Illinois lawmakers are considering whether midwives -- who aren't nurses -- should be legally permitted to oversee home births.
Democratic Representative Robyn Gabel of Evanston says it's a matter of safety. She's sponsor of a measure that would establish training and other standards.
Gabel says close to one thousand Illinois women hire midwives to help deliver their babies now. She wants the practice regulated.
"We want to make sure that they have the safest home birth they can have. And be able to have access to the most modern treatments, with that home birth. That there are places in Africa where women can have home births and get the medications that they need,” Gabel said.
Gabel says she's optimistic that after years of lobbying ... this could be the year it happens ... because a state chapter representing OB-GYNs has signed on. But pediatric doctors remain opposed.