In the News
Too Bad We Can’t Just “Ban” Accreta – The Downstream Consequences of VBAC Bans
April 2nd, 2015 by Sharon Muza
Even though the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologist (ACOG) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have described vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) as a safe, reasonable, and appropriate option for most women, VBAC bans (hospital or practice wide mandates that requires repeat cesareans for all women with a prior cesarean) remain in force in almost half of American hospitals...
Even though the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologist (ACOG) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have described vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) as a safe, reasonable, and appropriate option for most women, VBAC bans (hospital or practice wide mandates that requires repeat cesareans for all women with a prior cesarean) remain in force in almost half of American hospitals...
Prenatal Stress Can Have Toxic Effects on Infants
By Nicole Letourneau and Justin Joschko Apr 29, 2014
Evidence shows that exposure to their mothers' prenatal stress in consistently high doses — a state called "toxic stress" — affects fetal and infant brain architecture, placing the growing child at risk for numerous emotional and intellectual challenges...
Evidence shows that exposure to their mothers' prenatal stress in consistently high doses — a state called "toxic stress" — affects fetal and infant brain architecture, placing the growing child at risk for numerous emotional and intellectual challenges...
A Woman’s Guide to VBAC
Introduction by Kristen Oganowski and Amy Romano
In June 2010, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) panel published a Consensus Development Conference Statement on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
In addition to examining the current evidence related to VBAC and offering recommendations for future research on this topic, the NIH panel concluded that VBAC was a “reasonable option” for most women with a previous cesarean section.
In June 2010, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) panel published a Consensus Development Conference Statement on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
In addition to examining the current evidence related to VBAC and offering recommendations for future research on this topic, the NIH panel concluded that VBAC was a “reasonable option” for most women with a previous cesarean section.
Mayim Bialik: Why women shouldn't fear h_ome birth
Mayim Bialik, Ph.D. May 20, 2011 at 11:15 AM ET
Home births increased 20 percent over four years, according to new government statistics. Less than one percent of women give birth at home, but clearly there's a trend toward natural births at home -- even though doctors' groups warn against it. Former "Blossom" star and "Big Bang Theory" actress Mayim Bailik has given birth at home, loved it, and thinks people need to know more about it.
Home births increased 20 percent over four years, according to new government statistics. Less than one percent of women give birth at home, but clearly there's a trend toward natural births at home -- even though doctors' groups warn against it. Former "Blossom" star and "Big Bang Theory" actress Mayim Bailik has given birth at home, loved it, and thinks people need to know more about it.
Hospital heave-ho: Home births continue to rise
Linda Carroll TODAY contributor March 4, 2014 at 12:02 AM ET
Although still relatively rare, births outside of the hospital rose from 1.26 percent in 2011 to 1.36 percent in 2012, according to the report by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And two-thirds of those births are happening at home, researchers reported.
Although still relatively rare, births outside of the hospital rose from 1.26 percent in 2011 to 1.36 percent in 2012, according to the report by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And two-thirds of those births are happening at home, researchers reported.
Largest Ever U.S. Study On Planned Home Birth Finds Low Rate of Interventions, No Increased Risk for Mother and Baby...
January 30, 2014
In the largest ever examination of planned home births in the United States, a study released today found that, among low-risk women, planned home births result in low rates of birth interventions without an increase in adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns.
In the largest ever examination of planned home births in the United States, a study released today found that, among low-risk women, planned home births result in low rates of birth interventions without an increase in adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns.
Chiropractic during pregnancy has been shown to reduce labor times.
by Educated Pregnancy posted on Jan 6, 2014
Study Finds Adverse Effects of Pitocin in Newborns
May 7, 2013
Induction and augmentation of labor with the hormone oxytocin may not be as safe for full-term newborns as previously believed, according to research presented today at the Annual Clinical Meeting of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists...
Induction and augmentation of labor with the hormone oxytocin may not be as safe for full-term newborns as previously believed, according to research presented today at the Annual Clinical Meeting of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists...
More US babies die on their first day than in 68 other countries, report shows
April 30, 2013 at 6:47 PM ET Maggie Fox, Senior Writer, NBC News
A million babies die every year globally on the same day they were born, including more than 11,000 American newborns, the report estimates. Most of them could be saved with fairly cheap interventions, the group says.
A million babies die every year globally on the same day they were born, including more than 11,000 American newborns, the report estimates. Most of them could be saved with fairly cheap interventions, the group says.
Guidelines for VBAC from the ACOG
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines regarding VBAC. It looks like they are coming around a little bit to the devastating effects the Cesarean Epidemic is having on mothers and babies. Our Maternal Mortality here in the US is higher than it has been in decades.
Five "Jobs" For Dad During Birth
Elly Taylor, Jun 12, 2013
A common complaint I hear from new mothers is that their partner was ‘useless’ during labour. One of the most damaging complaints is that he didn’t ‘protect’ her when birth became a distressing experience. Both of these reactions – and the whole spectrum in between, from disappointed to undefended – can have a lasting impact on a couple’s new family relationship...
A common complaint I hear from new mothers is that their partner was ‘useless’ during labour. One of the most damaging complaints is that he didn’t ‘protect’ her when birth became a distressing experience. Both of these reactions – and the whole spectrum in between, from disappointed to undefended – can have a lasting impact on a couple’s new family relationship...
Comparing OB/GYN to Midwifery care (Side-by-Side): What Would Each Care Be Like For You?
Susan Wente CNM
Should I use a doctor or midwife? What are the differences between the doctor & midwife style of maternity care? Can you compare maternity care (step-by-step) between a doctor & a midwife, so I can see *exactly* what the differences would look like for each style of care?” …
Should I use a doctor or midwife? What are the differences between the doctor & midwife style of maternity care? Can you compare maternity care (step-by-step) between a doctor & a midwife, so I can see *exactly* what the differences would look like for each style of care?” …
Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives...
BMJ 2005;330:1416
Objective To evaluate the safety of home births in North America involving direct entry midwives, in jurisdictions where the practice is not well integrated into the healthcare system.
Objective To evaluate the safety of home births in North America involving direct entry midwives, in jurisdictions where the practice is not well integrated into the healthcare system.
More U.S. Babies than Ever Are Delivered by Midwives
By Bonnie Rochman June 25, 2012
In other developed nations, midwives are routinely tasked with bringing new life into the world. Not so in the U.S., where delivery is largely presided over by obstetricians. But a new study finds that midwives are getting busier, delivering 8.1% of the country’s babies in 2009 — a record high.
In other developed nations, midwives are routinely tasked with bringing new life into the world. Not so in the U.S., where delivery is largely presided over by obstetricians. But a new study finds that midwives are getting busier, delivering 8.1% of the country’s babies in 2009 — a record high.
AAP Weighs In On Home Birth
Catherine Pearson Catherine.Pearson@huffingtonpost.com
The safety of home birth is hotly debated, and now another major medical group has waded into the fray. The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday issued its first guidelines for the care of newborns in planned home births.
The safety of home birth is hotly debated, and now another major medical group has waded into the fray. The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday issued its first guidelines for the care of newborns in planned home births.
A wonderful video on Reducing Infant Mortality
Transitioning Immediate Cord Clamping To Optimal Cord Clamping
Alan Greene, MD, FAAP March 20, 2012
An interesting article from Dr. Green with good research outlining recommendations for transitioning immediate cord clamping to delayed/optimal cord clamping times for infants.
An interesting article from Dr. Green with good research outlining recommendations for transitioning immediate cord clamping to delayed/optimal cord clamping times for infants.
Newborns' gut bacteria differ by delivery, breastfeeding
Study suggests how early feeding could explain disease-susceptibility later CBC News Posted: Feb 11, 2013 12:16 PM ET
Cesarean births and feeding infants formula both shape which bacteria colonize our guts, according to a Canadian study into how those early changes could explain disease susceptibility later in life...
Cesarean births and feeding infants formula both shape which bacteria colonize our guts, according to a Canadian study into how those early changes could explain disease susceptibility later in life...
An Expectant Parent’s Guide to Chiropractic
Pregnancy, Issue #20, Author Stacey Rosenberg, DC
What we cannot see are the millions of different hormonal changes and chemical reactions occurring both in the mother and the developing baby, all of which are controlled and coordinated through the nervous system. Now more than ever, during pregnancy you need a nervous system that responds immediately and accurately to changing requirements in all parts of your body, and therefore you need a healthy spine...
What we cannot see are the millions of different hormonal changes and chemical reactions occurring both in the mother and the developing baby, all of which are controlled and coordinated through the nervous system. Now more than ever, during pregnancy you need a nervous system that responds immediately and accurately to changing requirements in all parts of your body, and therefore you need a healthy spine...
Mom defies doctor, has baby her way (CNN.com Article from 2010)
Aneka has a successful VBAC after 3 c-setions, at home with a midwife. This is her story.
A Study on Pitocin and Long Term Effects
By Claire L. Winstone, Ph.D.
The Relationship between Artificial Oxytocin (Pitocin) Use at Birth for Labor Induction or Augmentation and the Psychosocial Functioning of Three-year-olds...
The Relationship between Artificial Oxytocin (Pitocin) Use at Birth for Labor Induction or Augmentation and the Psychosocial Functioning of Three-year-olds...
Don't Drink the Kool-Aid!
By Donna Ryan
American women have drank the Kool-aid and have been completely brainwashed! You know the Kool-aid I'm talking about: The purple Kool-aid says that if the baby doesn't come out in 24 hours, it won't fit and the mom should be sectioned. The red one...
American women have drank the Kool-aid and have been completely brainwashed! You know the Kool-aid I'm talking about: The purple Kool-aid says that if the baby doesn't come out in 24 hours, it won't fit and the mom should be sectioned. The red one...
What is Home Birth?
Home birth is a common occurrence for women in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. However, in the U.S., home births are rare and actively discouraged by many obstetricians, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In fact, before my husband and I began looking into home birth for our second child, we had never met anyone who had experienced a home birth (unless you count my aunts and uncles who were born at home in the 1920’s.)...
Time Magazine - Midwife Mania? More U.S. Babies than Ever Are Delivered by Midwives
In 2009, midwives delivered 8% of babies born in the U.S. — an all-time high. The most midwife-friendly state? New Mexico, where midwives bring 24% of all babies into the world...
Beyond Biology: The Holistic Stages of Labor
By Whapio Diane Bartlett
This is a beautiful, poetic article written by Traditional Midwife Whapio Diane Bartlett. She shares what she has learned over many years of observing women give birth. She refers to the woman’s journey into an altered state as the “holistic stages of labor”. A friend shared it with me while I was pregnant with Paloma, my second daughter, and it made me truly look forward to giving birth. Enjoy!
This is a beautiful, poetic article written by Traditional Midwife Whapio Diane Bartlett. She shares what she has learned over many years of observing women give birth. She refers to the woman’s journey into an altered state as the “holistic stages of labor”. A friend shared it with me while I was pregnant with Paloma, my second daughter, and it made me truly look forward to giving birth. Enjoy!
A Woman's Nation: Reclaim Your Right To Birth Right
ByDr. Christiane Northrup
The times have truly changed. According to the newly released "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Changes Everything", women now make up half the work force for the first time in written history! This means that our voices and skills are impacting all areas of society more than ever before...
The times have truly changed. According to the newly released "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Changes Everything", women now make up half the work force for the first time in written history! This means that our voices and skills are impacting all areas of society more than ever before...