I would like to pose the question of the philosophical differences between
naturopathic midwifery and lay midwifery. First, because both Bastyr
University and NCNM have proposed to or have already decided to drop the
program from our curriculum.

I am currently at NCNM as a 4th year student in the OB class curriculum and
have experienced this program as somewhat inhospitable to students who do
not choose to do births but who would like to complete the curriculum
itself. This seems like it isn't an ideal approach to expanding the
professional mind to the possibility of keeping natuorpathic obstetrics
around. However, for those who do decide to stay in the program, there seems
to be a very sincere difference in capability as a student physician who
treats pediatric and pregnant patients.

How come the curriculum at the different shcools does not mandate students
to complete a course of study in obstetics any longer? Do the elders
perceive this as a positive or negative change in curriculum- I understand
that naturopathic physicians had to complete a program in obstetrics until a
point in time which seems rather unclear to those of us who are in the
program currently.

I am curious to hear the opinions of some of the porfession's elders in
regards to how we perceive naturopathic OB different, even superior, to lay
midwifery or nurse widwifery.

Sincerely,
Lindsay M. Baum