Pre-Hearing Orientation and Rally
For HB 226, the Home Birth Safety Act.
March 3, 2009, 1pm
East entrance of the Capitol
Along S. 2nd St. (by the corner of S. 2nd St. and E. Monroe St.).
Following the rally, we will head inside and lobby our own state representatives (senator is optional), and "be seen on the scene". Be sure to look up who your state rep is at home. We will NOT have a way to look that up for you in Springfield. Visit http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1 and click on the By Address tab.
After you find and talk with your state representative, you might wander around, or sit up in the House or Senate gallery if they are in session (or even just go in to see the House and Senate floosr, which are both gorgeous). You also might take a free architectural tour of the capitol; check at the information booth for details
Please bring a letter for Governor Quinn! State that a lack of licensed midwives has been a problem for decades in our state, and all efforts to license midwives have been held up in the Illinois House by organized medicine (or you can name the Illinois State Medial Society, although they have their sub-specialty auxiliary groups working on it now, too). You can choose to go to the governor's office on the second floor to drop it off yourself, or leave it with us, and we will deliver it for you.
The committee hearing will start at 4pm in room 118 of the Capitol. If you are a licensed physician or advanced practice nurse, please be prepared to sign in as a "record or appearance". There are several bills up for consideration before this committee. We do not know the order in which bills will be called, but we hope we will be one of the first. Dr. Minkus will be testifying on behalf of the bill. We have also asked a high-risk OB from Southern Illinois to testify, but he is out of town and has not confirmed.
We are looking for a few people to volunteer as ushers to politely remind anyone whose child is fussing or even talking above a whisper to exit the hearing. We hate to be strict about it, but the hearing is considered a serious matter. Most of the legislators love children, but don't like it if they interrupt a hearing. Anyone who needs to settle a fussy baby or toddler should please respectfully do so out in the hallway. Nursing is your legal right in Illinois, and women openly nurse in the hallways, but, we do ask that you be as modest as possible during the hearing.
(BTW -- I suggest you bring nutritious snacks and bottled water, which can be eaten in the cafeteria and in the hallways but NOT in the House or Senate gallery or hearing room.)
4 comments:
Hi! I plan to come to the rally and hearing tomorrow, and I was wondering if you could give me tips on what to write in my letter to Gov. Quinn.
Specifically, I'm 6 months pregnant with my first and planning a homebirth with an unlicensed midwife. Should I mention this specifically? Should I discuss my reasons for wanting a homebirth, or my family's personal experience with it (this will be a 2nd gen. homebirth, my MIL birthed 5 at home, my SMIL 2, and there have been 2 other attempted homebirths that resulted in transfers).
Obviously I'd like a response on this this evening. If you'd like you can email me at sunflwrmoonbeam at gmail dot com
Yes, yes and yes. Don't bog the letter down with the nitty gritty of your family's experiences; just that they all prefer home birth, and we need more midwives in Illinois, and you want to know that your midwife has proven her skills, practices with standards and accountability, and has legal access to emergency transport in the rare instance that it is needed.
(How's that for a run-on sentence? LOL)
Colette,
I was sad to hear that the bill did not get through committee but am excited to hear what you guys have up your sleeves in IL. You are such an inspiration to us here in Iowa. You are amazing!!
Lauren in IA
I'm just now starting the research for having a homebirth and I'm upset that I didn't know of the problems we face as advocates of this choice living in IL. I will support to the best of my abilities all my life. Every woman deserves the best. Thank you for doing what you do.
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