Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
January 28, 2020 | by: Hillary Melchiors and Robin Elise Weiss
January 25-31, 2020 is the inaugural International Childbirth Education Week. There are currently so many great health awareness weeks and months, and days that celebrate so many dedicated and caring people in health fields and fields surrounding families that you might think that everyone is covered or at the very least, who needs another observance week? So we thought we’d make a case for why the world needs International Childbirth Education Week.
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January 23, 2020 | by: Henci Goer
What are we to make of a new Swedish trial in which women were allocated by chance to either routine induction at 41 weeks or expectant management until 42 weeks (Wennerholm 2019)? The trial was stopped midway through because it had already shown a statistically significant increase, meaning unlikely to be due to chance, in perinatal mortality in the expectant management arm of the trial, and routine induction hadn’t increased the cesarean rate. You may be thinking, “It has long been established that 41-week induction is the better strategy for just these reasons. The Swedish trial just adds to the pile of studies finding in its favor.”
January 21, 2020 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
Evidence continues to show that comprehensive childbirth education reduces the need for birth interventions and increases the likelihood of a non-complicated vaginal birth. (Gluck, Pinchas‐Cohen, Hiaev, Rubinstein, Bar, & Kovo 2018) Although costs for both vaginal and cesarean deliveries both continue to increase, the difference between an uncomplicated vaginal birth ($4,314) and a cesarean birth ($5,161) is significant. Because beneficiaries feel the direct impact of out-of-pocket costs, the approximate $1,000 difference in these birth procedures (other health matters aside) may be an incentive to learn more about pre-birth measures that increase the likelihood of a vaginal birth. With this point alone, Lamaze advocacy continues to make the case to lawmakers and payers that childbirth education is a small price to pay for improved childbirth outcomes.
January 14, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Neel Shah, MD, Harvard Medical School and frequent contributor/subject of this blog and keynote at several recent Lamaze conferences wrote the below commentary "I'm an OB/GYN who attended thousands of deliveries before wondering why Americans give birth in bed" recently for The Conversation.
January 10, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Research indicates that nighttime proximity increases breast/chestfeeding duration and inclusivity. Exclusively breast/chestfed children are less likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). Health care providers have a responsibility to discuss how to bedshare safely in order to protect infants and help families recognize unsafe bedsharing conditions.
January 07, 2020 | by: Mindy Cockeram, LCCE
It may be seem counterintuitive but pushing with knees together when baby is on the way out of the pelvis is proving to be an effective and efficient method of pushing. Educators should consider introducing this concept in their classes in order to help families to have an easier second stage of labor. Mindy Cockeram takes a look at why this works!
January 02, 2020 | by: Adriana Lozada, AdvCD(DONA), CSC, CEMC, CBP
Birth and postpartum are profoundly transformative experiences. Yet, many childbirth preparation books focus on the mechanics of the process: the physical signs that it may be happening, ways to cope with the sensations, and information on how to navigate the medical aspects. Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life-Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood, by Britta Bushnell, PhD, shifts the focus from the details and minutia of birth to its meaning-making potential. In so doing, it provides expectant parents a framework in which to explore what will likely happen to their identities as they move through the profound journey from pregnancy to parenthood.
December 27, 2019 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators is an idea that educators can use to remind parents of the importance of remaining connected and working on maintaining a positive relationship with each other when a new baby is welcomed into the home. A thorough childbirth educator also dedicates time to helping families transition after the baby is born. This time is just as important as the labor and birth experience. To read the entire Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators series collection over the past five years, follow this link.
December 24, 2019 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Childbirth educators and other perinatal professionals the world over know the magic of the holiday season when a new baby is on the scene. Connecting the Dots and Lamaze International would like to wish our readership the warmest of holidays and a genuine thank you for being faithful readers. Also, gratitude and recognition for the job you do all year long to help families welcome their little ones in the best way possible. What you all do matters every single day for families everywhere!
December 20, 2019 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
As we get ready to turn the calendar over to a new year, (and if you think about it, also a new decade!) and say good bye to 2019, there is something to look forward to and celebrate on the maternal-infant health front! The World Health Organization Assembly (WHO) has declared 2020 “The International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.” WHO and their partners are celebrating the work of the nurses and midwives, highlighting the challenging conditions they often face, and advocating for increased investments in the nursing and midwifery workforce.
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