Idaho
Midwifery
Council		 Winter 2011 newsletter

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President’s Message

 

     Winter is upon us up North, even though the calendar says winter is still several weeks away. I am enjoying the beauty of the season, but not enjoying all the shoveling!

      It’s been a busy Fall across the state. It appears that birth numbers are up for many practices in Idaho. I can’t help but wonder if those increased numbers are a reflection of our new status as Licensed Midwives. It’s been a long difficult journey to stand where we are today, and we have many issues still to tackle. Medicaid is one issue that is being discussed in earnest, both nationally, and locally.   Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, (D-ME) has been working closely with the MAMA campaign, and is on the cusp of introducing Federal legislation that would amend the Social Security Act to mandate reimbursement for all CPM services for women insured by Medicaid. Similar discussions are occurring here in Idaho as well. I stand firm in my belief that this is really a consumer issue, and that we all need to be encouraging our clients to contact their State Legislators and let them know they want midwives to be added to the list of approved Medicaid Providers.

      Region 2 continues with the planning of our annual IMC conference in June.  It is shaping up to be a fun-filled, inspiring, and educational conference. Look for more info about the conference elsewhere in the newsletter.

       The annual Idaho Perinatal Project conference is scheduled for Feb. 17th and 18th in Boise. Barb Rawlings and Paula Wiens, both on the Idaho Board of Midwives, will be guest speakers at the conference this year. They will be doing a presentation on Licensed Midwives in Idaho. There are no scholarships from the IPP this year, but if you are interested in attending, you can get more information from their website.

      One last note of interest…we have 3 LM’s that have applied to MEAC to become new instructors for our required classes. Upon approval by MEAC, we will be able to add them to our small list of instructors.  All 3 are highly qualified, and I don’t anticipate any problems with them being approved. The required classes are being offered at our annual conference in June, and we are working on getting dates confirmed for Feb. for the southern part of the state. Watch for dates to be posted on the IMC website, as well as through the IMC yahoo group email.

       That’s it from me! I wish you all a joyous Holiday season. May it be full of wonder, awe, and countless blessings.

Kendra Scarlett 
IMC President 

Regional Reports

Region 1 (Far North)

Representative: Carrie Blake, Athol:  No report

Region 2 (Middle Idaho) 

Representative: Nancy Draznin, Genesee: 

 Like everyone else we are digging out of the snow. Winter is here, and we are gearing up for the first of the winter babies. Here in Region 2 we are busy planning the IMC Conference in June. I t will be held at St. Gertrude’s Monastery in Cottonwood, Idaho. This is a beautiful location. The sisters of St. Gertrude’s provide conference services to groups from all over the area. The IMC member price of $250 includes meals and lodging (though there is an extra charge for single rooms). The non-member price is $285.00. Classes will include keynote addresses by Suzy Myers of Seattle Midwifery School (Bastyr College) and Lori Schneider, the Idaho Perinatal Project liason. The conference theme is Building Bridges. Other workshops will include, herbal pharmacology, STDs, charting and more. Please let your friends, students and anyone else who may be interested know about the conference. In addition, there will be preconference licensing classes at Yalad Birth Center in Cottonwood.  The dates for the conference are June 7-9. The preconference is June 4-6. Registration forms will be sent out shortly.

I hope everyone is having healthy moms and babies, and not having too much trouble making it to births in the snow. At my house we are enjoying light Hanukah candles this week. We wish everyone else very happy holidays as well.

Region 3 (Southwest) 

Representative: Coleen Goodwin, Meridian
Note from Donna Holmes:  Hello All!

My husband and I moved from Colorado to Idaho in mid-July and have settled in very nicely!  We love being able to call Idaho our home.  I would like to thank each of you who have extended a hand in friendship to me and offered words of encouragement.  I have loved visiting and getting to know so many of you.  The times have been very sweet, and I am blessed to be an accepted and intricate part of this wonderful community. 

I know that there is no such thing as a perfect midwifery law, but Idaho’s young law is a good one.  I am hopeful that as we advance and grow our law will do the same.  I look forward to new midwives becoming licensed – new and fresh perspectives can be extremely beneficial.  It is important that we, as Licensed Midwives, take apprentices by the hand and assist them the advancement of exceptional and professional midwifery skills. 

Also, I would everyone to know that I have recently started a Home Birth practice in Meridian.  You may visit me on the web @ www.NurturingBeginnings.com. 

Again, thank you for your warm welcome!  I am looking forward to a state wide conference where I can have the opportunity to meet more of the midwifery community.

Blessings,
Donna Z Holmes CPM, LM

Region 4 (Southeast)

Representative: Valerie Hall, Ammon

This autumn has been full of events, both hard and joyful. We have had a bumper crop of great births and beautiful babies. We’ve also had a run of weird events, accidents and rapid changes.

As most of you will have heard, Michelle Bartlett was in a motorcycle accident on Labor Day. She spent several days in the hospital. This occurred just as she was in the process of ending a 27-year marriage and putting her beloved home on the market. This has been an extremely stressful time for her and for her family. Then in October she was in another accident in which she hit an elk, totalling her car but fortunately not adding to her injuries. Michelle greatly appreciates the outpouring of love and help she has received from many in the midwifery community.                      

 

Also in October, Connie Wolcott (who had joined Agape’ in August) had the opportunity to take her dream job at District 7 Health Dept. This job will provide the benefits she needs and the hours she wants.  Connie continues to consult with Agape’ and to offer well-woman care at the birth center.

In September, Agape’ was joined by three new apprentices. Joyce and Lenore Roundy are beginning their midwifery training and have been helping at prenatals and postpartums. They have just begun attending births as observers. It’s great to see new midwives in the making.

Krista Nichols has joined us as a third-year student to finish her numbers for NARM. She is also working with Annette Lewis in the Salmon area. Krista took time during October and November to work for a hunting outfitter so that she could earn money to pursue her midwifery habit, but she got back just in time to go straight to a birth in Tetonia with Kathy.

 

Kathy LeBaron and Valerie Hall have been very busy attending births and keeping things going at the birth center. Valerie has also survived the process of applying to take the NARM exam in February.  After going through the application process, she’s not even afraid of the test anymore! Of course, that will probably change as the test date draws closer.

 

Christine Garcia, the office manager at Agape’, has been helping Michelle put together a course for postpartum doulas. There are currently several women taking this course. Agape’ will soon be offering this service in the area as there seems to be a real need.

 

The birth center is under construction again (still!). There are hopeful signs that the new addition may be ready sometime soon.

 

Whitni Chapman in Teton Valley is taking a bit of a break from active midwifery while she considers what direction she will pursue. We hope she’ll be back with us soon. Meanwhile, she is still serving as doula for women in the valley.

           

We here in Region 4 wish all of you a happy holiday season!

Membership Report    

IMC currently has 52 members. If you know of any midwives, student midwives, or doulas that are not members, and would like to join our organization please have them contact me via email at zfreen@me.com.

Membership fees are $35.00 annually, and due on Jan. 1st of each year. Membership includes quarterly newsletter, discounts on IMC sponsored workshops and conferences. You may also request to have your contact info included on the IMC website. This year we are also offering the option to pay your membership fees with Paypal. Please go to the IMC website: www.idahomidwives.org, for more information.

Please be sure and let me know if any of your contact info changes, so that I can update that in our database.

Thanks!

Kendra Scarlett
IMC Membership Chair
zfreen@me.com


Upcoming Events

  Idaho Midwifery Council Annual Conference, hosted by Region 2

            Theme:  Building Bridges

            When:  June 7 – 9, 2011

            Where:  St. Gertrude’s Monastery, Cottonwood

            Cost:  $250 for IMC members; $285 for non-members

            Included are meals and lodging; extra charge for single room

            Keynote speakers:  Suzy Myers, Seattle Midwifery School (Bastyr College)

                                         Lori Schneider, Idaho Perinatal Project liaison

           Instructors and classes:  herbal pharmacology, STDs, charting and more

 

           Preconference licensing classes

           When:  June 4 – 6, 2011

           Where:  Yalad Birth Center, Cottonwood

     Save the date and watch for your registration form!

 Publication date:  December 2010

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