
I love this site! SO much great information here!
Choices in Childbirth is a non-profit organization - much like BirthNetwork National is (http://www.birthnetwork.org/) in that they are committed to help consumers with advocacy, support and information during the childbearing year.
These organizations help you parents make informed decisions regarding your pregnancy, birth and newborn care.
They are helping to improve maternity care; one woman at a time.
I know first hand how these organizations help maternity care in the USA because I was a chapter leader for Macomb (MI) Birthnetwork for 11 years. (February 7th's meeting is on"What are Your Birth Choices? Normal, Natural, or Typical Childbirth")
As a doula in the hospital for the last 11 years, I have seen how things have changed for parents: no more routine episiotomy for 1st time moms, hospitals are striving for "Baby Friendly" status to improve their desirability (all parents want their baby skin-to-skin immediately after birth and nurses are delaying their assessments and keeping babies in their mother's arms!) doctors are listening to 'delayed cord clamping' requests. Even the NY Times wrote an article on this. Moms are enjoying 'intermittent' fetal monitoring and freedom of movement!
As a home birth midwife for almost 20 years, I actually enjoy doula work in the hospital. Why? Because I see that woman CAN have a wonderful experience in the hospital setting BECAUSE of the brave work parents have done to prepare for the experience. They took the time to educated themselves (thanks to the CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH & BIRTHNETWORK), they discussed their wishes and preferences with their providers AND stood their ground, in the midst of labor, when faced with NON 'evidenced-based' routines that some hospital personnel find more comforting for THEM:
- breaking the water to determine the color and/or hoping to make labor happen harder and faster
- suggesting to the mother that her non-progress in dilation over the last 4 hours may mean she will need an epidural to continue on with this hard work.
Bravo to you parents out there, you are paving the way for your children to have normal births. You are reversing the trend of primary Cesareans and repeat Cesareans!
Choices in Childbirth is a non-profit organization - much like BirthNetwork National is (http://www.birthnetwork.org/) in that they are committed to help consumers with advocacy, support and information during the childbearing year.
These organizations help you parents make informed decisions regarding your pregnancy, birth and newborn care.
They are helping to improve maternity care; one woman at a time.
I know first hand how these organizations help maternity care in the USA because I was a chapter leader for Macomb (MI) Birthnetwork for 11 years. (February 7th's meeting is on"What are Your Birth Choices? Normal, Natural, or Typical Childbirth")
As a doula in the hospital for the last 11 years, I have seen how things have changed for parents: no more routine episiotomy for 1st time moms, hospitals are striving for "Baby Friendly" status to improve their desirability (all parents want their baby skin-to-skin immediately after birth and nurses are delaying their assessments and keeping babies in their mother's arms!) doctors are listening to 'delayed cord clamping' requests. Even the NY Times wrote an article on this. Moms are enjoying 'intermittent' fetal monitoring and freedom of movement!
As a home birth midwife for almost 20 years, I actually enjoy doula work in the hospital. Why? Because I see that woman CAN have a wonderful experience in the hospital setting BECAUSE of the brave work parents have done to prepare for the experience. They took the time to educated themselves (thanks to the CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH & BIRTHNETWORK), they discussed their wishes and preferences with their providers AND stood their ground, in the midst of labor, when faced with NON 'evidenced-based' routines that some hospital personnel find more comforting for THEM:
- breaking the water to determine the color and/or hoping to make labor happen harder and faster
- suggesting to the mother that her non-progress in dilation over the last 4 hours may mean she will need an epidural to continue on with this hard work.
Bravo to you parents out there, you are paving the way for your children to have normal births. You are reversing the trend of primary Cesareans and repeat Cesareans!