Held rallies for New Jersey Maternity Information Act

Tamra Larter - Mother, Doula, Better Birth Activist, New Jersey   Half way through my second pregnancy, the Pennsylvania birth center I had been going to for prenatal care informed me that my insurance only covered birth centers in New Jersey.  Since there were no birth centers in New Jersey I sought coverage for homebirth midwifery care. My HMO also denied me coverage of my homebirth because it was  deemed "medically unnecessary" and based on my choice.  With New Jersey's cesarean rate of over 37% and hospitals near me rising as high as 50%, I knew I did not want chance an unnecessary surgery.  Just two months following the amazing birth of my daughter at home (filmed for Orgasmic Birth), two women, friends and co-workers died of complications following cesareans at the facility that was meant to be my emergency back-up. Following these tragedies I helped co-coordinate a rally in front of the hospital and in our state capital to bring awareness to the rising cesarean rate and to request legislative sponsorship for a New Jersey Maternity Information Act. This act would make all intervention rates of maternity care providers easily accessible giving women the power to make truly informed decisions about where and with whom they deliver.  We received successful media coverage, and we are now working hard to accomplish legislative groundwork.  They are ready to hear from us!