Alabama has a rich history of Midwifery

Historic midwife honored by Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame while modern midwives outlawed by state.
The Alabama Birth Coalition applauds the induction of midwife Margaret Charles Smith into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame. Smith, who died in 2004, was a health care pioneer who delivered nearly 3,000 babies in the Eutaw area between 1943 and 1981. In almost four decades of delivery, Smith never lost a mother despite serving the poorest citizens of the state.
Alabama outlawed the practice of midwifery in 1976, and Smith attended her last birth in 1981 when she was denied renewal of her license. In 1996, Smith published her autobiography, Listen to Me Good, with Linda Janet Holmes. Recalling her last days as a midwife, Smith wrote, “You could count on midwives. They took care of everybody, no matter what.”
Upon learning of Smith’s induction into the Hall of Fame, Jennifer Crook Moore, a Certified Professional Midwife and Vice President of the Alabama Birth Coalition, said, “Margaret Charles Smith is a legend for bringing so many babies safely into this world. Her wit, perseverance, spirit, compassion, and courageousness are all to be admired. She is a part of a rich tradition of midwives in Alabama and an inspiration to all midwives today. What an honor for Mrs. Smith, her family, and those Alabama families that she served so faithfully and competently,” said Moore. “But what a terrible irony that Smith is being recognized for a practice that is now illegal in this state.”
Inspired by Smith and scores of women like her who served this state, the Alabama Birth Coalition is working to change the law prohibiting midwives in Alabama. The organization’s work is fueled by the hope that, in the near future, Alabama families will once again have the option to enlist a midwife for prenatal care, birth and postpartum care.
“The first time I had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Smith was at a book signing for Listen To Me Good,” Moore said. “My copy is inscribed with this message: ‘Help keep midwifery alive in Alabama.’ It is my hope that Mrs. Smith's induction into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame brings us one step closer to achieving her goal.”

Judson College will honor Margaret Charles Smith’s remarkable legacy at the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame ceremony March 4 at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony is open to the public.

http://www.der.org/films/miss-margaret.html Miss Margaret Documentary

(Article found in the Alabama Birth Coalition March 2010 e-Newsletter)

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Legislative Update:
Our bills have been submitted to both House and Senate. In the House, we are HB462, sponsored by Laura Hall. Laura Hall has sponsored our bills in the past and we are glad to have her doing so again this year. At the moment, HB462 has been referred to the House Health Committee. In the Senate, we are SB414, sponsored by Hank Sanders, and the bill has been referred to the Economic Expansion and Trade committee, which Senator Sanders serves on as vice-chair. According to Jennifer Moore, ABC legislative chair and citizen lobbyist, things are moving forward well and there is much positive buzz about our bills around the State House.Thank you for sending valentines to your legislators last month. Please continue to send handwritten letters to your legislators, letting your representative know that you encourage him/her to support HB462 and your senator know that you encourage him/her to support SB414.

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