Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
February 27, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
As we are staring the one year anniversary of the COVID-pandemic in the face, this month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators post once again focuses on ideas and tools that the virtual childbirth educator can use in their online classroom. Today I will share some benefits of using a “virtual background” in your online teaching platform and provide you will some templates that you are free to use and modify to suit your purposes. To browse all the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators, click here.
Read More
February 23, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Lamaze International is offering an affordable webinar “The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Six Healthy Birth Practices” on March 9, 2021, at 1:00 PM ET.
Debby Amis, RN, BSN, CD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, a perennial favorite at Lamaze Conferences every year will get us up to speed and facilitate a panel of experts in sharing information on this topic.
February 17, 2021 | by: Cara Terreri
Black History Month not only recognizes the centuries-long achievements by Black people in the past, but also the notable work that continues today. In this post, we're recognizing those individuals who are making strides today in the area of safe and healthy outcomes for Black families during the time of pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy. The following list is just a small sample of the many Black midwives and perinatal health professionals who are working diligently and tirelessly to help Black families give birth safely. Let us know in the comments section who you see doing this amazing work and should also be recognized.
February 11, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
If you are a perinatal professional who wants to learn more about how to be an anti-racist and an ally to Black people, and you want to understand the impact that racism and systemic oppression have on Black families during the childbearing year, I have collated a few no-cost trainings and activities that you can participate in during Black History Month 2021. Please take a look and join me in learning how important this work is to Black parents and babies and to all of us.
February 08, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
Lamaze International is proud to endorse the Momnibus, a historic legislative package that the Black Maternal Health Caucus introduced on February 8, 2021. The Momnibus is a series of 12 bills that seek to improve U.S. maternal and childbirth outcomes and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates that disproportionately affect Black pregnant and birthing people.
Lamaze is especially pleased that many of the Momnibus bills would provide specific pathways to increase access to evidence-based childbirth education and to childbirth educators. The Lamaze advocacy team is also happy to announce that, for the first time, the package’s perinatal health worker definition includes childbirth educators.
February 05, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Black History Month not only celebrates the remarkable achievements of Black people in current time, but also recognizes the centuries-long work by Black individuals upon whose shoulders today's leaders stand. The women we highlight today have worked to support and serve Black families and communities as they welcome a new baby. There is much work still to do, but today we remember some of the Black midwives of the past, with gratitude and honor.
February 02, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
In honor of Black History Month, everyone has a responsibility to be knowledgable about Black perinatal organizations that are led by amazing Black maternal-infant health professionals. We need to identify both local and national, that are uniquely qualified serve Black expectant families. Can you commit to adding information on your organization’s website so that Black people who are growing their families can find and access Black medical providers and perinatal professionals to serve them if that is their desire? Now is the time. Lives depend upon it.
January 30, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Welcome to 2021 and the continuing global COVID-19 pandemic. For most of us, we are one month shy of a full year of conducting virtual childbirth classes. Hard to believe I just typed that statement, but it is true. I have tried to seize on the advantages that have come with having the families in my classes participating from the comfort of their homes and incorporate that opportunity into our class time together. This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators idea builds on that statement and offers you something fun and quick to do with your families no matter if you are meeting with them once or over a series of weeks. I hate to waste even a minute of learning time with the classes I teach, whether in person or virtual. “So much information, so little time” drives me make every second count for the families who are getting ready to meet their babies! I ask families to bring an object from their home to class that they share virtually with others when we first start our time together. Read more to get some ideas on how you can do this too! You can find all the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators posts here, for lots of creativity and ready to use teaching ideas to make your classes fun and exciting to teach and to take!
January 26, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published a study, “Pandemic-related pregnancy stress and anxiety among women pregnant during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic” that found that anxiety and stress was more common than it had been before with the combined stressors of pregnancy and new parenting and the complications of dealing with COVID-19 pandemic concerns.
One of the ways that this increased stress and impact of PMADs can be moderated is by information, awareness and screening. Childbirth classes are a great source of all three of these components that contribute to lower PMAD rates. Unfortunately, the number of people currently attending childbirth classes is reduced due to restrictions on public gatherings and appropriate concerns for personal safety and health. People may not be aware that many childbirth classes have moved to virtual platforms and are still available.
January 20, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Childbirth educators and other perinatal professionals are being asked time and time again by pregnant and lactating people if it is appropriate and safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Initial testing for the vaccines did not include pregnant or lactating volunteers and there is limited information on efficacy, safety, impact on the fetus or human milk. Resources to help you answer these questions today on the blog.
Subscribe by Email
RSS Feed