthing method that best meets the needs & desires of her family. This should include the choice of having a midwife attended home birth.

By: babym

babym — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:14:57 +0000

Thank you immensely for this article! Studies have proven that home births with CPM's in attendance are just as safe for low risk women as hospital births, and women in Alabama deserve that choice. I am pregnant and due in August, and we are driving to Tennessee to give birth because of the lack of options available to us in our own state. To me, the drive to another state is much riskier than having our baby in the safety of our own home, but the government doesn't agree with us! WE NEED THIS CHANGED!!!!

By: heidi_m

heidi_m — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:05:44 +0000

Thank you for this well-done article! This issue needs to be continually brought to light until changes are made. As a mother who gave birth twice with midwives in New York State (once in hospital, once at home – both after having had a caesarean section with my first), it's appalling and frustrating to me that that option is not legally available to me here in Alabama. My midwives in NY had just the relationship with OBs that Moore describes – the relationship that midwives everywhere ought to have. Alabama mothers deserve midwives! Thanks again for covering this issue.

By: gr8bnamom

gr8bnamom — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:36:19 +0000

Thank you for publishing this article not only education but knowledge is the key – I see where one person commented that most women feel more comfortable in a hospital – I think that is b/c like other issues – many/most women don't even know midwives are available – in my experience I was 1000 times more prepared and knowledgable when delivering with a Midwife than I was with an OB – so thanks again bhamweekly and Jesse Chambers for getting this information out there – the fight for Midwife care is such a worthy cause.

Monroe County Alabama

By: CrystalFromPrattvilleAL

CrystalFromPrattvilleAL — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:23:18 +0000

Thank you so much for covering this issue in such a graceful light. Women in Alabama should be educated on the vast number of options that we are currently denied… We should have safe choices when it comes to bringing our children into this world! I personally find it very disturbing that it is legal for me to drive up the road and murder my unborn child via abortion, but it is ILLEGAL for me to birth my baby in the safety of my home with a certified midwife. Alabama’s view on midwifery needs to be changed & education is the only way… Thank you again!

By: Lisa Shawn Clark

Lisa Shawn Clark — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:37:23 +0000

Women in labor belong where they feel safest. For most women that is in a hospital, and it's great that they have that choice. But most women do not need and some women simply do not want all of the technology, all of the intervention that comes with a hospital birth. And it is becoming harder and harder to avoid unwanted and unnecessary procedures in the hospital. Please help ABC and ALMA give women the option of a birth at home with a CPM. Let your legislators know you want them to license CPMs. Birmingham Weekly and Jesse Chambers, thank you for your coverage such an critical issue.

By: 6xmom

6xmom — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:04:34 +0000

thank you for posting this wonderful article. I have 6 children, born around the world and country. I have used Midwives for several of my births, and when I moved here to Alabama, I was faced with traveling across a state line, or having an unassisted home birth with no-one trained to help me. Alabama women deserve better! Thank you again for bringing this story to your readers.

By: bethwall

bethwall — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:23:23 +0000

Thank you so much for covering this issue. I do not plan to have any more children – but it would mean so much to me to see the women of our state have this choice. I wish I'd had this choice with my two girls.

By: 3under3

3under3 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:01:55 +0000

Thank you Birmingham Weekly for writing this article, I think its so important for Alabama to get w the program and allow midwives to practice in this state. Im tired of having to cross state lines while in labor to have the kind of birth my husband and I desire. I also hate it for my midwife bc I know its hard on her and her family.
Education is key :o)