TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A western Indiana hospital’s decision to stop using certified nurse midwives has sparked an effort to keep the services alive.

Union Hospital in Terre Haute notified employees in late July that it was dropping hospital-based certified nurse midwife services. The two midwives practicing through the hospital’s Maternal Health Clinic were told they would not be able to practice at the hospital after Oct. 29.

The decision “takes away our choice of medical care,” said Catherine Harris, whose baby is due Nov. 7.

Those hoping to keep midwives practicing in Terre Haute have formed a group dedicated to the purpose and say they might write letters or picket health providers to further the cause.

“We need to do something about this,” said Devon Kinne, an organizer of the group.

Kinne, whose child was born using a certified nurse midwife, said studies show midwives tend to use fewer medical interventions during a delivery. That can result in healthier outcomes for mother and baby, she said.

Union Hospital officials said they decided not to renew a contract with Maternal Health Clinic midwives for economic reasons.

“Our mission and first priority is to continue to provide prenatal care and delivery for low-income women in our community,” the hospital said in a statement to the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute. “Realigning the maternal health services with our physician residents allows us to maintain that service for the poor in our community. We hope that the midwives will be able to practice independently or find other employment arrangements and that local demand will support them.”

About 10 percent of the 1,508 babies born at Union Hospital in 2009 were delivered by certified nurse midwives, according to the hospital.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com