Posted: December 29, 2018
By: HuffPost
The Secret Baby Catchers of Alabama
Excerpt:
Alabama has a rich tradition of midwifery, but it is one that has virtually been erased from living memory. As in most places in the United States, until the mid-1800s it was midwives who were responsible for delivering children. Birth was something that happened in the home, among women. To this day, midwives still refer to their work as “catching babies”—reflecting a belief that birth doesn’t require medical intervention under normal circumstances, just a pair of hands to safely collect the child.
Continue Reading: https://highline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/alabama-midwives/
Posted: December 15, 2018
By: Jessica Brown
Can Social Media Cause Fear of Childbirth?
Excerpt:
“It has been suggested that online scare stories cause tokophobia – a fear of giving birth that affects an estimated 14 per cent of women. But there may be other factors at play. Both good and bad stories are shared along social media. Read the types of stories that support good mental health. Worst-case scenarios are rare.”
Continue Reading: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/childbirth-pregnancy-tokophobia-social-media-mental-health-a8552861.html
Posted: December 8, 2018
By: Elaine K. Howley
Should I Call a Midwife?
Excerpt:
“One compelling reason for this increase in use of midwives is recent research that has indicated midwives generally have comparable birth outcomes with fewer medical interventions. Midwives “tend to be more low intervention,” says Laurie MacLeod, a certified nurse-midwife at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “We don’t schedule inductions just because of our schedule. We only do it when it’s medically indicated. We have lower C-section rates and lower episiotomy rates.” (A C-section, short for cesarean section, is a medical procedure in which the baby is delivered via surgery. These operations are usually reserved for cases when a vaginal delivery would put the health of the mother or baby at risk. An episiotomy is a surgical cut made to the vagina to ease a difficult delivery.)
It seems that less really can be more when it comes to healthy delivery for women who are at low-risk of complications, says Laura Attanasio, an assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s School of Public Health and Health Sciences. “There’s been a growing recognition in culture, more generally, but also specifically in births that at some point, more medical intervention when it’s not necessary can actually have unintended negative consequences.”
Continue Reading: https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2018-06-18/should-i-call-the-midwife?src=usn_tw
Posted: December 1, 2018
By: Laura Ungar
Help Fight Maternal Deaths
Summary:
“Thanks to her husband and midwife, Stephanie Boyd would have never known that she has a rare and dangerous liver condition, ‘intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy,’ which can cause a baby to be stillborn and lead to heavy bleeding after delivery.” -ACNM Midwives
Continue Reading: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/life/wellness/health/2018/10/31/kentucky-mom-stephanie-boyd-runs-raise-awareness-maternal-deaths/
Posted: November 24, 2018
By: Baby Prepping
Pros & Cons of a Lotus Birth
Excerpt:
Before the modernization of birth, a lotus birth was a natural way of life.
Women naturally birthed their babies unaware of the benefits of the placenta that was attached. The placenta and cord were to stay with the newborn until it fell off on its own.
Fast forward to today, hospital births are quick and efficient to cut out any risks or complications. The umbilical cord and the placenta are detached from the baby immediately after birth.
There has been an increase in the interest of the placenta and cord blood in Western civilization. This trend has become popular amongst the women who want to go the natural route. Natural births such as home births, water births and/or birth centers with a midwife are becoming more appealing.
Lotus birthing is the practice of maintaining the placenta and umbilical chord after giving birth. The purpose is to retain its integrity for the benefit of the newborn’s overall development and health.
Continue Reading: https://www.babyprepping.com/birth/everything-need-know-lotus-birth/
Posted: November 17, 2018
By: Kinacle
Embrace Your Strong-Willed Child
Excerpt:
Children come in all shapes, sizes and personalities. One of the great things about parenthood is the opportunities it gives you to learn new skills. It’s a constant learning experience that can really enrich your life. With a strong-willed child, you have even more opportunity to learn as you have to get really creative in order to manage their behavior. You’ll soon be able to look at potentially challenging situations in your own life and discover the positives.
Continue Reading: https://kinacle.com/embrace-strong-willed-child/
Posted: November 12, 2018
By: Tegan Taylor
Skin Changes During Pregnancy. What’s Normal?
Excerpt:
Pregnancy hormones can cause all sorts of changes to your skin, but just because they seem strange doesn’t mean they’re uncommon.
The hormones’ effect on blood flow are behind most common skin changes, such as the “glow” pregnant women are often said to have, and the fact some expectant women grow thicker, more plentiful hair.
Find out the common, uncommon, desirable, and unique symptoms of pregnancy by reading more.
Continue Reading: https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2018-11-12/pregnancy-skin-changes-what-is-normal-and-not/10477532
Posted: November 2, 2018
By: Meghan Holohan
What is a Midwife?
Excerpt:
Considering a midwife to deliver your baby? There are three different kinds of midwives, and it’s important to know how their roles vary.
A certified nurse midwife (CNM) has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and master’s degree in nursing midwifery. CNMs can practice in all 50 states and they can prescribe medicine, according to ACNM. While CNMs deliver babies, they also provide care to women throughout their lives.
CNMs most often practice in hospitals or birth centers, though some participate in the 1 percent of home births that take place in the United States.
Continue Reading: https://www.today.com/health/what-midwife-how-people-become-midwives-how-choose-one-t141090
Posted: October 30, 2018
By: Spinning Babies
Restful Pregnancies
Excerpt:
These helpful postures can be used in pregnancy and labor. Learn more about how to use household items to make yourself more comfortable.
Continue Reading: https://spinningbabies.com/start/in-pregnancy/rest-smart/
Posted: October 24, 2018
By: Ben Ramage
Wishaw Midwife in Running for National Award
Excerpt:
Maureen McSherry, a consultant midwife at University Hospital Wishaw, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Midwife Award at the Scottish Health Awards 2018. Maureen was applauded for her hard work and commitment with one nomination form stating: “Maureen has been a midwife for over 30 years, always working in her native NHS Lanarkshire.
Continue Reading: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/wishaw-hospital-midwife-running-win-13464202
Posted: October 15, 2018
By: New York Times
A Guide to Gynecological Exams: What Should & Shouldn’t Happen
Excerpt:
Gynecological visits cover a wide range of topics, especially because many women do not regularly see any other physicians. Here’s what women should know about gynecological exams, including what to expect and what is out of bounds.
Continue Reading: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/health/gynecology-exams-nassar-tyndall.html
Posted: October 9, 2018
By: New York Times
Postpartum Doulas
Excerpt:
It’s good to have supportive family and friends during this time. But increasingly, parents are turning to postpartum doulas, as well.
Unlike birth doulas, who assist mothers during pregnancy and childbirth, postpartum doulas step in when the baby is already born, and throughout the first six weeks after birth. They teach the supposedly natural but actually quite difficult to master skills of soothing, bathing and breast-feeding infants, without any personal baggage.
Continue Reading: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/02/style/postpartum-doula
Posted: October 3, 2018
By: Kristyn Hartman
More Women Are Using Midwives in 2018
Excerpt:
The increase in demand means local agencies such as Tri-Health, which employs a team of 18 midwives and claims to be the largest midwifery practice in the Tri-State, must bolster their staffing to meet it.
Evans, one of Tri-Health’s midwives, emphasized that partnering with a healthcare organization means she is able to provide the natural, suportive experience many parents seek but also quickly connect them with doctors if complications arrive.
Continue Reading: https://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-ohio/more-mothers-to-be-using-midwives-for-deliveries-across-the-country
Posted: September 27, 2018
By: Medical News Today
Utah Birth Center Nationally Accredited
Excerpt:
A birth center in Utah, U.S., has become the first in the state to achieve national accreditation status.
Wasatch Midwifery and Wellness birth center provides safe and financially-responsible maternity care to women within a spa-like environment.
Parents who have used Wasatch Midwifery and Wellness birth center have commended its maternity care, saying it provides more personalised care than a hospital.
Continue Reading: https://www.midirs.org/utah-birth-centre
Posted: September 20, 2018
By: Medical News Today
Tips to Minimize Morning Sickness
Excerpt:
Morning sickness is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. It is a common complaint, but it often passes by 3 months into the pregnancy. However, for some women, severe morning sickness can be bothersome. Continue reading to learn about common symptoms and how to prevent them.
Continue Reading: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37757.php
Posted: September 17, 2018
By: U.S. News
9 Early Signs of Pregnancy
Excerpt:
“Subtle symptoms and strong intuition can tip off moms-to-be. Have you experienced any of these signs or symptoms?”
Continue Reading: https://health.usnews.com/wellness/
Posted: September 8, 2018
By: Phyllis McGuire
The Meaning of the Word “Doula”
Excerpt:
“I empower the woman to have a choice on how to bring her baby into the world. I have the knowledge to explain what her options are. We talk about what makes them fearful and what I can do to make them comfortable. And we have a conversation about who they want with them when they are in labor. We offer workshops with the purpose of bringing people together to learn something new and also encourage wellness in their lives.”
Continue Reading: https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/
Posted: September 1, 2018
By: Kaiser Health News
How a Midwife at School Combats Teen Pregnancy
Excerpt:
While U.S. teen pregnancy rates overall have trended steadily downward in the past decade, they remain high in some communities. Anacostia High School’s midwife program is a novel approach that’s showing promise in tackling the problem. As the school midwife, Patchen can be an informal — and reliable — resource for students’ questions about sex and contraception and relationships. The CareFirst grant pays for the services and any contraception the students request, so students don’t have to rely on insurance to cover them.
Continue Reading: https://www.usnews.com/news/
Posted: August 23, 2018
By: Science Daily
Birth Study Empowers Pregnant Women
Excerpt:
Our analysis found that those who had received GP shared care, standard public care, public midwifery continuity care or private midwifery care were all more likely to have a ‘normal’ birth than women in private obstetric care.
Normal birth was defined as an unassisted vaginal birth without induction of labor, epidural or general anaesthetic, forceps or episiotomy.
Continue Reading: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180723143035.htm
Posted: August 16, 2018
By: The Associated Press.
Indiana Law Allows for 12 Certified Midwives
Excerpt:
A new Indiana law allows for a dozen state-certified direct entry midwives who can assist in home births. Certified direct entry midwives must be at least 21 and meet certain educational requirements.
Continue Reading: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/indiana/articles/2018-08-13/indiana-law-allows-for-12-certified-midwives
Posted: August 11, 2018
By: Natalie Faunce
The Role of a Doula in Pregnancy & Childbirth
Excerpt:
Watch this video interview with Janelle Ribbe, about the services doulas offer to expecting mothers and families who have welcomed a new baby. Plus, find out how to find a local doula to support you in your new adventure into parenthood.
Continue Reading: https://www.wsls.com/daytime-blue-ridge/the-role-of-a-doula-in-pregnancy-childbirth
Posted: July 25, 2018
By: Claire Colby
More Women Having Home Births
Excerpt:
Erin Ballinger went into labor with her third child at 5 a.m. She didn’t rush to a hospital or birthing center. Instead, medical care came to her.
Certified professional midwife Robin Massey drove more than an hour to assist Ballinger through the birthing process.
“If I’m having a baby naturally, I’m going to be in pain by the time I need to drive 45 minutes to the hospital,” Ballinger said. “Once I get there, I’m doing the same thing that, in my mind, I could be doing from the comfort of my own home.”
Continue Reading: http://www.boonvilledailynews.com/news/20180723/midwife-drive-more-rural-women-having-home-births
Posted: July 7, 2018
By: Nadine Yousif
Midwives: A First in Canada at Markham-Stouffville Hospital
Excerpt:
Pregnant women tell midwife Carol Cameron that they want the best of both worlds: the consistent and intimate care of a midwife and the security of a hospital birth.
That vision became a reality on Tuesday at Markham-Stouffville Hospital, north of Toronto, when staff officially opened the Alongside Midwifery Unit, a midwife-run and operated space that administrators say is the first of its kind in Canada. It is the latest step toward the advancement of midwifery in the country as an autonomous profession.
Continue Reading: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-first-ever-in-hospital-midwifery-unit-opens-at-markham-stouffville/
Posted: June 9, 2018
By: Lana Barhum
What Happens During a Pelvic Exam?
Excerpt:
The doctor performing the exam may be a gynecologist or an OB-GYN. They will examine the:
- vulva
- vagina
- cervix
- uterus
- ovaries and Fallopian tubes
Continue Reading: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322063.php
Posted: May 30, 2018
By: R. Chakraborty
The Culture War Between Midwives and Doctors
Excerpt:
The US falls behind other affluent countries in midwife use. A deeper look at history may explain why. Midwives in the US participate in less than 10 percent of births. In Sweden, Denmark, and France, they lead around three-quarters of deliveries.
Source: https://www.vox.com/videos/2018/5/29/17406838/midwives-doctors-united-states
Posted: May 2, 2018
By: KSHB News
Moms to Rally for Midwife Options
Excerpt:
More women are choosing to deliver their babies with the help of a midwife, but not many Kansas City-area hospitals offer the service.
Mothers plan to rally Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. outside Shawnee Mission Medical Center in a “March for Midwifery.” Their goal is to convince the hospital to allow and/or hire midwives.
Source: https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/moms-to-rally-for-midwife-care
Posted: April 13, 2018
By: HealthLink
WA Hospitals Rank Highest for Midwife Integration
Excerpt:
Could midwives help boost maternal and infant health in the United States?
A new study shows that states that give midwives a greater role in patient care do better on key measures of maternal and infant health.
The new study found that states like Washington ranked highest and does better at integrating midwives into the healthcare system. Hospitals like Northwest in Seattle are producing better health outcomes for mothers and babies.
Source: https://tinyurl.com/ydhog9so
Posted April 5, 2018
Article by: Nasser Youssouf
Source: https://www.unfpa.org/news/midwife-mp-advancing-rights-women-comoros
Advancing the Rights of Women in the Comoros
Excerpt:
As a midwife, Hadjira Oumouri, 49, spent years advocating for the health and rights of women. Today, she is the second-ever woman Member of Parliament in the Comoros, and currently the only female MP.
She was also an outspoken women’s activist, even creating a women’s association to represent women and girls in Mbadjini.
Ms. Oumouri sponsored a law requiring gender diversity in appointments made by governors and heads of state. It also calls for political parties’ nominations to include both men and women.
“I thought if we could have a law that can support women, it would be a big step forward. It is also a way of motivating women, of waking up to go and campaign in political parties,” she said.
Posted: March 6, 2018
Article by: Natalie Daher
Source: http://www.goo.gl/CKgzDx
Why Midwives Are Fast Becoming More Popular Than OBGYNs
Excerpt:
Midwives often come up in conversations of home births and even “Goop” moms, often deemed problematic. But they’re fast becoming an effective primary and reproductive health care option as women’s access to healthcare (especially if they’re low-income) is rolled back.
The rising profile and respectability of midwives has also sparked debate over whether they can be part of major public health solutions in the United States. But certified nurse-midwives’ and certified midwives’ independent practice within the healthcare system is still limited, varying by state.
“‘Independent’ has become a dirty word,” Lisa Kane Low, president of the American College of Nurse Midwives and associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing, said. Powerful organizations such as the American Medical Association, according to Kane Low, “take the word ‘independent’ to mean not within any kind of health care structure that supports interaction and collaboration.”
A first-of-its-kind study published last month in the journal PLOS One found states where midwives are more integrated into the system also reported better maternal care outcomes.
Advocates for “untethering” midwives from physicians say the stigma around “independence” hurts women, especially as physician’s organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have supported their “full scope, autonomous practice,” as “qualified, accountable providers who work collaboratively with ob-gyns in an integrated maternity care system that promotes seamless access to appropriate care.”
Posted: Jan 19, 2018
By: Carole Shipman
The Necessary C-Section
In a world of unnecessary C-Sections, sometimes a C-Section is necessary. The C-Section rate in NJ is aruond 40%, when it should actually be closer to 15%. Recently, in my practice, the last two labors that I attended led to a necessary C-Section. They were necessary due to unforeseen issues with the “4 Ps of labor.”
1. Passenger (Baby + Placenta)
2. Passageway (Birth canal)
3. Powers (Contractions)
4. Position of the mother.
5. Psychological response.
Sometimes, due to many long hours of attempting to accommodate or correct the unpredictable and unforeseen aspects of labor and birth, the best and only way to birth a baby is through a C-Section.
Sometimes there’s no way to predict the inevitable. Even with my experienced crystal ball, births can take unexpected twisted and turns. Fortunately, I can provide continuity of care, whether it be a planned home birth where a transfer is necessary, or for all planned hospital births. As a home birth midwife, with hospital privileges, I’m able to provide quality of care for all birth experiences.
Posted: Jan 11, 2018
By: Fox News
Midwives Trending With New Moms
Certified Midwives strive to understand the mother’s goals for her pregnancy and delivery. SLUCare nurse Rebekah Hassler, CNM at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital says women are choosing midwives because of the longer appointment times and one-on-one education to learn exactly what to expect throughout the pregnancy. And then the mom and midwife work together toward her goals for her labor and delivery. Hassler said initial appointments set the baseline for each mom, “Just from the very beginning, how do you feel about being pregnant? What are your hopes for your pregnancy? What are you concerned about? What are you excited about?”
Posted: Jan 7, 2018
There Was a Child Went Forth Every Day
There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he looked upon and received with wonder or pity or love or dread, that object he became,
And that object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day . . . . or for many years or stretching cycles of years.
The early lilacs became part of this child,
And grass, and white and red morningglories, and white and red clover, and the song of the phœbe-bird,
And the March-born lambs, and the sow’s pink-faint litter, and the mare’s foal, and the cow’s calf, and the noisy brood of the barn-yard or by the mire of the pond-side . . and the fish suspending themselves so curiously below there . . . and the beautiful curious liquid . . and the water-plants with their graceful flat heads . . all became part of him.
And the field-sprouts of April and May became part of him . . . . wintergrain sprouts, and those of the light-yellow corn, and of the esculent roots of the garden,
And the appletrees covered with blossoms, and the fruit afterward . . . . and woodberries . . and the commonest weeds by the road;
And the old drunkard staggering home from the outhouse of the tavern whence he had lately risen,
And the schoolmistress that passed on her way to the school . . and the friendly boys that passed . . and the quarrelsome boys . . and the tidy and fresh-cheeked girls . . and the barefoot negro boy and girl,
And all the changes of city and country wherever he went.
His own parents . . he that had propelled the fatherstuff at night, and fathered him . . and she that conceived him in her womb and birthed him . . . . they gave this child more of themselves than that,
They gave him afterward every day . . . . they and of them became part of him.
The mother at home quietly placing the dishes on the suppertable,
The mother with mild words . . . . clean her cap and gown . . . . a wholesome odor falling off her person and clothes as she walks by:
The father, strong, self-sufficient, manly, mean, angered, unjust,
The blow, the quick loud word, the tight bargain, the crafty lure,
The family usages, the language, the company, the furniture . . . . the yearning and swelling heart,
Affection that will not be gainsayed . . . . The sense of what is real . . . . the thought if after all it should prove unreal,
The doubts of daytime and the doubts of nighttime . . . . the curious whether and how,
Whether that which appears so is so . . . . Or is it all flashes and specks?
Men and women crowding fast in the streets . . if they are not flashes and specks what are they?
The streets themselves, and the façades of houses. . . . the goods in the windows,
Vehicles . . teams . . the tiered wharves, and the huge crossing at the ferries;
The village on the highland seen from afar at sunset . . . . the river between,
Shadows . . aureola and mist . . light falling on roofs and gables of white or brown, three miles off,
The schooner near by sleepily dropping down the tide . . the little boat slacktowed astern,
The hurrying tumbling waves and quickbroken crests and slapping;
The strata of colored clouds . . . . the long bar of maroontint away solitary by itself . . . . the spread of purity it lies motionless in,
The horizon’s edge, the flying seacrow, the fragrance of saltmarsh and shoremud;
These became part of that child who went forth every day, and who now goes and will always go forth every day,
And these become of him or her that peruses them now.