April 29, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
April is Cesarean Awareness Month and it is appropriate for this month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators activity to be on the topic of cesareans and vaginal births after cesarean (VBACs) with a fun and simple idea that can be used both virtually and in person.
The current cesarean rate in the United States is hovering around 32% and this number has been fairly flat for the past years. Physician and midwifery professional organizations in the United States, Canada and beyond are in agreement that the current cesarean rate in many places is too high and can cause more harm than good, with a prolonged and more complicated recovery post surgery and additional impact for future fertility, pregnancies and births. Sharing some simple facts about cesarean birth and VBAC in an informal activity is appropriate for childbirth classes, so that expectant families can understand facts and how to advocate for appropriate and evidence based care.
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August 19, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
A study published in the July 2021 issue of Birth, Fear of childbirth, nonurgent obstetric interventions, and newborn outcomes: A randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting with enhanced care as usual examined the impact of a childbirth education course focused on mindfulness on the rate of cesarean births in The Netherlands. The researchers hypothesized that if they could use a mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting (MBCP) program for pregnant people who had a high fear of birth , it would help to decrease their fear, and improve outcomes. It would also decrease the use of epidurals and the number of cesarean deliveries.
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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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April 29, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
April’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators serves two purposes! We honor and recognize Cesarean Awareness Month and also share an opportunity to support those educators who are teaching virtually during the COVID-19 global pandemic. When we are teaching virtually, as in person classes are not safe to hold currently, you can use a virtual background behind you that supplements the topic you are covering. In the case of cesareans, you can use an operating room with a baby warmer.
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July 06, 2017 | by: Cara Terreri, CD (DONA), LCCE
Second Chance: A Mother's Quest for a Natural Birth After Cesarean by Thais Nye Derich is primarily a book about self-discovery through the passage of births and a typical experience in today's US maternity care system. Cara Terreri reviews this book for educators and other birth professionals.
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