Women deserve birthing options
I want to thank the Voice and Allison Baker for the coverage of the closing of the Takoma Women's Health Center and the impending closure of the freestanding birth center portion of the Maternity Center in Bethesda. This is truly a tragedy for women in our community.
The midwives in these practices have positively affected the lives of thousands of women over their combined over 50 years of service. In recent years, 8 midwife practices have closed in the DC area, and the same pressures that forced the closure of those practices are affecting the few remaining birth centers and midwives. What a calamity it would be if women in our area no longer had access to what has been proven to be the safest option for low risk, healthy pregnancies, and the type of woman-centered, empowering care that women all over the world enjoy.
A movement has begun to preserve the remaining midwifery services in the area. I encourage all people who care about this issue in our community to join in the efforts that are currently in progress. You can learn more about what you personally can do by joining the Takoma Birthing Circle: www.takomaparkbirthcircle.org.
Let's take action before we lose another birth center or midwife practice! Women deserve choices in their birthing options, which are rapidly disappearing in the DC area.
— Mary Bailey
Takoma Park, MD
Member of the planning board of the
Takoma Park Birthing Circle