Are we ready for the next disaster?

Disaster preparedness has become a top priority in South Dakota, and Governor Rounds has encouraged all citizens to be prepared for any emergency, proclaiming August 31, 2007 as “bReady Day”.

1 What preparations are being made for pregnant women and newborns? Where will pregnant women birth their babies if hospitals become overwhelmed with disease and infection or power outages make technological birth services unavailable?

Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are the only childbirth attendants with required training in out-of-hospital birth and could be an invaluable asset to South Dakota’s disaster preparedness plan. These midwives are astute in out-of-hospital births with limited technology and they are highly educated in the natural process of birth including the physiological needs for mother and newborn.

CPMs are a key component to ensure pregnant and birthing women and their newborns are safely cared for during emergencies.

1. See the website: www.bReadySD.com.
Revised 10/24/08
South Dakota Safe Childbirth Options urges South Dakota legislators to provide a means for CPMs to practice in our state, so that we can all be ready when disaster strikes.