values + ethics

She values women and their creative, life-affirming and life-giving powers which find expression in a diversity of ways.
She values a woman's right to make choices regarding all aspects of her life.

She values the oneness of the pregnant mother and her unborn child; an inseparable and interdependent whole.
She values the birth experience as a rite of passage; the sentient and sensitive nature of the newborn; and the right of each baby to be born in a caring and loving manner, without separation from mother and family.
She values the integrity of a woman's body and the right of each woman and baby to be totally supported in their efforts to achieve a natural, spontaneous vaginal birth.
She values the breastfeeding relationship as the ideal way of nourishing and nurturing the newborn.

She values the essential mystery of birth.
She values pregnancy and birth as natural processes that technology will never supplant.
She values the integrity of life's experiences; the physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual components of a process are inseparable.
She values pregnancy and birth as personal, intimate, internal, sexual, and social events to be shared in the environment and with the attendants a woman chooses.
She values the learning experiences of life and birth.
She values pregnancy and birth as processes which have lifelong impact on a woman's self esteem, her health, her ability to nurture, and her personal growth.

She values her right to practice the art of midwifery. She values her work as an ancient vocation of women which has existed as long as humans have lived on earth.
She values expertise which incorporates academic knowledge, clinical skill, intuitive judgement and spiritual awareness.
She values all forms of midwifery education and acknowledge the ongoing wisdom of apprenticeship as the original model for training midwives.
She values the art of nurturing the intrinsic normalcy of birth and recognize that each woman and baby have parameters of well-being unique unto themselves.
She values the empowerment of women in all aspects of life and particularly as that strength is realized during pregnancy, birth and thereafter. She values the art of encouraging the open expression of that strength so women can birth unhindered and confident in their abilities and in her support.
She values skills which support a complicated pregnancy or birth to move toward a state of greater well-being or to be brought to the most healing conclusion possible.
She values the art of letting go.
She values the acceptance of death as a possible outcome of birth. We value our focus as supporting life rather than avoiding death.
She values standing for what she believes in in the face of social and political oppression.

She values a mother's intuitive knowledge of herself and her baby before, during and after birth.
She values a woman's innate ability to nurture her pregnancy and birth her baby; the power and beauty of her body as it grows and the awesome strength summoned in labor.
She values the mother as the only direct care provider for her unborn child.
She values supporting women in a non-judgmental way, whatever their state of physical, emotional, social or spiritual health. We value the broadening of available resources whenever possible so that the desired goals of health, happiness and personal growth are realized according to their needs and perceptions.
She values the right of each woman to choose a care giver appropriate to her needs and compatible with her belief systems.
She values pregnancy and birth as rites of passage integral to a woman's evolution into mothering.
She values the potential of partners, family and community to support women in all aspects of birth and mothering.

She values relationship. The quality, integrity, equality and uniqueness of her interactions inform and critique her choices and decisions.
She values honesty in relationship.
She values caring for women to the best of our ability without prejudice against their age, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, physical abilities, or socioeconomic background.
She values the concept of personal responsibility and the right of individuals to make choices regarding what they deem best for themselves. We value the right to true informed choice, not merely informed consent to what we think is best.
She values our relationship to a process larger than ourselves, recognizing that birth is something we can seek to learn from and know, but never control.
She values humility in her work.
She values the recognition of our own limits and limitations.
She values direct access to information readily understood by all.
She values sharing information and her understanding about birth experiences, skills, and knowledge.
She values the midwifery community as a support system and an essential place of learning and sisterhood.
She values diversity among midwives; recognizing that it broadens our collective resources and challenges us to work for greater understanding of birth and each other.
She values mutual trust and respect, which grows from a realization of all of the above.