II am so pleased that all of this dialogue is taking place between the medical community and advocates for CPM's and home birth.

This society places a high regard on women's choice when choosing the end life. It is now past time we have the same high regard for choice in how we want to bring life into the world, whether that be a hospital or home setting. Informed choice based on sound research is important in both settings.

My first two children were hospital births that while they were okay birth experiences, I knew I wanted something different for my next child. My homebirth was more than I could have ever hoped or anticipated. There was absolutely no comparison in my previous birth experiences to the care my  CPM gave me and my baby. It was so wonderful and yet I could not even tell anyone who she was at that time. Virginia has come a long way through some really great Midwifery legislation, but we have a ways to go. Not only was a I constantly admonished by my (now former) OB/GYN, but I would go so far as to say she used opinion based information to try to shame me about using homebirth options and discourage me from doing it again.

I believe that women must be given research based information to make an informed choice when it comes to their birth experience - whether that be in a hospital or at home..

Thank you for giving us a forum to make our voices heard.

Kelly Elder

Brookneal, VA