Evergreen to Vote on Return of 24/7 Midwifery Care

Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m., I’ll be at . I spend more time there than I think is probably normal for a person with no major medical issues, but since I gave birth to my daughter at the Family Maternity Center, Evergreen has become a regular part of my routine.  I sort of can't help it. I love Evergreen.

I attend the Hospital’s Parent-Baby Group and child care classes such as “Starting Solids” and “Breast Feeding Your Older Baby or Child.” But on Tuesday, I’ll be attending the Board of Commissioner’s Meeting. The Board is voting on a proposal to create a hospital-based midwifery practice.

Two weeks ago, I took my 11 month-old daughter to the Board’s “study session” to hear the details of the proposal. The proposed practice would be comprised of four full-time and one half-time Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs).  I was pleased to learn that the proposed staffing level and funding are intended to support 24/7 on-call midwifery care. My baby was pleased with the plush “Evergreen Bear” handed out to all the pint-sized midwifery supporters.

Until last fall, full-service midwifery care was available at Evergreen Hospital through the Center for Women’s Health (CFWH), a private medical practice. . A patient of the midwives at the CFWH is now very likely to have her baby delivered by an on-call obstetrician. The OBs at the CFWH are very well respected.  But for a woman who wants the unique type of care provided by a midwife, the possibility of having an OB deliver her baby negates the whole point of choosing a midwifery practice in the first place.

Standing in the cold on a near-freezing night last November, more than fifty moms, kids, and dads outside the Family Maternity Center at Evergreen to show their support for midwifery care. That rally put a face to the more than 1,200 community members who petitioned Evergreen to create a full-service midwifery practice to replace the model of care formerly available at CFWH.

Evergreen responded. Since November, Evergreen has engaged in a collaborative process that included private practice obstetricians, hospitalists, professional consultants, CNMs and representatives from the community of supporters who petitioned the hospital. The team took into account survey data collected from the patient community and consistently demonstrated a real desire to hear and respond to the needs of the women and families who would be patients of the CNM practice. On Tuesday at 6:30 pm, the Board will vote to establish (or not) the midwifery practice developed by that team.

For some, approval of the CNM practice can’t come too soon. During the past four months, more than one mother has confided in me that she is quite literally waiting for this practice to get up and running so that she can start thinking about baby number two.

I hope these mamas, and all the would-be patients of the proposed CNM practice will attend the board meeting on Tuesday (April 17) at 6:30 pm at the Evergreen Surgery and Physician’s Center (Tan Building) 12333 NE 130th Lane, Kirkland, WA 98034.

Members of the Board have already publicly stated their support for the practice, but we can’t take approval for granted. Hospital-based midwifery care is an important child birth option. Let’s pack the house in support of returning full service midwifery care to Evergreen Hospital and the the Board know there is a patient community clammoring for this model of care. I’ll be there. Will you?

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Laura Latta is a writer and stay-at-home mom. She lives with her husband, Trent, and their daughter in the Juanita neighborhood of Kirkland.