The idea for the Walk for Midwives was born out of frustration for the lack of options available to birthing families in South Dakota - namely a severe shortage of midwives due to our outdated laws. When I received an email about a different kind of walk on July 16th, it got me thinking.

Four days later I was asking the SD Safe Childbirth Options board of directors for their help in planning a 4 mile walk in 11 communities in 7 days ending on my 44th birthday on August 27th. This walk would be used as a catalyst to energize midwife supporters, educate the public and raise money to continue our work in the state legislature.

Certified Professional Midwives, the specialists in out-of-hospital birth, have been delivering amazing outcomes across the country for almost 2 decades. Sadly, legal restrictions prevent them from practicing in South Dakota and severely limit the practice of Certified Nurse Midwives. The map below shows the limited access to midwives that South Dakota families face. Debbie Pease