Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
October 08, 2020 | by: Katie McGee, PT, DPT
Childbirth educators serve a unique role in helping pregnant people understand their bodies and the physical challenges of growing a baby. Unfortunately, one common challenge is joint pain. In particular, pelvic joint pain affects 16 to 25% of pregnancies, with onset anywhere from the first to third trimester (Kanakaris, 2011). This article will give you answers to the seven most common questions childbirth educators get about pain in the pubic symphysis—the joint at the very front of the pelvis that expands as pregnancy progresses.
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October 06, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
October is Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness Month. These important topics are not just mentioned in October should be routinely discussed in childbirth education classes, as expectant parents need access to evidence based information that helps prevent infant mobility and mortality. The Safe to Sleep campaign, from the National Institutes of Health has an extremely robust and generous website jam-packed with activities, resources, videos, graphics, social media content and more for you to access, use and share with the families you work with. This information is available in both English and Spanish.
September 30, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators honors the continued necessity and continuation of virtual childbirth classes as the world fights against the COVID-19 pandemic. While there are many challenges associated with offering our classes virtually through a variety of software platforms, there are also some benefits that you may not have considered. Today, I share four ways you can use the home environment to enhance the learning experiences of the families in your classes. To see all the posts in the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators series, follow this link.
September 29, 2020 | by: Boppy
Every September is Baby Safety Month (BSM), an awareness program originally created by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). BSM raises awareness and provides knowledge on how to keep little ones safe.
September 25, 2020 | by: Lamaze International
Lamaze International has partnered with MamAmor Dolls to offer an exclusive teaching tool that not only is interesting and creative, but helps support Lamaze International. Business owner and designer Adriana Guerra has created the Lamaze MamAmor doll with the educator’s needs in mind.
September 22, 2020 | by: Cara Terreri, LCCE, CD(DONA)
On September 20, 1960, Lamaze International first incorporated as an organization. Two days ago we celebrated 60 years of teaching families about safe and healthy birth! In recognition of this momentous milestone, we're sharing 60 reasons to love Lamaze based on the many benefits families receive from taking a Lamaze class. For an organization that was once touted as the childbirth "breathing" class, you'll see that we've come a long way!
September 18, 2020 | by: Linda Harmon, MPH
On Sunday, September 20, 2020, Lamaze International will officially turn 60 years old. Sixty years ago, on that exact day the organization was officially incorporated. Today we are still going strong, advocating for safe and healthy birth, helping families feel strong and informed with evidence based information, Supporting educators to be the best they can be as they work with families, leaning in to fight racial inequities and the horrific impact they have on Black, Indigenous and People of Color families and collaborating with global agencies, governments and corporations to improve the experience of growing families. Imagining the number of families that Lamaze International has touched through its members and directly to the public is breathtaking.
Linda Harmon, our Lamaze International Executive Director for the past three decades, was kind enough to put together this remarkable timeline looking at some key points in the organization’s history.
September 15, 2020 | by: Janelle Durham, MSW, LCCE
My colleague, and occasional Connecting the Dots contributor, Janelle Durham, MSW, LCCE, may be someone you know through her well-known website Transition to Parenthood, where she has shared childbirth class teaching activities and ideas generously for over 20 years. Today, she shares a story about what is really important when running a perinatal class in a great story about her recent teaching experience. - Sharon Muza, Community Manager, Connecting the Dots
September 10, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Gestational hypertension is a major concern as people move through their pregnancy. Abnormal blood pressures indicating a hypertensive disorder is a significant cause of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes worldwide. Preeclampsia along with infection and hemorrhage are the three largest cases of maternal mortality currently. It is thought that 1 in 4 deaths that occur from hypertension/preeclampsia in pregnant people are preventable. A new study was just released “A new definition of gestational hypertension? New-onset blood pressures of 130 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg after 20 weeks of gestation” that attempts to predict those pregnant people who may be at risk of experiencing a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
September 08, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
The global pandemic created by COVID-19 has had significant impacts on pregnant, birthing and postpartum families. Isolation, lack of social support, financial challenges and health concerns all contribute to the stress that expectant families are experiencing. Many childbirth classes and postpartum support groups, along with prenatal care visits with health care providers have pivoted to virtual offerings and in-person connection is limited at best.
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