I am a registered nurse in L&D. I have been doing birth work for 15 years and I have ever understood the absurdity in the regulations on midwifery practice and public health in this state. State law requires that a newborn be administered certain drugs within 24 hours of birth but midwifery laws prevent midwives from carrying or administering these drugs. This is a public health issue.  These meds are simple to administer and have a nonexistent potential for abuse. Not having the legal ability to administer these med puts the burden on the new family to take their baby out in public before most are ready for this.

There are other low risk procedures occasionally required during or after a birth that require the administration of certain (sometimes life saving) medications that the current law prohibits midwives from carrying and administering. Midwives are trained and competent to administer these drugs but current law is preventing them from administering them. A hospital trip for a postpartum perineal repair that could have been done at home in a few minutes is just absurd! 

Since midwifery is legal, let’s also let it be as safe as possible for Virginians who choose this route for bringing their children to the world! 

For more information please feel free to contact the Virginia Midwives' Alliance at info@virginiamidwives.org or by visiting our website at [www.virginiamidwives.org](http://www.virginiamidwives.org/).