Last week, I think I felt a little differently about this. It's not that I have changed my mind and think that laws are going to ensure the safety of midwifery and hb.

   There's no doctor in this county who would have "let" me have this baby (except those who no longer offer ob services). Not that size baby. Not at your age. Not as a VBAC.

   But I birthed him. And it was beautiful. Incredible. With no stitches. All fifteen inches of his head surrounded by his sac. With no IV's. Late that night I held out my arms and miracle of miracles I didn't look like I had been in a car wreck. No bruises.

   And our gorgeous, round headed, ('scuse me for bragging) little boy! No one taking him away to check this or that. No one poking him with needles. No one freaking out because of his size. No one telling me to give him glucose water or formula or anything else. Just Dad & Dominic & me. And occassionally his big brother waking up to pop in and say "That is a cool baby, Mama."

   In my mind, it doesn't matter what candidate is committed to what issue because ultimately they are committed to getting elected. If the physician's lobby began to support Riley (about whom I know very little because gubenatorial candidates pay very little attention to the less populous counties and until lately I have had far too many other things to worry about what he does - as long as someone is running against Seigelman...) would he still support freedom in birth choices?

   I have no idea how autonomous CPM's are. I am new to this whole thing in practice (in theory my heart has been here a long time). If midwives cannot decide themselves who their clients will be then the legislation is too restrictive.

   Please, if this is the route taken, please, remember those of us who will slip through the cracks. Where will I go if it is illegal for a midwife to attend me? And while I am only one small voice, and my son is only one small baby, we are not the only *case* like this.

   - Name withheld