Independent midwife center sealed: Debate over birth rights grows
The sealing of a center run by an independent midwife who provides birth support has sparked controversy. Reacting to the situation, the Association of Independent Midwives stated that the center was operating in accordance with legal regulations, declaring, Women's right to birth and the working space of independent midwives cannot be interfered with.
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A center in the Göztepe neighborhood of Kadıköy, where an independent midwife provided pregnancy monitoring and support for physiological births to expectant mothers, has been sealed by the Kadıköy District Health Directorate.
Describing the situation as an arbitrary and unacceptable intervention, the Association of Independent Midwives reacted to the incident.
Speaking on behalf of the association, board member and midwife Elif Selimoğlu pointed out that this practice poses a threat not only to self-employed midwives but also to women's free and informed choices during childbirth.
"WE DECIDE WHERE AND WITH WHOM WE GIVE BIRTH"
The association highlighted that a woman-centered, continuous, and safe midwifery care model during birth strengthens the physical and mental health of women, supports family integrity, and increases the number of normal births by reducing unnecessary interventions.
Women supported by independent midwives made their voices heard with the following statements:
"Birth is a turning point in our lives. We want to give birth with midwives who know us and have been by our side since pregnancy. We demand that this safe, scientific, and woman-centered care model be supported and that our birth preferences be respected. We want to decide where and with whom we give birth. We are here today standing with our midwives."