SC DHEC Delays Emergent Care to Moms & Newborns

Protect Vulnerable Women & Babies by Requiring Hospitals to give EQUAL ACCESS to Consumers of Midwifery Care

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South Carolina has a bill that will protect women and babies who have chosen to be attended by a midwife. South Carolina S.379 bill known as The Perinatal Integration Act (PIA) is an aggressive effort that will ensure that consumers of midwifery care are given equal access to higher levels of care when the need arises.

SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) enacted a regulation that named every DHEC licensed maternity provider, but neglected to name the Licensed Midwives and Licensed Birthing Centers.

STOP DHEC's Senseless Regulation forbidding midwife-born babies from Equal Access

This oversight could mean unnecessary delays in care if a midwife clients needs to transport to the hospital. College and prison infirmaries were included as being entitled to direct access even though they rarely have maternity patients. Yet midwifery clients can still be sent to wait in the emergency room instead of being directly admitted.

Not only were midwives omitted from the list of maternity providers, but a clause was added that could directly harm babies born at home or in a birthing center, “…. outborn babies…” are not allowed to be admitted to a normal delivering hospital. These babies must travel to one of only five Regional Perinatal Centers in the state. Most “outborn babies” do not need this specialized care but could be forced to travel up to two hours for services. But when a baby is in need but not allowed to be admitted at the closest facility, the delay in care could mean the difference between life and death.

Our purpose is to create a powerful and unifying voice for out-of-hospital midwifery and to strengthen growth and excellence in this SC profession. We work towards influencing maternal health policy, regulations and statutes to ensure that all mothers and babies have access to this healthy birth option.

Communicating to Legislators is Expensive. Help us HERE Did you realize that South Carolina was the first state to regulate midwives? Now, 40 years later, we intend to be the first state to be integrated into the Perinatal Levels of Care as facilities. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) is developing a transfer system nationwide that ensures streamlined and safe care when a maternity patient needs expanded services not available at her current location. There are 20 states currently implementing this system and SC will be the first state to add midwives as a recognized maternal level of care.

Not only does this Act provide for faster care during pertinent situations, but it allows midwives to access the 24/7 consultation desk for provider-to-provider collaboration for non-emergent services as well. Educational opportunities, data tracking and follow-up evaluations are also an integral part of the Perinatal Levels of Care.

Be Prepared for the Statehouse Event, PURCHASE YOUR T-SHIRTS NOW

The midwives have an annual event at the SC State House to meet the legislators and discuss the importance of keeping birth options available to SC women. In years past, we have been dressing in purple at the State House events; but not this year. This year we will dawn the midwife uniforms from the PBS show, "Call the Midwife." So find your red sweater, nurses cap or beret and other uniform used in the show and join the fun. More information on the Statehouse event in January can be found here: https://sandy296.wixsite.com/scmidwifecoalition/event-details/sc-fam4lm