Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
June 30, 2020 | by: Mallory Emerson, LCCE
Many things have changed during life in a pandemic. While connection with my husband and two kids has been at an all-time high the last few months, I have been missing the in-person connection with both my doula clients and families in my childbirth classes. For those families, it also seems that the support of their loved ones during such an important transition as welcoming a baby is very missed. While I have been diligent and thorough about the resources and referrals I share in my virtual classes, I wanted to offer more opportunities for families to connect with me and each other during this challenging time.
To support that goal, I began offering twice-monthly “Drop-in Coffee Chats” for current and past doula clients as well as parents from my recent childbirth classes and new parent support groups I volunteer with through a popular, local organization, Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS). I sent an email to everyone with a recurring Zoom link and a brief description of the purpose of the virtual get-together.
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June 25, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
There is a unique, free opportunity to listen to and learn from Ibram X. Kendi, one of America’s remarkable and leading historians and a strong Black voice helping to guide America toward becoming antiracist. Kendi is the author of many books that have topped The New York Times bestseller list, as well as the Founding Director of The Antiracist Research & Policy Center formerly at American University in Washington, DC., and relocated to the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research in early 2020.
June 23, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Your choice of language is always important, particularly if you are an ally and anti-racist. As a perinatal professional, the words you use; written, spoken, in videos and more, can further support racism or work towards dismantling it. Here are five critical changes that you can make to your language that really matter as you do the work necessary to be an anti-racist. I am working hard to make sure my language is respectful and accurate. I continue to learn how to be a better anti-racist every day. It is critical that you do the same.
June 17, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) has created an online resource page for LGBTQIA+ families and the perinatal professionals that support them. The USBC page includes valuable information and links to resources available through other organizations such as Le Leche League International, Kellymom.com and more. Feeding babies human milk is just as important to LGBTQIA+ families as it is for heterosexual, cisnormative families and perinatal professionals should be sure to have resources at hand to assist families in their breast/chestfeeding journeys.
June 11, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Connecting the Dots wants you to know about The Grand Challenge. The Grand Challenge was founded in 2012 by Jennie Joseph, the late Claudia Booker and Vicki Penwell. The goal of the program "is to connect Birth Workers who desire to work in maternity care fields in America with programs of education and individuals that can offer help." They are "matching scholars to scholarships to reduce birth disparities."
June 09, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Global Health Media just announced a new smartphone app, Birth & Beyond. This app is currently available for download in the Apple App Store. An Android version is coming soon. In the app are 28 videos on topics such as birth, breast/chestfeeding and newborn caring, along with more specific videos on small baby care and complementary feeding.
June 05, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
As a follow up to Lamaze International's statement indicating our organization stands against inequality and injustice, I wanted to share a rich resource just brought to my attention that is designed for health care providers and perinatal professionals. The Birth Place Lab in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as an information page directed at actions that people can take now to fight racism against Black people. There are also added resources discussing the oppression on Indigenous people, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
June 03, 2020 | by: Lamaze International
Lamaze International acknowledges, and is deeply saddened, by the recent events that so clearly reflect the deeply entrenched racism, social injustice and inequities that plague communities of color. We believe that equality is a basic human right and we stand in support of respectful, equal and just treatment for all people of color.
May 28, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Moving birth and parenting classes online has been of critical importance since it no longer became safe to hold classes in person due to COVID-19. Just because classes are delivered through an online meeting platform does not mean that information should be shared only view a slide show presentation. There are many ways to deliver interactive and engaging activities that promote understanding and retention amongst participants in a virtual learning environment. One method that has been very well received by the families taking my classes virtually are quizzes and polls.
May 26, 2020 | by: Mindy Cockeram, LCCE
It’s not easy to deal with the stress of pregnancy, labor and the postnatal period during the best of times but for most, Covid-19 has severely compounded the struggle. The cancellation of many in-person prenatal visits and childbirth and breast/chestfeeding classes and the lack of firm knowledge of how COVID-19 could affect parents and babies have stressed many people to the breaking point.
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