I am a mother of four home-birthed children in Virginia, and I asking that you review the outdated laws regarding what Virginia midwives are allowed/ not allowed to carry and administer.

Because midwives in Virginia are not currently permitted to administer the Vitamin K shot, I had to take each of my babies into the pediatrician same day or earliest next day so they could be given the shot (which I had to get a prescription for and pick up each time at 8 months pregnant because the pediatrician office doesn't carry those.) Interestingly, every time, my actual pediatrician was unsure and nervous about giving the shot and she herself wondered aloud why a CPM wasn't permitted to do so.  If it weren't for the Vitamin K shot, the peds office only asked for an appointment within 48 hours,  which, in my opinion, is quite different than giving birth and then having to go to the pediatrician several hours later all because my TRAINED birth attendant isn't allowed to administer something she's trained to do.

In addition, after the birth of our first child, I need stitches for a tear. The hospital had an opening for us late in the evening, so just four hours after giving birth, I was going to the hospital with my newborn to get stitches, with a doctor who was none too kind nor thrilled to be having to work at 11:30 PM. Again, had my midwife been allowed to use pain medication, she would have been able to do the stitches at home and relieved the burden on the hospital and the unfortunate doctor on call. 

Please allow Virginian midwives to practice within the full scope of their training!!!