Lamaze International's "Six Healthy Conference Practices" will help you to have the best conference experience possible when you attend the 2012 Lamaze International Innovative Learning Forum, thereby insuring a rewarding, satisfying and fun learning opportunity.

This year, Lamaze International is offering childbirth educators and birth professionals, including lactation consultants, doulas, midwives, physicians, perinatal fitness instructors, perinatal education managers, L&D nurses and more, a unique opportunity to enjoy a rich and participatory learning experience in the beautiful city of Nashville, Tennessee on October 26-28, 2012 at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel.

The theme of the the Innovative Learning Forum is "Safe & Healthy Birth: The Music of Our Head, Heart & Hands" and is a wonderful recognition of the varied and extensive contribution Nashville has made to American music. Nashville is known as "Music City" for good reason. The Nashville Tourism website sums it up beautifully:

There's a place where music lives. A place where music hangs its hat and puts its feet up on the furniture. A place where people don't just talk about songs and CDs and lyrics, but live them night and day. That place is Nashville. Music City.

But, while music is the lifeblood of Nashville, visitors will also find a city of culture and history, of haute cuisine, of pro sports, outstanding academics, natural beauty and pure Southern charm. Nashville is a place where the past and the future peacefully coexist and build, one on the other, to create a destination that appeals to the interests of every visitor. This city is alive. You can feel its pulse when you walk down its sidewalks. And, fortunately, you can also hear it almost anywhere you go.

While exploring the city and all it has to offer during breaks in the Learning Forum will surely be enjoyable, the real music (and magic) will be happening in the conference location, where men and women from around the world will be gathering to share, learn, discuss, collaborate, plan and dream about supporting pregnancies, labors, births and parenting experiences that are grounded in science, and offer safety and respect to all families on the road to parenthood.

The Six Healthy Conference Practices include:

1. Taking advantage of pre-conference workshops that maximize your learning and minimize your travel expenses.

Participate in a pre-conference workshop for nurses by attending the Lamaze Evidence-Based Nursing Care: Labor Support Skills Workshop with Judith Lothian, PhD, RN, LCCE, FACCE on Thursday, October 25, or the Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar presented by the Lamaze Accredited Childbirth Educator Program at Duke AHEC, Wed., October 24-Friday, October 26.

2. Enjoying presentations by four well-known keynote speakers, leaders in the field of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting.

The keynote speakers this year will be offering information on four topics of interest to birth professionals;

• Maternal Safety will be addressed by Ina May Gaskin, PhD (Hon.), MA, CPM.
• Evidence Based Teaching and Practice will be highlighted by Steven B. Frye, PhD, MA, MDiv, ThM.
• Infant Safety will be covered byJack Newman, MD, FRCPC and
• Media and Marketing will be presented by Abby Epstein

3. Participating in learning opportunities all weekend long that earn you continuing education and contact hours.

Join your choice of interactive learning sessions, with a list of presenters who are guaranteed to be engaging, dynamic and memorable. Attend film showings, review the poster presentations and participate in morning exercise sessions throughout the weekend. You will leave energized and exposed to new research and trends and teaching ideas sure to enrich your own classes. The learning opportunities will be bountiful during your entire time at the conference as Lamaze provides you with an interactive breakdown of the preceding keynote sessions into three different perspectives: Head, Heart and Hands.

4. Getting a taste of Nashville and southern hospitality by joining in on Friday and Saturday night organized social events.

The best restaurants in Nashville have Lamaze International at the top of their reservation list, with tables reserved just for conference attendees on Friday night all around town. Saturday night finds you kicking up your heels and tapping your toes to the best line-up of singers, songwriters and musicians the city has to offer at the "Music City Celebration."

5. Networking, meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones can be a top priority.

The opportunity to meet and mingle, share tasty refreshments and explore the exhibit hall and its many shopping opportunities with other birth professionals will be another highlight of this year's conference. People come from all over the world to attend (and exhibit at) the Lamaze International Conference every year, and this year will not be any different. Meet the board members and staff of Lamaze International, attend the annual Lamaze membership meeting and applaud this year's FACCE inductees. There will be plenty of time to circulate, meet your colleagues from across the globe and discuss all the conference going-ons.

6. A 2012 Virtual Learning Forum experience is available for those who can not attend in person this year.

Lamaze International recognizes that not everyone who would like to attend the annual conference is able to join in person every year. This year, if you find that traveling to the conference is not possible, please consider attending virtually from your home or workplace. Better yet, join in with other professionals in your community and share that experience. You will be able to register and participate virtually in the four keynote presentations, so you do not have to miss these exciting learning opportunities.

Register now! Early Bird Ends 9/24.

If you have not yet registered for the 2012 Lamaze International Innovative Learning Forum, please do not hesitate to register now! Early registration allows you to take advantage of early bird conference pricing,which will save you significantly on conference fees, guarantees you the special conference rate on housing at the hotel and will help you to have plenty of time to prepare travel plans and arrangements for what is sure to be a fun and exciting time in Nashville. Be sure to follow the Six Healthy Conference Practices to enjoy what will be the best conference ever!

Are you planning to go? Do you need a roommate? What is getting you excited about the upcoming Innovative Learning Forum? Will this be your first conference? What have you enjoyed about previous conferences you have attended? Share your plans, thoughts and hopes for this conference in our comments and let us know that we can expect to see you!

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