Idaho Midwifery Council

The World Health Organization has proclaimed May 5th as the International Day of the Midwife and, like his predecessors, Idaho Governor Butch Otter has proclaimed May 5 Idaho Midwives Day! In some cities, the mayor has also followed suit. The proclamation honors Idaho midwives for the contributions made to the health and well being of Idaho mothers and babies, including during pregnancy, childbirth and as well as at other times.

The Idahoans for Midwives and the Idaho Midwifery Council are sponsoring statewide Midwives Day celebrations, planned for Saturday, May 3. It is imperative that we get press this year. We want to promote midwifery this year by donating new books to the public library and having a large publicized gathering at one major library in each region. The region libraries would be:

Region 1 - Coeur d'Alene

Region 2 - Moscow

Region 3 - Boise

Region 4 - Idaho Falls

We plan to serve cake to celebrate and show a video on midwives and midwifery care in the afternoon. Midwives, mothers and babies and the general public are invited. In addition, the press and all the area Senators and Representatives will be invited. We want to talk about our bill to the press.

We need the following volunteers to make this happen:

* Someone to contact the library in your region and make sure we can have an educational meeting, cake, video and book presentation.

* Someone to research the library in your region to see what books are needed which would empower women to have natural childbirth, midwifery care and seek an out-of-hospital birth.

* Someone to send invitations to legislators.

* Someone to contact the press and make sure they are going to show up.

* Someone to can order the cake and flowers.

* Someone to collect donations from citizens and midwives for books to be donated.

* Someone to place ads in the local newspapers and community service calendars.

* Someone to put together displays for regions 1,2, and 3. (IFM only has one display.)

PLEASE, if you are able to tackle one or more of these tasks, please contact Michelle Bartlett, mrbwith7@hotmail.com, (208) 538-6115me asap. International and Idaho Midwives Day is Saturday May 5th. The celebration should be at 1 pm in the afternoon with the video showing first. Please help get the word out about midwives and midwifery care in Idaho.

If you are willing to volunteer to help plan and organize in your region, contact your Region Rep.

Region 1 -Barb Rawlings rawlings@nidaho.net
Region 2 - Amanda Hendrix maxineALT@aol.com
Region 3 - Gywnne Cameron camlow@q.com
Region 4 - Holly Burbank genesisbirth@yahoo.com

Questions?? Contact Caralee Anderton at 208 542-1199.

Region 1: Our celebration will include a dessert pot luck and showing of the Business of Being Born, held Monday evening May 5, 6:00 pm at the new International Visitors Center, downtown. Everyone is invited and encouraged to bring a friend or two!

Region 2: Picnic Planned in Lewiston on May 3.
Celebration Planned in Moscow on May 9.
Please contact your local midwives for more details.

Region 3: A celebration will be held on May 3, so mark that date on your calendar and stay tuned for more info!
If you are willing to help plan and orgnanize this event, please contact Kyndal May at kyndal@birthandbodywork.com

Region 4: This year there will be a 5K Fun Run/Walk in the morning, and a raffle and potluck in the afternoon. Please join us to celebrate! Your midwives would love to see your family. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and a favorite dish to share.
Join us at Tautphaus Park in Idaho Falls, shelter #2, Saturday May 3, at 9:00 am for the Fun Run and at 11:30 for the picnic/pot luck. RSVP: Valerie Hall @ 524-0423

WHEREAS, midwives have throughout time provided healthcare to mothers, babies and their communities; and

WHEREAS, midwives in Idaho are caring for women and babies in a variety of settings; and

WHEREAS, midwives provide care for many aspects of women's and infants' health, including maternity care, infant care, promotion and counseling for breastfeeding women, family planning information, menopause concerns and counseling; and

WHEREAS, midwives strive to contribute to the health and well-being of mother and babies in the great state of Idaho;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim May 5th, 2006, to be

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and six and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirtieth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred sixteenth.