Celebrity births at My Best Birth

Celebrity Birth Webisodes has now launched on mybestbirth.com with Cindy Crawford's exclusive birth story. It is running in four parts and parts 1 and 2 are available now. cindy will also be participating in a week long forum on mybestbirth.com answering questions about her birth.
see them at: http://mybestbirth.com

Keep going back as there will be other birth stories after Cindy Crawford's

Certified nurse midwives oppose homebirth midwives

Can you believe it? Turf wars and elitism among midwives. Read the statement and Gloria LeMay's response on her blog
www.glorialemay.com/blog

Important information!

Please use this link to see the trailer for an important film about reducing infant mortality-

http://reducinginfantmortality.com/

Exciting new format for birth class!!

In order to better serve families we are offering a unique opportunity in childbirth and parenting preparation. Our new format will be a seven week class taught by two licensed birth professionals. We will have a combined series with wonderful sessions for childbirth education and an entire session exclusively devoted to a 2 hour breastfeeding workshop. Dedicating a complete two hour session to breastfeeding helps to lay the necessary foundation for this vital nourishing and bonding phase of the holistic birthing process and gives it the importance it deserves.

There is nothing in our area that is like this class. The instructors are both holistically oriented registered nurses and have worked together in the birth community for more than 10 years. They have partnered in a way that maintains a continuity of thought and style. You will find that they truly give from their hearts and love supporting families.

This new format is designed to fully prepare parents on all levels for their birth and parenting experience. The breastfeeding portion will be presented the week after the session covering newborn care. This timing supports the learning curve and will allow participants to weave together what they have just learned about newborn care and behavior with babies’ feeding cues and instinctive behavior regarding breastfeeding. Our last session is devoted to postpartum issues and then wraps up beautifully with an invitation for ongoing connections and mentoring with classmates and instructors. ( more on this later.. stay tuned - we have additional exciting developments planned for the Fall. Feel free to email me if you'd like a preview)

We are very excited about this unique format for Childbirth Education and Breastfeeding Preparation. The instructors are looking forward to supporting you during this transformative time of your life
To learn more detail as to what exactly you will learn and how this will help you please see my web site. http://maternalinstincts.net

Link to great videos& pdf booklet

View these wonderful videos with tips to help you as you plan your best birth. They are courtesy of Lamaze & Injoy
Sorry- can't seem to activate that link. You'll have to copy & paste. It's worth it, though.
http://www.injoyvideos.com/mothersadvocate/videos.html

OB consent form

Must read this mama's consent form she drafted for OB to sign after she has been repeatedly refused a VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean).

http://gisellestotalwasteofbandwidth.blogspot.com/2009/05/different-kind-of-consent-form.html

My Best Birth- Ricki Lake

Ricki Lake's new collaborative book is available. Very exciting. Check out the web site-
mybestbirth.com

VBAC - Informative read- check it out

http://www.socuteurl.com/floppykitty

One mother's perspective on the contrasting models of care

Read this mother's comments about the midwifery model of care compared to the typical medical model.

http://keyboardrevolutionary.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-thoughts-on-midwifery-model-of-care.html

National Perinatal Society stand on Midwifery

http://www.nationalperinatal.org/advocacy/pdf/Midwifery.pdf

For more info go directly to
nationalperinatal.org

Choice of Birth Settings

Check out this link regarding the National Perinatal Associations stand on this very important issue-
http://www.nationalperinatal.org/advocacy/pdf/Choice-of-Birth-Setting.pdf

Frequency of posts

I wish I could post more often. I'm so busy with real life that there's not much time left for my virtual one. But I am passionate about these issues and I add things as I find them or think of them. My intention is that this blog isn't just about me expressing myself (wouldn't that get old? and predictable? blah blah blah), but I want it to be a resource, a place to share information, links etc. so that here, in one spot, others might find ways/links to do more research on their own. I strongly feel that education about pregnancy, birth, infants and parenting is of vast importance. We need to look at how and why we do things. Think for ourselves and not just accept the "experts'" opinions, question what is. If we birth and parent in an instinctive way, making conscious, informed and aware choices, it can make such a difference for our families.
Anyway, just a blurb to explain why I'm not constantly posting. Please, do keep checking as I will add things as often as I can.

Excerpt from the CIMS newsletter/ Midwifery model of care

Research Update: Cochrane Review reports on midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women

According to a newly published systematic review by The Cochrane Collaboration, midwife-led care provides benefits for pregnant women and their babies and is recommended. This review included midwives who provided prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care. Researchers compared midwife-led care with models of medical-led care and shared care, and included 11 trials, involving 12,276 women. The review found midwife-led care to be associated with several benefits for mothers and babies, with no identified adverse effects. Midwife-led care was associated with a reduced risk of losing a baby before 24 weeks, reduced use of regional analgesia during labor, fewer episiotomies, and fewer instrumental births. Midwife-led care also increased the woman's chance of being cared for during childbirth by a provider with whom she was familiar. Additional findings include increased chance of spontaneous vaginal birth and initiation of breastfeeding. Read the review on The Cochrane Collaboration Web site.

Take this poll regarding where you get your birth prep info

Poll at Independent Childbirth Blog
http://tinyurl.com/26u8ru

New web sites

Just added some new web sites including one from a homebirth midwife... Keep scrolling down...Look to the right ..............

Homebirth Montage from midwife's practice (You Tube)

Birth class reflections

Tonight I taught birth class- just as I do most Wednesday evenings. Next week will be the last class in this series. Tonight each person created some birth art. It’s an activity borrowed from Birthing from Within and I must say it’s actually my favorite part of birth class. I am always so amazed and impressed with what comes out of this activity. Tonight I sat quietly listening to the CD that was playing- it was Loreena McKinnett, and just looked around. We are together here in the Birth Center, cozy and relaxed in this beautiful setting. Some are sitting on the soft couch, a couple in the rocking chairs, one on the floor and others sitting in the other chairs. I think about this space and how perfect it is for birth class. What a great memory for these couples to have spent class time here, rather than another less welcoming setting. The beautiful voice of Loreena is filling the air and the lamps are reflecting a warm glow off the golden walls of the living room of the birth center. The weather is not cool enough to have a fire in the fireplace, but it is welcoming anyway and there are cheerful flowers on the mantle. Birth art is on the walls, table and in many parts of the room and everyone is focused - working on their own personal art expression. I bring crayons, colored pencils, pastels and each person has chosen their medium. I sit quietly, taking it all in and just let myself be in awareness of the moment for a few minutes. Listening, and looking without reacting.
When I initially explained what we would be doing I received the usual reactions, but after some talking and laughing they began to create. Art is personal and usually outside of the comfort zone, but then so is birth. So, I’m looking at each person as they are busy creating. Then I begin thinking about the time we have shared together these past few weeks, in this room, in class. I always feel a bit sad when I think about a class series approaching it’s end. I’m wondering what their art will say and I also think about their upcoming births.
Time is up and they begin to share. This class is no exception when it comes to the beauty and depth of their art. Not so much in the techniques- no, technique is not what this is about. We already know that most of them are not artists, but they share what they were thinking and feeling as they were creating and it was touching and beautiful, impressive and meaningful. It is good to stretch ourselves and do something outside our normal box. It is good practice for birth and life.
So, we go on to discuss newborns, breastfeeding etc. We will all be together one more time before they birth. We’ll have our last class, I’ll give them their certificates and the blanket that I will make for each baby. We’ll say goodbye and talk about a reunion. It’s a privilege to share this part of the journey with them. I feel the responsibility and hope I’ve done my job in a way that empowers them so that they feel they’ve done it all on their own and that they are equipped and ready to embrace and own their birth experience. I love teaching birth class and I have affection for each person that allows me to share this very important and special time with them.
Tonight was just one of those moments in time that we experience. I took time to “stop and smell the roses” so to speak. I just took it all in and savored it. I love the many facets of working with families. It’s a good and satisfying work and I'm thankful to have a share in it.

Protect Promote and Support Breastfeeding

Today I attended a breastfeeding seminar that featured Nancy Mohrbacher IBCLC. She is a working lactation consultant,speaker and author. The seminar was excellent. I learned some new ways to support mothers and babies. The more I learn about pregnancy, labor, birth and breastfeeding, the deeper my conviction becomes regarding the superiority of the midwifery model of care as well as reaffirming my belief in home birth as the gold standard. As information is presented I find that we are already providing the care that is evidence based producing the best outcomes.
I enjoyed the seminar very much. The Breastfeeding Coalition is doing a great job in bringing these events to Ventura County.

Trailer for new film about fathers

Take the Birth Survey

If you've given birth within the last 3 years you can take this survey from Citizens for Midwifery.



http://cfmidwifery.blogspot.com/2008/08/birth-survey-has-launched-nationwide.html)