The US has the most expensive & technical health care system in the world, and the worst Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of all developed nations including war-torn countries. A diverse culturally-sensitive respectful midwifery workforce will increase access to quality care and improve maternal health outcomes around the US.

Countries who have seen a steady improvement in their MMR use Midwives as autonomous primary care providers for low-risk pregnant women, and home birth is common, and covered by government insurance. 

Planned home birth with a Community Midwife is a safe option for babies and mothers with low risk pregnancies and is associated with lower medical interventions i.e. 5% c-section rate

93 counties in GA are birth deserts with no hospitals or obstetricians to care for pregnant women. We need skilled Community Midwives who look like the mothers they serve; with evidence-based training in the wide variations of normal birth, and recognize when medical intervention becomes necessary. Rural white women are 50% more likely to die in Georgia than urban white women. Rural black women are 30% more likely to die than urban black women. Black women are dying 243% more than white women.

Common complications leading to death are pregnancy induced hypertension, and hemorrhaging, both treatable when detected early. Denial and delay of care are the most common reason death occurs for the women facing these complications. Normally, a woman does not see her primary care provider for 6 weeks. This lack of consistent postpartum care  calls for trained Community Midwives who provide continuous postpartum care with several home visits within the first six weeks following childbirth

Support SB 334 and support Community Midwives