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When I approached a few midwifery friends and colleagues with experience in subject matter to consider authoring a chapter sharing their knowledge and recommendations about the early weeks (challenges and realities) of parenting - everyone said YES!![]()
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The book #nobodytoldmeaboutthat was launched in Nov of 2018 due to ‘not so obvious’ inadequacies in the US model of maternity care. A model sorely lagging in providing the majority of childbearing families comprehensive, supportive postpartum care. ![]()
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As the COVID 19 pandemic grew, the book price was cut to the lowest price point Amazon will allow, both in print as well as Kindle. As a group of 15 authors our goal was not to augment our income, but rather to provide essential information not being discussed in prenatal, postpartum or pediatric care encounters.![]()
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Over 5,000 copies of the book have been sold and hundreds given by providers and hospitals as recommended postpartum information. The screen shot below shows a nearly 5-star recommendation. Honestly, this is unheard of in a self-published book without help of a publisher!!![]()
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We are in the process of organizing a SECOND EDITION, to include new information about COVID, postpartum perineal health, recovery from traumatic birth and more. My goal is for the second edition to be in print next November. ![]()
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In the meantime, we highly value YOUR recommending, purchasing or gifting this book for families who now, more than ever, need to know what most families are not prepared or supported for when navigating the early weeks of parenting. ![]()
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From the authors, thank you for your ongoing support! K Michelle Doyle Libby Rosen Ashley C. Seematter Alexandria Montgomery Ravae Sinclair Jjo Amoff Judie Wika Richard B. Vaughn Megan Wood Arbour Lesley Meenach Rathbun Amber Price Casey Cattell Jamie Zahlaway Belsito Katya Simon
An early morning commentary.![]()
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This week, a historic legislative event occurred in the home state of the American Medical Association. The key organization that continues to fight autonomy and full scope practice for advanced practice providers. The passage of this act provides licensure and regulation for the Certified Professional Midwife. The full text of the bill can be found here. [Sidenote: I’m sure there are many doctors that wrote the AMA battle guide on how to fight scope of practice issues for the Certified Nurse-Midwife wondering how on earth this could happen in IL, where AMAs monolith organization rises to the clouds in Chicago] Search engine HB3401 on following website![]()
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www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=110&GA=102&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=3401&GAID...![]()
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I applaud the efforts of IL stakeholders to address the need for all individuals using the title Midwife be certified and regulated, as described by the International Confederation of Midwives and as endorsed by ACOG www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2015/04/acog-endorses-the-international-confederation-of-midwives...![]()
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While at the same time I ask myself how is it that the Certified Midwife, a midwife with equivalent education in core competencies of graduate level midwifery education, skills, and training as the Certified Nurse-Midwife — is NOT recognized in this state? What do legislators know and understand about the Certified Midwife, CM pathway? What does the Board of Medicine, Nursing and other public health stakeholders understand about ALL pathways to midwifery?![]()
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The attached screen shot is from a chart that provides overview of three pathways to midwifery — two of which lead to certification by the American Midwifery Certification Board, the CNM and CM. The full chart can be found here. www.midwife.org/acnm/files/acnmlibrarydata/uploadfilename/000000000268/CNM-CM-CPM%20Comparison%20...![]()
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My take - the silo effect of state-state adoption of midwifery legislation continues to confuse and in some cases misrepresent the entire profession to the public, payers and policy-makers. As states enact language that is not uniform in scope of services, requirements to practice, and regulatory definitions, confusion with the public and many more continues to grow. A licensed CPM in IL can administer oxytocin for hemorrhage, but a CPM in many other states can not? How does this make sense?![]()
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How will US Midwifery advance by a bandaid approach to state-state licensure of various types and titles of midwives, while it remains a profession largely misunderstood, dismissed, disparaged and marginalized?![]()
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In my over 40+ year career fighting barriers to midwifery practice — most conversations and challenges continue to be plagued by the primary lack of understanding around the definition, education and scope of a midwife.![]()
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Many professions have multiple pathways to entry with uniform, regulatory laws in place to provide clear understanding of the professions scope. Particularly one that engages in commercial enterprise with the public. ![]()
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My hope, as unfavorable as some may perceive, is to one day have UNIFORM laws for midwifery that include CNMs, CMs and CPMs licensed in every state, to the fullest scope of their degree/education, training and scope. Until then, US midwifery will remain in a quagmire of confusion.![]()
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#growmidwives
#donefortheday #HereToHelp #growmidwives #scalingupandsustainingmidwifery #yesyoucan
Last workcation of year.🍁🍂🎣🚴♀️![]()
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Joe and I have 10 days in beautiful fall weather combining work and play. ![]()
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One client coaching call this morning, 3 contracts and 4 more coaching calls this afternoon. ![]()
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#growmidwives #scalingupandsustainingmidwifery #HereToHelp
All things related to Breastfeeding Benefits - For Consumers and Midwives that provide Lactation Consulting.![]()
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#GrowMidwives is working with a number of midwives establishing postpartum/breastfeeding/mental health home care services. There is no doubt the need to support families in the early weeks of parenting is essential. A short plug for the best-selling book #nobodytoldmeaboutthat![]()
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And, families may be unaware of services instituted with the Obamacare ACA provisions. ![]()
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We frequently observe that midwives are confused on what may or may not be billable related to lactation support and counseling. ![]()
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Do you bill under the mom (and often not get reimbursed as this service is customarily included in the global OB fee). ![]()
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Or, do you bill under the newborn (provision of newborn care up to 28 days is within scope of practice)? ![]()
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How does this impact the number of additional visits for the newborn that can be billed for outside of customary well baby visits in their first year, and does that have implications for pediatric visit payments?![]()
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Providing home care services related to the postpartum period is critical care missing in the US, defined as essential care in almost every other high income country.![]()
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Midwives can fill this gap, but may not understand a business model that affords maximum billing capacity. Designing a billing method that is legally compliant will lower the risk of billing errors and address frequently ignored compliance issues. ![]()
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Please share this great overview of breastfeeding benefits with families that may need information about pump purchase to lactation support and work place regulations.![]()
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And for midwives unsure how to establish billing and coding for these service’s, we are #heretohelp![]()
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#GrowMidwives #Scalingupandsustainingmidwifery ![]()
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healthcareinsider.com/breastfeeding-health-insurance-benefits-11203
Breastfeeding Health Insurance Benefits: What's Covered, What's Not
healthcareinsider.com
Under Obamacare, women were granted more breastfeeding health insurance benefits. They’ll likely stay under new legislation. Here's what's covered.