St Louis-For the last 49 years it has been illegal to be a midwife in Missouri.
That is poised to change as the Missouri Supreme Court has ruled in a split decision, 2-5 that professional certified Midwives would be again allowed to practice in Missouri.
One of the first and remaining up to now one of the only states to outlaw midwives, Missouri has largely stood alone on this issue.
Beginning in 1959 a person who practiced the art of being a midwife in Missouri could be arrested and charged, and spend up to 7 years in prison.
The law has been supported by the Missouri Medical Association, who is disappointed that the law prohibiting midwives was struck down.
Proponents of the legalization effort say that midwives are a great support to mothers, and that their services help new mothers especially with delivery and birth.
Doctors in Missouri and the Missouri Medical Association maintain that the quality of care with midwives are just not the same.
The doctors maintain that only a licensed doctor can deal with all of the possible complications that a pregnancy can bring.