Midwife Bill Blocked by Opposition in Senate

An effort to let more people charge to help deliver babies at home has run into opposition from those who question the legitimacy of those helpers. The bill setting up a new state board to certify Direct-Entry Midwives has been talked to the sidelines in the State Senate. The bill says a direct-entry midwife is certified by the North American Registry of Midwives. But it also says someone who has provided midwife services for 20 of the last 30 years can be licensed – although the sponsor admits some of those people might have been acting illegally if they took payment for their services. Nurse-midwives can work in Missouri, but they have to be certified by another organization and it only certifies those with college degrees. The sponsor of the bill has put it aside, unable to get it to a vote.