Today I received the following letter - addressed to ARM - which I decided
to share with the mailing lists, on the off-chance that someone might be
able to respond.  I reproduce it verbatim, rather than presume to correct
her English.

If you decide to respond to her, please write to her directly, and not via
ARM.

Many thanks
Ishbel

13.1.2000

Hi!
I'm a French mother who lives in Quebec Province, in Canada.  Please excuse
my English, because I'm nearly uniling French.

I wrote to you today because we live in a very particular situation here.
Since September 25 the government of the province has adoped a law about
midwifery practice.  They tell us,
"nobody can assist homebirth"
"Some criteria will be necessary for have homebirth in Quebec"
"Nobody can practice childbirth if he's not midwife"

Some rules, by example, the first 1 have wrote, is temporary, but can take
months or years.  We make a lot of pressures on ministers, deputies,
organisations, but without results.

Autochtons (natives) women in Nunavuut have an exemption, can have an
assitant at home because this way of childbearing is part of their culture.

But it is part of my culture too.  We are just 1% of population who give
birth at home, some more in birth centre.  If midwifery practice is severely
ruled, what's for the future?  I'm afraid for the future of my children, for
the future of my sister's midwives.

Another disposition tell us:  University is now the only way for midwifery
training.  We not believe this.  Is another aberration.

I ask for international help:

1. TALK ABOUT US - breaking the silence is strong for deny the institutional
power.

2. WRITE FOR US - tell us about your experience, your rules, your formation,
results, stats, laws (important), relations with physicians, etc.

3. CONTACTS - we need international support.  I think about United Nations.
I want to go for talk about my non-respected rights, and the non-respect for
my children's too.

4. I know about International Homebirth Conference in March 2000.  One time
again, if you go, talk about us, help me for an international network for
homebirth and the child/women rights.

A last point:  Since many years Canada have a reputation of respect for
human rights, be neutral and pacific.  If the criteria become tighter here,
maybe the next time is for you, or another country.  We see a strong medical
power behind this law.  I know a midwife in Vancouver who go in court on
February 2nd for illegal midwifery practice, after 23 or 24 years or
experience.  I don't understand.

Since midwifery is legal in Ontaria, women in the north cannot find midwife
for homebirth, and in south she need to ask for it pre-conception.

Please answer me -----  Any comments, help, ideas is welcome.

We are really alone.

Thank you for being there.

Mary Pascal Beauregard
1023 Route 210
Sawyerville
Quebec
Canada   J0B 3A0

Phone: 819 889 2958
email: [log in to unmask]










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