Midwifery Collective: Birthing options outside of hospitals are still too sparse
Midwifery Collective gathered on Sunday at Prospect Park to bring awareness to the issue of birthing centers for all pregnant people.
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Midwifery Collective gathered on Sunday at Prospect Park to bring awareness to the issue of birthing centers for all pregnant people.
News 12’s Julio Avila heard from several speakers who work as midwives to help deliver babies, including some who work with Haven Midwifery. They spoke on the need to have greater access to birthing options outside of the hospital setting.
They say there are only two birthing centers in New York City and a disparity to access with residents who come from mostly minority neighborhoods.
Last year, Mayor Eric Adams announced efforts to increase the number of midwives and doulas to combat that disparity and maternal deaths, but the organizers say more needs to be done.
"It makes me wonder, why don't we have more midwives, more doulas, more lactation people to help support these birthing people, to improve their outcomes? Not every birth has to be medicalized and people should have options and choices," says Trinisha Williams, president and founder of Midwifery Collective.
There are bills in both chambers of the state Legislature that would expand access to doulas and midwiferies. However, those bills have not moved past their respective committees.
