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OUR HISTORY
Buckeye Birth Coalition, a 501©4 nonprofit organization was formed by Meghan Nowland in 2020 to unite professional and consumer stakeholders from across Ohio to advocate for safer birth options. At the time, Meghan Nowland was a founding board member of the Ohio chapter of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives and served on their legislative committee. She had been meeting with legislators to discuss midwifery legislation since 2017. In that role she saw a need to create a separate more inclusive organization, bringing together consumers and advocates to combat birthing mortality.
In 2021 many interested parties meetings took place and finally in 2022 the Ohio nurse midwives came to a neutral stance. Erica Manto Paulson, Bree Hope, Lauren Wales, and Jocqueline Pressley stepped down from the board and Angela Campos and India Stringer joined as secretary and treasurer.
2022 was the biggest year for midwifery legislation. HB 496 to license certain types of midwives was pushed forward by republican sponsor Kyle Koehler. It went to the committee for Families, Aging, and Human Services and received 2 hearings and both proponent and opponent testimonies. Over 70 people submitted proponent testimony! We received support from Chair Manchester, as well as Assistant Majority Whip Adams and Majority Floor Leader Seitz.
2023 has carried the momentum from 2022 and the Coalition has seen increased interest in participation from midwives, students, and nurse midwives. Hope Lane and Susan Greene joined our board in March. Erica Manto Paulson rejoined our board in May. Our mission is to increase birthing options and combat birthing mortality through equity and healthcare transparency and we are excited to see increased access to midwives in our local communities.
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We've drafted legislation to allow nurse midwives in the state to provide newborn care.
WHAT WE DO
Buckeye Birth Coalition was founded in February 2020 with the intention of bringing constituents together from across the state who want to see increased birth options and access to midwives, and to make Ohio a safer place to have a baby. We have since expanded our goals to unite birth workers across Ohio and provide a network of resources to child-bearing families.
GOALS
INCREASE & EDUCATE ABOUT BIRTHING OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES IN OHIO
One of our goals is licensure and integration of Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Midwives into the community of professional caregivers. This has been proven in multiple studies to improve outcomes. We support protecting and including community midwives in the legislation, and are doing our part to combat Black maternal & infant health inequities/morbidity & mortality.
COMBAT BIRTHING MORTALITY THROUGH EQUITY AND HEALTHCARE TRANSPARENCY
We believe in value-based reimbursement. Licensed, accredited, freestanding birth centers should not be reimbursed at rates less than those used to reimburse uncomplicated vaginal delivery in their neighboring area hospitals. Paying equal services equal rates is the only ethical reimbursement model, and will provide the needed support our state and nations' midwives and birth centers need in order to do their part in curbing the maternal health crisis we are all facing together.
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Equal reimbursement for birth centers would:
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provide a fair and equitable basis that will ultimately provide access to midwifery statewide
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dramatically improve outcomes
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save healthcare costs
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help to bring the United States in league with the top ten nations in the world for maternal and infant health
LOBBY FOR NEW LAWS THAT ENSURE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND INFANTS IN OHIO
Advocating for the health and safety of mothers and infants in Ohio, we are actively lobbying for new legislation that strengthens healthcare standards, ensures access to quality maternal care, and protects the rights of families. Our mission is to create a safer, more supportive environment for every mother and child, working hand-in-hand with lawmakers to drive impactful change that prioritizes the well-being of our community.
ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF BIRTH WORKERS AND BIRTH-ADJACENT PROFESSIONALS
Building a comprehensive network of birth workers and birth-adjacent professionals across Ohio, we aim to connect families with a diverse range of resources and support. From doulas and midwives to lactation consultants and chiropractors, our network ensures that families have access to trusted professionals who can guide them through every stage of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. Our goal is to empower families with the options they need to make informed decisions and receive the care that best suits their unique journey.
BOARD MEMBERS
Meghan Nowland, President
AnnaMalia Ticknor, Secretary
Morgan Miller, Treasurer
Susan Green, Legislative Committee
Erica Paulson, Outreach Committee
Becca Keyes, Outreach Committee
GET TO KNOW OUR BOARD
Meet the Crew
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MEGHAN NOWLAND, LCPM, IBCLC
Board President
Meghan Nowland is the founder of Cincinnati Birth Center and Buckeye Birth Coalition. Experienced midwife, doula, and lactation consultant, Meghan Nowland brings expertise and a confidently calm energy to her clinical approach for clients across the local Cincinnati area since 2014 and in Kentucky since 2020. She moved to Walnut Hills with a passion to improve Ohio’s maternity care and regularly volunteers teaching community childbirth education classes. In addition to her work as a midwife, she’s a founder of Ohio’s chapter of National Association of Certified Professional Midwives. Most recently she’s been involved with legislative efforts to increase access to midwives and serving on the Kentucky Midwives Advisory Council, creating regulations for licensure of CPMs.
BECCA KEYES, DC
Vice President of Marketing
Becca Keyes is a Doctor of Chiropractic and Co-Owner of Bellies and Babies Chiropractic. Her dedication to working with mothers in the perinatal space came about after her homebirth with her son. Her experience of working with women she trusted to listen to her desires and support her through her pregnancy and birth inspired her to pass the torch and serve other women through her chiropractic work and through the Buckeye Birth Coalition. In addition to her private practice, she is co-host of Unbalanced and Hormonal, a podcast committed to provide resources and information about women's health to encourage empowerment and informed choices.
ANNAMALIA TICKNOR
Vice President of Events
AnnaMalia joined Buckeye Birth Coalition after a homebirth with her youngest child. She is a registered nurse with a Master’s of Nursing from DePaul University and a bachelor’s in Psychology and Women’s Studies from Guilford College. Her experience as a mother, educator, work as a nurse, and academic background inspire her to work for safe birth outcomes for all families in Ohio. With passion for relationships and creating empowering experiences she hopes to be part of meaningful change.
MORGAN MILLER
Treasurer
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ERICA MANTO PAULSON, CLD, CCE, CMA, BFA
Events Committee
Erica is a CAPPA certified labor doula and faculty doula trainer; certified childbirth educator, and certified midwife assistant. She is waterbirth credentialed, CPR and NRP certified. She is a professional member of CAPPA, Birth Arts International, and the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. Erica is also a published poet, author, and speaker and holds the title of 2023 Ohio Poet of the Year.
Erica has served over 1000 families in her tenure as a doula and childbirth educator since 2006. Erica has held board positions with the Cincinnati Area Doula Society, the Buckeye Birth Coalition, International Cesarean Awareness Network, and the Dayton Area Labor Support.