• 80% of the babies born in the world today are delivered by midwives.
• The World Health Organization recognizes midwives as the appropriate maternity care providers for most of the world's women.
• 14 other countries have lower maternal mortality than the United States. The U.S. rate is more than twice Canada's (9 per 100,000 compared with 3.2).
• The U.S. ranks 22nd in the world in infant mortality, losing twice as many babies during the first year of life as Japan (10 compared with 4.4).
• One out of every 4 American women gives birth by cesarean. This is twice the rate the World Health Organization says is justifiable.
• Midwives deliver over 70% of the babies born in western European countries that have lower infant and maternal mortality, lower cesarean birth rates and lower health care costs.
• The United States spends more money on health care than any industrialized country in the world.
• Today, only 5% of U.S. babies are delivered by midwives.

"If we are to make real progress in providing primary and preventive care and in reducing infant mortality rates, we must broaden our provider base by encouraging the growth of midwifery."
-- Dr. Charles Mahan, State Health Officer & Florida Deputy Secretary for Health
Associated Press, October 1993.