Are You Seen and Heard in SC?
Does your legislative candidate support Midwife Care in SC for healthy low-risk pregnancies?
The 2024 Licensed Midwife Candidate survey was sent to all legislative candidates. The survey briefly described licensed midwifery care and highlighted information regarding the history of the care and profession in SC. The complete survey including the five questions asked can be found at the end of this post.
If you don't see your district legislators listed, please reach out to them. Don't know who your legislators are? Find out here.
RESULTS:
Who answered with total support? Who answered but did not give full support?
Senate Candidates
District | Candidate Name | Email Address | Associated Counties | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 | Comments |
12 | Octavia Amaechi, MD | Greenville, Spartanburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Midwives are an underutilized yet highly valuable component of the healthcare team. Evidence, particularly in light of South Carolina's high maternal mortality rates, shows that midwives can significantly enhance maternal care by partnering with patients throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period. This collaboration is crucial in reducing incidents of harm, especially among marginalized groups. Effective policies are essential to ensure that both communities and clinicians are well-supported. These policies should facilitate optimal practice within the scope of each clinician’s licensure while promoting collaboration among healthcare professionals. Working alongside physicians and other healthcare team members strengthens the practice of medicine and helps ensure patient safety. This November, we cannot afford to send extremists to our statehouse. My opponent has spent years drafting, sponsoring, and enacting policies aimed at punishing women rather than protecting them. We need a physician in the Senate who understands the importance of midwifery as well as reproductive justice. I am committed to defending the role of midwives, protecting privacy, and championing access to fertility treatment and contraception. My goal is to ensure that all South Carolinians have access to comprehensive and compassionate care, including the valuable services provided by midwives. | |
12 | Roger A. Nutt | Greenville, Spartanburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
19 | Tameika I. D Devine | Richland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
19 | Christopher Nelums | Richland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
26 | Matt Vilardebo | York | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | As a candidate for the South Carolina House of Representatives and a father, I have a personal appreciation for the value of having compassionate, professional support during childbirth. When my wife and I welcomed our first child, Clark, we were assisted by a professional doula, which made an incredible difference in our birth experience. This deeply personal connection underscores my commitment to supporting midwives and the essential role they play in providing safe, evidence-based maternity care. I wholeheartedly support the work of midwives in South Carolina. The Midwives Model of Care, with its focus on individualized, patient-centered support, offers expectant mothers autonomy in their birth choices and contributes to better health outcomes, including lower rates of premature delivery and higher rates of successful breastfeeding. Midwives also play a crucial role in ensuring women in rural or underserved areas have access to quality maternity care, which is especially important given the challenges in accessing OB/GYN services in many parts of our state. If elected, I will advocate for the continued integration of midwives into South Carolina’s healthcare system. It is vital that midwives receive the support, training, and autonomy they need to continue delivering excellent care. I will also work to ensure that health policies in our state are guided by evidence-based practices that prioritize the health and safety of mothers and babies, while respecting and empowering women's birth choices. Midwifery has a long and proud history in South Carolina, and I believe that safe, effective, and satisfying maternity care begins with recognizing and supporting the unique and invaluable contributions of midwives. I look forward to working with the Palmetto Association of Licensed Midwives to ensure that midwives remain an integral part of our healthcare system and that women throughout our state have the freedom and support to choose the birth experience that is right for them. Sincerely, Matt Vilardebo Candidate for SC House of Representatives, District 26 | |
26 | Jason Guerra | Calhoun, Lexington, Richland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
28 | J Fritz Wiebel | Greenville | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
36 | Jeff Zell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | I consider it essential to champion the rights of expectant mothers and families to access a broad spectrum of healthcare options, including encompassing alternative safe birthing methods administered by licensed midwives. | |
41 | Annie E McDaniel | Chester, Fairfield, Richland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Thank for you work in this area, additional health care providers should always be welcomed. | |
41 | Rita Adkins | Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
43 | Julie Cofer Hussein | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | My experience with SC First Steps introduced me to the connection between maternal health and early education support. The disparities in South Carolina's maternal health and infant mortality rates are priority needs if this state is serious about caring for pregnancy and babies. | |
44 | Vickey Wynn | Berkeley, Charleston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
48 | Brandon Guffey | York | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Second to last question- I would certainly be willing to support it if the financial explanation makes sense. I have to see it first instead of blindly saying yes Not sure how to answer about it being “more efficient” because I don’t know the process. It sounds very efficient but I can’t just say it is |
House Candidates
3 | Eunice Lehmacher | Pickens | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | My first child was delivered by a midwife and we had midwife care at home after his birth. I would recommend midwife care for all families. Thank you for all you do for women and families! | |
6 | April Cromer | Anderson | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
10 | Thomas Beach | Anderson, Greenville, Pickens | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | A noble profession. The industry has my support. | |
14 | Luke S Rankin | Laurens | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Strongly in favor of midwives, home births, and birth centers. I am a product of a home birth! | |
16 | Mark N Willis | Laurens | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
20 | Stephen Frank | Greenville | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
23 | Chandra Dillard | Greenville | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | In general I'm supportive of this historic birthing method. As we move to actual legislative language and scope of practice, I retain the right to have a different perspective. | |
33 | Clemson Turregano | Spartanburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Midwives play a significant health treatment role and offer an important alternative to sometimes expensive and unnecessary hospital stays. I strongly support the midwife profession and will work closely with leaders in the profession to get them the visibility needed to help mothers across SC. | |
34 | Sarita Edgerton | Spartanburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
38 | Jennifer Taylor | Spartanburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | I believe midwifery is a valid and healthy option for assistance with pregnancies and we must ensure equality of healthcare decisions. | |
40 | Joseph S White | Lexington, Newberry | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
44 | Vickey Wynn | Berkeley, Charleston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
47 | Tommy Pope | York | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | My last grandchild was delivered at home with the help of a midwife. It was aa positive experience for my son and his wife. | |
54 | Sterling McDiarmid | Chesterfield, Darlington, Marlboro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | My wife used a midwife through our local OBGYN office/ hospital with our first child and had an incredible experience. I would be honored to be endorsed by your group. | |
61 | Carla Schuessler | Horry | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
63 | Kory Haskins | Florence | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | My wife prefers to use a birthing center rather than your usual hospital due to its high level of comfort. I support her and women to be able to use these alternative options. | |
69 | Allen J Broadus | Lexington | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
76 | Gary Votour | Richland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
80 | Donna Brown Newton | Charleston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | When I had my first child, I was assisted by a midwife, and she made me feel safe throughout my pregnancy and delivery. | |
80 | Donna Brown Newton | Charleston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | When I had my first child, I was assisted by a midwife, and she made me feel safe throughout my pregnancy and delivery. | |
89 | Wayne Borders | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | I am not familiar with the present law and regulations upon the midwifery profession. I am very open to reading through them and not preventing the expansion of midwifery in South Carolina. Our state is desperate for more care for pregnant people. | |
90 | Herbert Frank Dickson | Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester, Orangeburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
93 | Krista Hassell | Calhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | I am a huge proponent of health freedom and midwifery is big part of that ideal. I vow support and work with midwives across the state of SC to ensure the best care for all preborns and their families. | |
93 | Harold Geddings | Calhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | In principle, i believe all healthcare decisions should be between a doctor (or other healthcare provider) and patient. Government should play as small a role as possible in that and would support any legislation to that effect. | |
93 | Jerry Govan | Calhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
102 | Joe Jefferson | Berkeley, Dorester | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Maude Callen, a Mid-Wife delivered me 77 years ago. Don't know if I would be here today, had it not been for a Mid-Wife. By the way, I introduced Legislation a few years ago supporting the mid-wife Legislation & will do it again. Joe Jefferson | |
110 | Tom Hartnett | Charleston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
111 | Joe Jernigan | Charleston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Expecting Mothers & their Midwives, should have the full confidence that they can follow whatever course of birthing they so choose, as consulted & consensual with each other. Government has no right to dictate the manner in which a baby is born, nor the course of birthing that a Mother would participate in. I would support legislation that eliminates any Regulatory burdens, preventing complete birthing freedom for expecting Mothers & their Midwives. | |
115 | J Warren Sloane | Charleston | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The following is the survey sent to our legislators:
LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE SURVEY FROM SC MIDWIVES 2024
The Palmetto Association of Licensed Midwives takes pride in supporting the needs of SC consumers by offering learning opportunities to midwives and the community at large.
Midwifery in South Carolina has a long history of serving families at birth. In 1976, South Carolina became the first state to provide legislation for the profession of and dozens of other states have followed suit.
To effect healthy outcomes, midwives strive to care for the whole woman. This approach yields exceptionally low rates of premature delivery, exceptionally high rates of successful breastfeeding, reduces the occurrence of low birth weight infants and supports the family unit.
Labor and delivery care is provided in the home or in birth centers. Women are free of restrictions in labor and give birth in the manner they choose. Close observation and patience with nature facilitate safe deliveries. Newborns are welcomed gently and remain with their mothers. Licensed Midwives tend to mother’s and baby’s needs with special attention to parent/infant bonding.
PALM - Palmetto Association of Licensed Midwives Mission:
To serve as a resource of midwifery education,
To serve as an advocate for the consumer through public education and other mechanisms,
To promote the specialty of midwifery,
To work toward continued integration of midwifery in the healthcare system,
To uphold standards of excellence for midwifery practice through continued education of the members,
To provide a networking structure to identify and address professional midwifery issues,
To promote and improve the business conditions for midwives within the healthcare system.
We would love to know your beliefs regarding Licensed Midwifery care in South Carolina.
Thank you for your kind response to the survey. Please respond by October 20, 2024.
SURVEY QUESTIONS:
Q# 1. Do you support community births in SC for healthy low-risk pregnancies (this would include births that occur at home, birth center or at a physician's office).
Q# 2. Do you support equal access to emergency care for families using a midwife?
Q# 3. Do you support fair/equal reimbursement rates from Medicaid/private insurance for families using a midwife?
Q# 4. Would you be willing to support/sponsor legislative efforts that improve access to midwifery care, emergency care and insurance reimbursement for healthy low-risk pregnancies in SC?
Q# 5. Do you believe that collaboration between midwife/physician/providers are a more efficient assessment of health than regulation mandates?
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