RIDOH Orders Unlicensed Midwife to “Cease and Desist” — Also Marketed Photo Services for $2,000
GoLocalProv News Team
RIDOH Orders Unlicensed Midwife to “Cease and Desist” — Also Marketed Photo Services for $2,000
According to RIDOH, it received “credible evidence that Vanessa Lewis (‘Respondent’) provided professional midwifery services in the state of Rhode Island on December 25, 2023. The Respondent also advertises on their newlifeblessings.com website that they are a home birth midwife that services parts of Rhode Island.”
Her website newblessings.com says it is now under "maintenance," but an archived version of the site from just weeks earlier shows that Lewis was marketing to Rhode Islanders.
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Advertising to RI
On the site, it stated in services "Caring for families in and around Rhode Island" including in Chepachet, Foster, Glendale, Greenville, Harrisville, Johnston, North Scituate, Pascoag, Providence, Smithfield, Wallum Lake, and Woonsocket.
When reached for comment on Monday, Lewis said the website referenced by RIDOH was "old," as was another of her websites "Worcester Doula," which mentions serving Rhode Island.
Another portion of the website now under maintenance states, "
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Lewis also cross-marketed photography services for births:
Our investment packages are listed below. We have several options for different family budgets, ranging from principal photography to full documentary services. We want the mothers we help to be able to commemorate this life-changing event with a photography package that works for them.
INCLUDES:
8 hours of continuous labor attendance
4 hours of editing
All digital rights go to the family
Additional add-ons and accessories available
Prints and canvases
a birth story video set to music
Photo Only $1250
Fusion Photography & Film: $1995
Lewis said she “did not have comment at this time" about the RIDOH action or her licensing status in Rhode Island.
RIDOH also wrote in its order:
“The activities described above require licensure pursuant to the Licensing and Regulation of Midwives, specifically R.I. General La 23-13-9. Review of RIDOH licensing records determined that Respondent is not licensed to provide the services described above in the State of Rhode Island.
Upon receipt of this order, Respondent shall immediately cease and desist from performing any acting that violates the Licensing and Regulation of Midwives, including, but not limited to, engaging in the practice of midwifery in the state of Rhode Island and advertising that their midwifery services are available in Rhode Island.”