Midwife's family needs your support
 
Recent photo of Yvonne, Greg and four of their seven children. Six of the children were born at home.

YVONNE CRYNS CASE UPDATE 1/9/00

The trial date continues to be delayed. We now expect the trial to begin in February or March. I will try to keep this page updated when important news occurs.

We have received many donations. I think they total over $3.000 at this point. The legal bills are approaching $40,000 at this point and we expect much more to come, so we've a long way to go. But we are confident that all will work out according to God's plan. We humbly thank each of you who have donated to the Legal Fund.

-greg cryns-

Press Release, 
October 17, 2000

Yvonne Cryns, a traditional direct-entry midwife and nationally credentialed Certified Professional Midwife, CPM, was indicted by a Lake County, Illinois grand jury on September 27, 2000 on two counts: Involuntary Manslaughter and Involuntary Manslaughter of an Unborn child. Each count carries a potential sentence of 2 to 5 years in prison. The indictments stem from Yvonne's attendance at a birth in Lake County where, according to the coroner's report, the baby was apparently stillborn. The charges brought against Yvonne by the Lake County State's Attorney were not sought by the parents.

In April 2000, Yvonne received a Cease & Desist order from the Department of Professional Regulation, ordering her to cease the practice of nursing and/or midwifery. DPR's action appears to be based on the theory that midwifery is actually the practice of nursing. In May, 2000, Yvonne filed a complaint in Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of the statute invoked by DPR, the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act, noting that the statute does not define midwifery or explain the conduct that constitutes midwifery. The Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act's stated purpose is the regulation of nursing in the State of Illinois. On October 3, 2000, DPR filed an action against Yvonne in the circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit seeking a court order permanently enjoining her from practicing "medicine, nursing, and/or midwifery."

The Department of Children and Family Services is now demanding interviews with Yvonne's children. DCFS has insisted that the Cryns children have no right to legal representation during the compelled interviews, although the results of the interviews could be used against Yvonne in court.

Yvonne has been a supporter of the Midwifery Model of Care and homebirth for many years. Six of her own children were born at home. Over the past decade she has worked tirelessly for direct-entry midwifery legislation in Illinois, writing bills, testifying at legislative hearings, advocating on behalf of  midwifery, and educating the public about choices in childbirth. She has produced a full-lengthy educational video, entitled Home Sweet Homebirth. It is believed that the outcome of Yvonne's cases before the courts will serve to define the future of homebirth and midwifery in Illinois.

Yvonne has been the primary financial support of her large family, however the current charges and lawsuits have now put her out of business. The cost of her defense against the criminal charges is anticipated to run between $50,000 and $100,000. Legal fees for the civil actions, including the pending constitutional challenge, are also mounting. Although she and her husband are reluctant to do so, they are forced to seek your financial help at this time.

How can you help the Cryns family? Please consider buying Yvonne's video about midwives called Home Sweet Homebirth. Or make a donation of any amount to the:

Yvonne Cryns Legal Defense Fund
5703 Hillcrest
Richmond, IL  60071

Any size donation is welcomed gratefully. Even a dollar or two. If everyone who visited this website sends just a couple of dollars the attorney and court costs would be covered in only a couple of months. You can send a donation through Pay Pal, a free internet service. To do so use the email address [email protected] and the last name "Cryns"; you can use the link below:
https://secure.#paypal.com/refer/pal=[removed]

Anonymous donations may be sent to:
Yvonne Cryns Legal Defense Fund #50084049
State Financial Bank
Hales Corners, WI  53130

All donations of $50 or more will automatically receive a copy of Yvonne's video, Home Sweet Homebirth. Please indicate that you would like to be sent this video.

All donations of $15 or more will automatically receive the Pregnant Keychain. Please indicate that you would like to be sent the keychain.

For continued information about Yvonne's cases, please send your email address and/or snail mail address with a short note to: [email protected]

A note from Jody McLaughlin of The Compleat Mother:

I think the best midwives are those who are created by their communities. Yvonne Cryns' community has created an excellent midwife.

Yvonne produced an insightful video about midwifery in the United States today. Little did she know, when she was making the video with the assistance of friends, colleagues, and her children and husband, Greg, that she herself would become a victim of the burning of midwives taking place across the country.

If we ignore opportunities to defend midwifery and those who provide midwifery care, this collusion against midwifery will continue to happen again and again across the country until hard working, competent and compassionate, community created midwives like Yvonne and their families will be beaten into submission. This is the perfect opportunity to protect the work midwives do across the country.

"Compleat Mother Magazine" will give the Cryns' family $5 for every new subscription. You can order subscriptions for friends, family, politicians, attorneys, public libraries and policy makers.

Please join our efforts on behalf of the Cryns' family and the Midwifery Model of Care.

Sincerely,
--Jody--
                Jody McLaughlin, Editor
                Compleat Mother Magazine
                PO Box 209
                Minot, North Dakota  58702-0209  USA
                email: [email protected]
                (701) 852-2822

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Pregnant Keychain! 

Birth, Joy, & Raspberry Leaves
-a new video compiled by Catherine and Amanda Young
of The Compleat Mother

Go HERE for more information on the video!

Home Sweet Homebirth (Video)

Midwives have existed since the beginning of humanity. Why, then, is it so difficult to find a midwife in America?  What events occurred between the mid 1800's until the present day which nearly made midwifery extinct in America? And why are more families now looking into homebirth as a refuge from hospital care?
Home Sweet Homebirth provides the answers. Interviews with noted doctors, historians and midwives. Very interesting and informative video.