Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
June 29, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
As PRIDE month, which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ population worldwide, draws to a close, I wanted to end this month with an interview with Simon Adriane Ellis, MSN, CNM, ARNP, FACNM, the 2021 recipient of the Excellence in Leadership & Innovation Award (formerly named the Kitty Ernst award) given by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. This award honors an exceptional, relatively new CNM/CM who has demonstrated innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery and/or women's health clinical practice, education, administration, or research.
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June 24, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
One of the favorite traditions I have celebrated over the years of teaching childbirth classes is the class photo of all the pregnant families together at the last class and then a reunion picture with the families all holding their babies when we meet again. Of course with classes being moved to virtual platforms, things have had to change, but we have found a way to celebrate the end of class anyway, which all the families appreciate.
June 22, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
In the United States and around the globe, June is PRIDE Month, a time to recognize, center and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and their families. (Not sure what all those initials stand for, check out this handy reference guide.) The New York Times ran an article earlier this month that was applicable to childbirth educators, perinatal professionals and health care providers who work with birthing and postpartum people during the childbearing year.
Some L.G.B.T.Q. Parents Reject the Names ‘Mommy’ and ‘Daddy’” addresses the importance of families having their parenting roles and corresponding names for those roles recognized and respected. Families in 2021 are diverse and not everyone identifies as a mother or father.
June 18, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
June 15, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
Lamaze International’s call for increased advocacy joins a chorus of stakeholders, maternity care providers, and policymakers seeking to improve maternal health outcomes. This is taking place on many different fronts, through increased awareness, dialogue, partnerships—and legislative action. Since the inaugural Lamaze Advocacy Summit in 2017, the number of maternal health-related bills introduced in the U.S. Congress have tripled.
Initiatives to identify and address causes and contributors to maternal mortality and morbidity have prompted a deeper dive into maternal healthcare in United States—and growing number of different bills introduced each year reflects the progression from discussion to action. The uptick of maternal health bills in just a few short years is a positive step toward improving maternal health outcomes
June 09, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to support doula clients as they welcomed their baby in a local hospital. I found this sign placed prominently on the baby warming station and simply loved everything that it represents. At times, it is anticipated that a baby may need a little bit of additional assistance immediately after birth and a NICU team is called to be there as the baby is born. This team can consist of several clinicians including respiratory therapists, NICU nurses and physicians, nurse practitioners, anesthesiologists and more, all dedicated to support the newborn in the moments after birth.
June 03, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The New Yorker and the Retro Report created a new short film, “Bearing the Burden: Black Mothers in America,” that discusses how health care providers are returning to the midwife to meet the maternity care needs of Black people who are growing their families. A century ago, Granny Midwives were responsible for the majority of births of Black families and poor white families. Doctors created unwarranted concerns about the safety practices and skill levels of the Black midwives and forced them to stop practicing. “Can Midwives Bridge the Gap?” Is the accompanying article that goes along with the documentary.
May 31, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
In its report, Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Additional Efforts Needed to Assess Program Data for Rural and Underserved Areas, the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) issued recommendations to capture, and understand, indicators for lower maternal health outcomes in rural and underrepresented areas. By disaggregating and analyzing maternal health data, researchers will be able to identify factors that contribute to poorer maternal health outcomes among those living in rural and underserved areas.
May 29, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators idea is something that can be done both in person and in a virtual class format. As things begin to normalize in the United States and some other places around the world, educators may be dipping their toes back into an in-person format and looking for new ideas to introduce in to the classroom. I have even heard from a few educators that they are offering both in-person and virtual in the same class. That really levels things up! This Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators activity works for whatever format you are holding your classes and helps to create awareness and nurture decision making skills in expectant families. To find all the free Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators’ ideas that have been published on the blog, follow this link.
May 25, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Late last month, U.S. News & World Report announced that in the fall of 2021, they will be publishing the first of what will be a regular release of the “Best Hospitals for Maternity” in the United States. Pregnant consumers currently do not have easy access to information that can help them to make informed choices about which health care providers and facilities to choose to receive care from during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. Many expectant families make their decisions as a result of proximity to home or work, locations on a specific health insurance list, or a history of having received previous care from that person or hospital. Families are not easily able to find and use the information they need to select providers and hospitals based on the quality of care they and their baby(ies) are likely to receive.
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