Who we are
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It is a consumer-based, grassroots educational and advocacy group. While attorneys, midwives, medical professionals, and childbirth professionals are all welcome to join, NFOM is a consumer group, concerned with pursuing the goals of its consumer members.
NFOM is a Non-profit– 501(c)(3). Education is our primary focus, and donations are tax deductible. NFOM lobbies proudly within the boundaries of the 501(c)(3) status.
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As an organization, NFOM works to increase awareness about all types of midwives, including educating consumers about the midwifery model of care and the different categories of midwives. NFOM makes decisions about what legislation is pursued based on consumer interests, an analysis of relevant current and pending legislation both locally and nationally, and available NFOM resources.
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First, Certified Professional Midwives are not yet licensed in Nebraska. Certified Nurse Midwives are already licensed; we “just” need to remove the home birth exclusion. Home birth attendance by a CNM is explicitly prohibited by statute- a remnant from a concession made in order to obtain licensing for CNMs in 1983.
Second, Nebraska ranks fourth in the nation in hospitals per capita- which can be a wonderful thing in many ways, but it does seem as if it might impede progress when it comes to advancing maternity options outside hospitals. Interestingly, during a hearing for a bill to allow CNM-attended home birth a physician against allowing CNMs to attend Nebraska's home births stated that he likes to think that Nebraska is not behind the times, but leading the way in its prohibition of midwife-attended home birth. NFOM members have come to understand that our legislators are more comfortable with the idea of CNMs than of CPMs (they are familiar with the profession of nursing), and it is easy to point to the 49 other states in which CNMs are allowed to attend home birth, including all our surrounding states.
There are many Nebraskans who would love to see CPMs legally recognized in this state, and many feel that CPM licensure would be a positive step forward.
What NFOM does and doesn’t do
NFOM does:
-Provide midwifery education and raise public awareness through this website, film showings, and community events, including fairs, classes, and meetings
-Hold M&M (Mothers & Midwives) days and legislative days at the capitol
-Work to educate senators and staff on the subjects of midwifery care and home birth
-Pursue legislative change by drafting legislation, seeking bill sponsors, speaking at hearings
-Work to provide information to and connection opportunities for midwifery supporters in this state
-Organize larger-scale events, such as Bridge The Gap events and annual member meetings
-Fundraise to further education and understanding of midwifery in Nebraska
-Partner with other organizations to advance mutually beneficial efforts
NFOM does not:
-Provide legal or medical advice
-Tell women where, how, or with whom they should give birth
-Introduce legislation- that must be done by senators
-Endorse or campaign for political candidates
-Charge money for events or goods (except products that directly promote the organization)
-Take positions on issues outside midwifery care. This includes but is not necessarily limited to refraining from stands on infant feeding, parenting styles, circumcision, vaccines, family planning, and nutrition.
-Pay any staff. NFOM is a completely volunteer organization at this time.
If we want to find safe alternatives to obstetrics, we must rediscover midwifery. To rediscover midwifery is the same as giving back childbirth to women. And imagine the future if surgical teams were at the service of the midwives and the women instead of controlling them. - Michael Odent
“Midwives see birth as a miracle and only mess with it if there’s a problem; doctors see birth as a problem and if they don’t mess with it, it’s a miracle!”
– Barbara Harper in Gentle Birth Choices
