Birth Activist

Midwifery Care: What’s in it for women?

Robin — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:07:35 +0000

This is one of the video from the Midwives Alliance of North America.

I am a Midwife.

Robin — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:26:13 +0000

Did you know that the United States spends $98 billion a year in maternity care. Despite this extraordinary number, the U.S. currently ranks 46th for infant mortality occurring during the first year of life and 50th in the world for maternal mortality. That means that 45 countries lose fewer babies than we do and 49 countries lose fewer mothers to childbirth and related complications.

Midwifery care is one way to address the disparities of care in the childbearing year. When women know about midwifery care as an option they can have evidenced based, respectful care and that it is provided by a midwife when appropriate. Because of these staggering statistics, The Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) has created an educational campaign to introduce the many who do not currently know about midwifery care to the benefits. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing these videos. Below is the first and introductory video:

Choice as a Red Herring

Robin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:50:38 +0000

Peggy O’Mara from Mothering posted a really interesting article with the above title. Your thoughts?

Choice as a Red Herring

Birth Video and Tidbits

Robin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:51:22 +0000

I had to laugh when I saw this 1950s birth video posted by Jill at The Unnecesarean. Oh wait, then I cried because I’m not sure much has changed.

There is also the Canadian hospital level cesarean rate data.

Pregnancy Calendar

Robin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:35:34 +0000

There are a lot of pregnancy calendars out there today. But one of the oldest week by week collections of pregnancy information is often over looked. This one goes all the way to 42 weeks gestation and contains information about partners, twins, ultrasounds, tests, books and more. There is a definite holistic trend in this calendar. Have you checked it out?

Pregnancy Calendar

Keep Formula Marketing Out of Healthcare Facilities

Robin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:04:17 +0000

This is a letter to be signed if you agree that formula companies need to stay out of the hospitals and doctor’s offices when marketing infant formula. It’s a well known fact that moms who receive these free samples of infant formula have lower breastfeeding success. It’s time for the WHO Code for marketing infant formula to be adhered to in the United States. Moms and babies should not be sold to at this very fragile time in their lives.

Do you know who has signed on already? Have you or your organization signed? Ask all of your membership organizations.

See the petition here: http://www.citizen.org/infant-formula

Question CPD

Robin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:16:41 +0000

More info at: http://www.ican-online.org/vbac/cephalopelvic-disproportion-cpd

Birth Video: HBAC

Robin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:38:55 +0000

Find an ICAN Chapter PSA

Robin — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:37:25 +0000

This is one of the new PSAs from ICAN.

_{This is part of the 30 Day Blog Challenge for Health Activist Writer’s Month.}

Birth Haiku

Robin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:10:26 +0000

Ripe, like fruit, with child
Womb opens like a cherry blossom
to bestow great gift.

Pounding the pavement
Looking for support for my
VBAC. Grant me peace.

Please add your traditional or non-traditional haiku in the comments.

_{This is part of the 30 Day Blog Challenge for Health Activist Writer’s Month.}