SYNOPSIS

One by one, in upstate New York, several midwives serving the Amish and Mennonite communities are arrested and charged with practicing without a license. In Arrest the Midwife, we hear the stories of these women — beloved in the community. They are trained, skilled midwives serving a population who relies on them for critically important care, but their credential, Certified Professional Midwife, legitimate in 37 states across the US, is not recognized in New York. The battle between the medical industry and midwifery is a centuries-old David and Goliath story with repercussions that impact maternal and child health and safety. Yet while these arrests have exacerbated a rural healthcare desert, they have also spurred the emergence of an unlikely group of activists joining the fight for reproductive rights — Amish and Mennonite women who are standing up and fighting for their freedom of choice.