STATE OF FLORIDA CELEBRATES LICENSED MIDWIVES WEEK FROM OCTOBER 1 THROUGH 7

Governor Charlie Crist signs proclamation observing this week as non-profit organization Florida Friends of Midwives plans events throughout the state

MIAMI, FL (October 1, 2008) – Governor Charlie Crist signed a proclamation observing October 1 through the 7 as Licensed Midwives Week in the State of Florida, upholding midwives for being, "...dedicated to the care of pregnancy and childbirth and treat[ing] each woman's pregnancy according to her unique physical and personal needs". In honor of this week, Florida Friends of Midwives (FFOM), a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the practice of midwifery in Florida, will be hosting various community events throughout the state this week and throughout the month to celebrate the more than 110 licensed midwives, currently practicing.

Midwives have a long and valued history in Florida. The state first passed legislation to license direct-entry midwives in 1931. In the 77 years since, Florida's licensed midwives have continued to tirelessly serve the families of Florida and to ensure the continued availability of safe, evidence-based birthing options for Florida's families. In 1992, Governor Lawton Chiles declared the first-ever Licensed Midwives Week. More women than ever before are seeking out licensed midwives for maternity care. According to the latest data from the Florida Council of Licensed Midwifery, births managed by Licensed Midwives in the state grew by about 5.5% from 2005 to 2006.

"Midwives specialize in the intimate, emotional and family-focused care of mothers, providing a great alternative to the hospital-based setting most women are used to," said Shannon Mitchell, Vice-President of Florida Friends of Midwives. "We're excited to have this recognition from Governor Charlie Crist and the State of Florida for this group of professionals who invest in the greatest asset the state could have – our children and our families."

In honor of the thousands of midwives who dedicated their lives to the care of women and infants throughout the history of the state, Florida Friends of Midwives will be hosting various events in local communities all over Florida. In Sanford, the 10th Annual Baby Reunion will be hosted at the Central Florida Zoo while in Sarasota, there will be a Fall Festival with games and activities for families. In South Florida, the group is planning local screenings of Ricki Lake's documentary "The Business of Being Born".

Midwifery in Florida

In Florida, two types of midwives are allowed to practice: Certified Nurse-Midwives and Licensed Midwives (a Florida state licensure), also known as direct-entry midwives. Throughout the state, about 11.2 percent of births are estimated to be managed by midwives, rather than by OB-GYNs. Many birth centers and midwives have reported a significant increase in business in the past year. This increase is believed to be a result of various factors – one, a greater exposure to midwifery in mainstream media through documentaries like Ricki Lake's "The Business of Being Born"; and two, a greater number of women seeking alternative birthing choices due to an unhealthy increase in caesarean sections and other unnecessary interventions that frequently occur in hospital settings. In a 2006 report on Florida Licensed Midwives, midwives had a caesarean section rate of 6.3 percent compared to a 36.64 percent statewide average in hospitals the same year.

For more information of midwifery in Florida, please visit www.flmidwifery.org.

About Florida Friends of Midwives

Florida Friends of Midwives is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the Midwives Model of Care and supporting the practice of midwifery in Florida. Florida Friends of Midwives was formed to support midwives who offer safe, cost-effective, evidence based care to Florida's families. For more information, please visit www.flmidwifery.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nermarí Broderick
(786) 287-5132