Friday afternoon, about 200 moms, dads, and children marched along the sidewalks outside PeaceHealth Medical Center RiverBend in Springfield. They rallied in protest of the hospital’s planned closure of the Nurse Midwifery Birth Center.
Eva Edleson and her kids carry signs that say “Midwives Save Lives” and “We Value the Birth Center.” She lives in Eugene.
“Both of my daughters were born at the Birth Center. In fact all of these children were born at the Birth Center. Please don’t take away the choice from parents how to birth their children.”
Michael Macemon carries his 13-month old son in a back pack.
“This is Martin and he was born in the Red Room at the Birth Center.”
Passers-by honked in support of the line of protesters while security stood on hospital grounds, limiting access. Inside, PeaceHealth Oregon’s marketing director Marcy Marshall reiterated their position on the closure.
“We’re not changing our mind. We are moving forward. You know, the decision has been made.”
The PeaceHealth Nurse Midwifery Birth Center is scheduled to close on August 31st.