Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
November 30, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators is less a structured activity and more of a technique that creates offers many benefits. It provides the educator with opportunities to reinforce best practices, creates community in the class, positions expectant people as the expert in their own care and helps exercise their “self-advocacy muscles” which are critical for a positive birth experience. To find all the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators activities for free on Connecting the Dots, follow this link.
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November 23, 2022 | by: Cara Terreri
November 17 was World Prematurity Day, a time to spread information on how prematurity affects babies, parents, and families, and how it can be prevented. This year, to call attention to this important concern and seize on the recent elections and newly elected lawmakers, perinatal professionals and parents are encouraged to join March of Dimes' "Mamagenda" in support of #BlanketChange, a campaign that urges US lawmakers to pass legislation that improves health care equity and access, and outcomes for parents and babies, including the prevention of prematurity. The current preterm birth rate is 10.5 percent -- the highest ever reported by March of Dimes.
November 16, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Tranexamic acid is a medication that is being used with more frequency to resolve postpartum hemorrhage due to its effective ability to control bleeding post-birth. This life saving medication is a welcome tool and is being used globally to help save the lives of birthing people. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently published a special report that brought up a concerning and tragic issue as the use of tranexamic acid has increased.
November 09, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Inviting guest subject matter experts into your childbirth classes is a winning proposition for everyone involved - the childbirth educator, the families in their classes and the specialists who share their expertise. Having guests join you for specific sections helps liven up classes and makes them more interesting for attendees. If you are a childbirth educator, consider where you can enhance the information your families receive by inviting guest speakers to your classes and help families make connections with people who can be a resource for them during pregnancy and also after the birth.
November 02, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Lamaze International shared a number of positive, informative updates in their 2022 Annual Meeting held virtually on November 2, 2022, for all current Lamaze members. During this meeting, Lamaze members had a chance to say hello to the new Executive Director Sil Quevedo who is attending her first Annual meeting since being appointed earlier in 2022. You can find out all the details of the 2022 Member Meeting on Connecting the Dots.
October 26, 2022 | by: Mindy Cockeram, LCCE, CLEC, Author
Contractions during labor and the let-down that happens when bodyfeeding a baby are both influenced by the hormone oxytocin (‘the Big O’). This activity is used to discuss the impact of oxytocin (versus adrenaline) in labor and how the labor team can make the birth environment ‘oxytocin-friendly.’ Because support people often feel unprepared for labor, this activity assures them that they have more skills than they realize. They just don’t know what they know! In the reviews I receive from class, the “Room of Romance” is often cited as one of the activities ‘I/we enjoyed most.’
October 19, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
The Lamaze International 2022 Virtual One-Day Conference is tomorrow, October 20, 2022. Conference organizers and presenters are excited for registrants to be attending virtually during the live presentation. Additional attendees will watch asynchronously during the time period that the conference material is available for post conference viewing.
Regardless of whether this is your first virtual conference or you are a pro at the virtual conference routine, here are some tips to get the most out of your time attending this year’s virtual presentations.
October 12, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month is observed during the month of October in the United States and in many other parts of the world. One in four pregnancies end in loss, one in 160 pregnancies that reach 20 weeks or beyond end in loss and 1 baby is born still at term for every 1000 live births. Approximately 5 babies die in their first year (infant mortality) for every 1000 live births in the United States. People of the Global Majority (BIPOC) are disproportionately impacted.
October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime and this rate increases during pregnancy. Rates are highest when a pregnancy is unintended.
October 05, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Meet Hillary Melchiors, PhD, MPH, LCCE, CD(DONA). Dr. Melchiors is a presenter at the 2022 Lamaze International Conference taking place virtually on October 20, 2022. Dr. Melchiors will be presenting "Obstetric Violence: The Role of the Childbirth Educator" and speaking to childbirth educators and others working with pregnant, birthing and new families about specific ways that childbirth educators can help students not only recognize obstetric violence but also advocate for themselves. If you have not yet registered for this conference packed with amazing speakers such as Dr. Melchiors, you can do so here on the conference page. Valuable continuing education hours, updated relevant information and an opportunity to connect live or watch the sessions recorded for a period of time are all part of this year's event. I appreciate the opportunity to interview Dr. Melchiors in advance of her session and share that interview with you here. - Sharon Muza, Community Manager, Connecting the Dots.
September 29, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Today, I am reaching out to ask you to consider submitting a fun, effective teaching idea to be featured in a future Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators post. There are so many talented, gifted and creative educators who read this blog. This is a call to action for you! If you have a favorite teaching activity that is a big hit every time you use it, now is the time to share so other educators can appreciate your idea and help the families in their classes. Maybe you have a method for teaching difficult topics that really supports families to understand important concepts. I invite you to share your favorite teaching activities with Connecting the Dots readers in our monthly Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators series.
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