Childbirth-related Organizations

Three organizations of interest, which I have recently become aware of:

The Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery is "a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the midwifery model of care as the quality health care option for women and families." Their mission is:

To improve the health status of women, babies and families by increasing awareness of and access to the midwifery model of care. This mission is accomplished through the funding of education, research and public policy initiatives.

WECAN is Women Educating Cytotec Awareness Nationwide:

WECAN'S MISSION: To inform and educate the public regarding the adverse effects of using Cytotec "off-label" to induce labor.

WECAN is demanding that women be fully informed before Cytotec is administered for induction.

This weekend WECAN held a rally in Washington, DC, timed to conincde with ACOG's annual conference. Speakers included Ina May Gaskin and Marsden Wagner.

And the US Birth Practices Committee (USBPC) has been formed:

The mission of the multidisciplinary group is to encourage, conduct, evaluate and disseminate research related to the best practices in birth care for childbearing women and their families in the United States and its territories. The USBPC is composed of prominent individuals and representatives of many American organizations with interest in the health of women and families.

The first act of the USBPC was to endorse the Mother-friendly Childbirth Initiative.