Lebanon Valley Midwifery - Lebanon Valley Birth Center

08/26/2025

Community birth centers are safe, evidence-based care--and families love them. But they are disappearing or gone in most areas due to a lack of funding. The BABIES Act helps change that.

Building upon the success of CMS’s Strong Start Demonstration Program, the BABIES Act would provide grant funding to states to develop and advance innovative payment models for freestanding birth centers. The birth center model of care has been shown to reduce preterm and low birth weight births, reduce cesarean births, and lead to significant cost savings due to better outcomes.

We encourage all midwives and midwifery supporters to contact their members of Congress and urge support for this critical legislation. We have provided a template letter that can be edited to reflect your thoughts and opinions in support of the BABIES Act.

https://www.votervoice.net/ACNM/Campaigns/69631/Respond

08/23/2025

08/18/2025

✨ Make a Difference Monday ✨

The time for excuses is over. It's time for our elected officials to take action in our best interest.

Congress must invest in the Midwives for MOMS Act!
This bipartisan effort directly addresses the nation’s maternal health crisis by expanding access to high-quality, culturally competent care through midwives. With the U.S. facing one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, especially for Black, Indigenous, and rural communities, this legislation offers a proven, cost-effective solution.

Midwife-led care improves birth outcomes, reduces unnecessary interventions, and strengthens maternal health equity. Investing in this act is not just a matter of policy — it’s a matter of saving lives, supporting families, and ensuring every mother has access to safe, respectful, and effective care.

To support Midwives for MOMs, visit https://www.birthcenters.org/call-to-action

08/11/2025

A reminder that can never be shared too often: Birth center care = evidence-based care! 📖💡

Decades of data collection and research indicates results beyond just the safety of midwifery-led birth center care. Those who receive birth center care often illustrate better experiences of care, superior birth outcomes, and decreased cost when controlling for medical and social risks.

It is so important for families to understand the current evidence out there to make informed decisions about their care. Every birthing person deserves a safe, respectful, and compassionate birth experience. That's exactly what the birth center model of care aims to provide.

To read more and dive into the research, visit https://www.birthcenters.org/news/evidence-shows-birth-centers-a-safe-option-for-birth

07/31/2025

Lebanon Valley Midwifery and Women’s Wellness and the Lebanon Valley Birth Center is a 19-year-old autonomous midwifery service and licensed accredited birth center. We are excited to announce a Clinical Director position as the current director is retiring*.

We provide full-scope midwifery and newborn care to our wonderful families (about 75% are Plain). Recently, we have averaged 145 births a year – most in our birth center, the rest at home or in nearby hospitals. We offer water birth, nitrous, and VBAC care. You’ll join a team of CNMs, nurses, a lactation consultant and the administrative team. *The current director can continue as a staff midwife if the leadership wishes.

Key Responsibilities
50/50 administrative and clinical full-time position
• Directs clinical operations including scheduling oversight
• Oversees clinical portion of the quality assurance program including Clinical Guideline revisions
• Works with the Administrative Director for clinical hiring
• Represents and advocates for the service and birth centers to the community
• Develops and executes a strategic plan to meet community’s needs

Compensation/Benefits
• Salary (negotiable): $120,000
• Benefits and employer provisions available upon request

Qualifications
• Current PA midwifery license with prescriptive privileges (or eligible)
• 3 or more years of midwifery experience; preferably full scope, in a birth center, with management experience
• Must obtain hospital privileges
• Current BLS and NRP certifications and clears all background checks
• Basic computer literacy

Lifestyle/Community
• A life-work balance best obtained if you live within about 20 minutes of the birth center taking call from your home. Free accommodations at the birth center are available while you are on call

https://lebanonvalleymidwifery.com https://www.facebook.com/lvmidwives

A fuller description is available from lvmww@nbn.net
To apply send a CV to the email above.

Pregnancy & women’s health care by certified nurse-midwives including births at home, our licensed, accredited birth center or the hospital

07/18/2025

Great day in DC. Many thanks to JLL for covering. Please everyone contact Senators Fetterman and MCormick to ask them to support these bills which would help to expand the midwifery workforce and birth centers. More links and addresses on Monday on our website.

07/18/2025

Had a lovely day in DC. Please everyone contact Senators Fetterman and McCormick to ask for their support of these bills which would help to expand the midwifery workforce and birth centers. There will be more links and addresses on our website on Monday.

07/17/2025

The U.S. ranks LAST among high-income nations in maternal mortality. But there's hope. The Midwives for MOMS Act invests in the midwifery workforce to improve outcomes and reduce disparities.

Contact your reps! Share the message. Together, we can birth a healthier future.

https://www.votervoice.net/ACNM/Campaigns/68049/Respond

07/17/2025

The BABIES Act ensures birth centers thrive--not just survive. These centers are more than buildings__they're lifelines.

-Fewer intereventions
-Lower costs to Medicaid
-Higher satisfaction.

The choice is obvious.
Introduced in May 2025 by Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), the Better Availability of Birth Centers Improves Outcomes and Expands Savings (BABIES) Act (S.1598) would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration project under the Medicaid program in six states in areas identified a having limited access to maternity care.
Repost this. Contact your reps. Fund what works.

Visit our Action Center Today: https://www.votervoice.net/ACNM/Campaigns/69631/Respond

07/12/2025

Calling All Midwifery Supporters! Help Us Advocate on Capitol Hill!

We’re preparing for a Congressional Briefing on July 17th, and we need YOUR voice to help advocate for expanded access to midwifery-led birth centers and midwifery education funding.

We’re collecting short video testimonials—recorded on your phone is perfect! Whether you're a midwife, birth center staff member, or someone who has received midwifery care, your story matters.

🎥 Share a quick clip about:

Why sustainable payment for midwifery care is critical
The need for a larger, more diverse midwifery workforce
How midwifery care made a difference in your life
The challenges of limited access to maternity or birth center care
Let’s make sure Congress hears directly from the people most impacted.

Scan the QR code to submit your video!

Please spread the word—together, we can make a difference.

07/03/2025

Susan is a member of the panel! If anyone is able to come, please feel warmly invited and encouraged to attend. We need to show our elected officials that people want midwifery and birth center care.

You're invited to join honorary host: Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and thought leaders from the American Association of Birth Centers, American College of Nurse-Midwives and Birth Center Equity, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives and the Policy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery.

Lunch Briefing on the Midwives for MOMS Act (S. 1599) the BABIES Act (S. 1598)

When: Thursday, July 17, 2025, 12:00-1:30pm
Where: Russell Senate Office Building, Room 188

Please RSVP by Monday July 14th to Amy Kohl (akohl@acnm.org)