INTERPRETATION

Interpretation....

As defined, the word interpretation means:
An explanation of the meaning of something, an object such as a work of art, a performance. Making ideas more understandable or expressing ones' own understanding of something.

Religious literature is a great example of where interpretation has led to many a heated discussion as well as full on battle over differing opinions derived from interpretation of the content of the text.

In the case of the Idaho midwifery bill, interpretation of the stated intent of the law is very different for people on opposite sides of the issue. The legislative intent of the Idaho midwifery bill as stated directly at the beginning of the bill says:
LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE AND INTENT. The legislature finds and declares
that the practice of midwifery has been a part of the culture and tradition of Idaho since before
pioneer days and that for personal, religious and economic reasons some Idaho citizens choose
midwifery care. The purpose of this chapter is to preserve the rights of families to deliver their
children in a setting of their choice, to provide additional maternity care options for Idaho’s
families, to protect the public health, safety and welfare and to provide a mechanism to assure
quality care.

After reading the purpose and intent, it sounds as if our legislators and the midwives supporting this bill really do have our best interests in mind. Even the content of the bill could lead some to believe that it parallels the stated intent.

But, that all depends upon how you interpret the content of the bill.

Within the Idaho Midwifery bill, in plain black ink on white paper, the restrictions that are being placed upon licensed midwifes directly violates many women's rights to birth their children in the setting of their choice.

In a lot of cases, women that are seeking to birth at home are doing so because within the confines of the medical model, they would not be allowed to have the birth of their choice. Many women birth their children at home to avoid c-sections, interventions, and restrictions that they know are not necessary to have a healthy child and safe delivery.

Before this legislation passed, these women had the option...no these women had the right to birth at home. And with the stroke of a pen that right was taken away. Risk factored out to appease lawmakers and the medical community.

And for what?

To give the midwives that supported the bill the opportunity to gain some sort of recognition. To finally stake their claim and provide validation. To make it legal to carry drugs that very rarely need to be used and that Traditional Midwives for all of time have never relied upon.

Supporters may interpret the bill as a way to make birthing at home safer.

Non-supporters may interpret the bill as violating women's rights and being overly restrictive.

My interpretation is that of violating women's rights to birth in the setting of their choice as well as reducing the options available to Idaho's families.

The bill states that:
1)(e)(ii), Idaho Code, the licensed
midwife shall provide written notice to the client that the client shall obtain care from
a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 18, title 54, Idaho Code, as a condition to her eligibility to obtain maternity care from the licensed midwife.

Yes, interpretation is a very important part of our world today particularly concerning our laws. Before the Idaho Midwifery legislation was passed, women had the God given right to educate themselves, explore their options, and obtain maternity care from a midwife and give birth in the setting of their choice.

BUT, now women don't have that right....they have to meet eligibility requirements???

Freedoms being replaced by elegibility requirements.
What comes next?

I encourage everyone to take the time and read the bill for themselves. Get informed and stand up for what you believe in.

Why should you care?

It may seem to some who read about this "midwifery stuff" that it has nothing to do with them. Well, in fact it has a lot to do with every single citizen of Idaho, and here are some reasons why you should care:

If you are a defender of individual rights:
You should care because the individual liberties of women and families has been infringed upon by the passing of this bill.

If you are a homebirth advocate:
You should care because the current bill will change the practice of Midwifery in Idaho forever.

If you are a mother or father:
You should care because this bill limits the birthing options of your children. Future children will be born without the rights that were ours before this bill passed.

If you are a defender of religious freedom:
You should care because the current bill infringes upon the religious rights of women and families.

If you are a defender of FREEDOM:
You should care because your FREEDOM to make informed personal choice has been taken away. Your FREEDOM to choose what you feel is best for you and your baby has been "risk factored" out by this bill.

These are just a few reasons why you should care about this issue. Even if you have never been or will never be an advocate of homebirth, you should care that your neighbors rights are being taken away.

We live in such an amazing and wonderful country that was founded on a solid foundation. By our birthright we are FREE. But we must remember that FREEDOM came at a cost and it is our inherent resposibility to respect our FREEDOM.

It is important to remember that many people with different cultures, ethnic groups, religious groups, political views, belief systems, choose to birth at home. A lot of these people may disagree or downright oppose the views or lifestyle of another group. However, this one issue brings all of these different people to a common ground and all simply want the right to bring their children into this world in the place of their choice with the birth attendant of their choice.

Childbirth is a natural miracle that needs to be protected and cherished, not legislated and regulated.

Bigger than you or me.

So far so good....as of now 21 people have taken the poll at the bottom of this blog. I am so glad to see people taking this poll and sharing their opinions.

I have heard a lot of chatter about things that happened when the supporters of this bill were trying to get it passed. I don't in any way feel that those who opposed the bill were represented fairly, if at all. Quite frankly I am shocked at the number of people that I have spoken to or heard of that didn't make their opposition to this bill known for fear of reprisal from people that did support it, for fear of going against their current midwife's opinion or for fear of making waves with anyone.

THIS ISSUE IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN ANY ONE PERSON!

I understand that some midwives supported this bill while other did not. It is very human and natural for someone to become upset if another person is contrary to their views, but that is what our country is founded on. If our fore fathers were afraid of offending one another, we wouldn't be where we are today. And we wouldn't have the freedom to do just that.

Now, in no way is this effort to repeal the midwifery bill a personal attack on anyone who supports the bill. We are open to clean, fair, content based discussion regarding this issue and will not take part in any personal bashing or degradation of any individual at any time.

So, for all of you that were afraid or unsure of voicing your true opinion about the midwifery bill, I openly invite and implore you to take action now.

A website is being built that will replace this blog. It will contain loads of great information and be a central hub for supporters of TRADITIONAL MIDWIFERY.

I would ask you to please, pass this information on so that all that wish to make their voices heard will have a chance to do so.