Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 4, 1990                   TAG: 9006040205
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MIDWIVES CAN BE GOOD ALTERNATIVE IN CHILDBIRTH

I feel that the whole country needs to take a closer look at childbirth and redefine what is acceptable or unacceptable maternity practices. It appears that physicians, insurance companies and consumers have created a Catch-22 situation in which everybody loses.

The end of your article mentioned midwives might be an alternative. They would be an excellent alternative for all concerned in low-risk pregnancies. Sweden and other Scandanavian countries have used midwives in conjunction with physicians, and they have had the lowest infant mortality rates (far lower than the United States).

Pregnancy is not a sickness. Healthy prenatal practices along with monitoring should be all that is necessary for most pregnancies. Last December, I traveled an hour from Roanoke to Bedford County Memorial Hospital to give birth in a caring atmosphere with a family physician and a midwife in attendance. I hope the next time I give birth, the medical facilities in the Roanoke Valley will be more flexible and attentive to consumers. Until they are, I feel the drive to Bedford is well worth it!

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