Monday, November 16, 2009
November is prematurity awareness month!
Please Help spread the word. Find out more by visiting: www.Marchofdimes.com
Birth outcomes associated with interventions
Women Birth. 2007 Jun;20(2):41-8. Epub 2007 Apr 27.
Birth outcomes associated with interventions in labour amongst low risk women: a population-based study.
Tracy SK, Sullivan E, Wang YA, Black D, Tracy M.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, National Perinatal Statistics Unit, School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia. stracy@ozemail.com.au
INTRODUCTION: Despite concern over high rates of operative birth in many countries, particularly amongst low risk healthy women, the obstetric antecedents of operative birth are poorly described. We aimed to determine the association between interventions introduced during labour with interventions in the birth process amongst women of low medical risk. METHODS: We undertook a population-based descriptive study of all low risk women amongst the 753,895 women who gave birth in Australia during 2000-2002. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated using multinomial logistic regression to describe the association between mode of birth and each of four labour intervention subgroups separately for primiparous and multiparous women. RESULTS: We observed increased rates of operative birth in association with each of the interventions offered during the labour process. For first time mothers the association was particularly strong. CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the need for better clinical evidence of the effects of epidurals and pharmacological agents introduced in labour. At a population level it demonstrates the magnitude of the fall in rates of unassisted vaginal birth in association with a cascade of interventions in labour and interventions at birth particularly amongst women with no identified risk markers and having their first baby. This information may be useful for women wanting to explore other methods of influencing the course of labour and the management of pain in labour, especially in their endeavour to achieve a normal vaginal birth.
PMID: 17467355 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Publication Types, MeSH Terms
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH Terms:
Adult
Anesthesia, Epidural/statistics & numerical data
Australia/epidemiology
Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data
Confidence Intervals
Cross-Sectional Studies
Decision Making
Delivery, Obstetric/statistics & numerical data*
Episiotomy/statistics & numerical data
Extraction, Obstetrical/statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Labor Pain/epidemiology
Labor, Induced/statistics & numerical data
Maternal Health Services/organization & administration
Maternal Welfare/statistics & numerical data*
Obstetric Labor Complications/epidemiology*
Obstetric Labor Complications/prevention & control
Odds Ratio
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology*
Risk Factors
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources:
Elsevier Science
EBSCO
Nursing Consult
OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center
Swets Information Services
Education:
New England Research Institutes Inc.
Medical:
Childbirth - MedlinePlus Health Information
High Risk Pregnancy - MedlinePlus Health Information
Birth outcomes associated with interventions in labour amongst low risk women: a population-based study.
Tracy SK, Sullivan E, Wang YA, Black D, Tracy M.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, National Perinatal Statistics Unit, School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia. stracy@ozemail.com.au
INTRODUCTION: Despite concern over high rates of operative birth in many countries, particularly amongst low risk healthy women, the obstetric antecedents of operative birth are poorly described. We aimed to determine the association between interventions introduced during labour with interventions in the birth process amongst women of low medical risk. METHODS: We undertook a population-based descriptive study of all low risk women amongst the 753,895 women who gave birth in Australia during 2000-2002. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated using multinomial logistic regression to describe the association between mode of birth and each of four labour intervention subgroups separately for primiparous and multiparous women. RESULTS: We observed increased rates of operative birth in association with each of the interventions offered during the labour process. For first time mothers the association was particularly strong. CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the need for better clinical evidence of the effects of epidurals and pharmacological agents introduced in labour. At a population level it demonstrates the magnitude of the fall in rates of unassisted vaginal birth in association with a cascade of interventions in labour and interventions at birth particularly amongst women with no identified risk markers and having their first baby. This information may be useful for women wanting to explore other methods of influencing the course of labour and the management of pain in labour, especially in their endeavour to achieve a normal vaginal birth.
PMID: 17467355 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Publication Types, MeSH Terms
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH Terms:
Adult
Anesthesia, Epidural/statistics & numerical data
Australia/epidemiology
Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data
Confidence Intervals
Cross-Sectional Studies
Decision Making
Delivery, Obstetric/statistics & numerical data*
Episiotomy/statistics & numerical data
Extraction, Obstetrical/statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Labor Pain/epidemiology
Labor, Induced/statistics & numerical data
Maternal Health Services/organization & administration
Maternal Welfare/statistics & numerical data*
Obstetric Labor Complications/epidemiology*
Obstetric Labor Complications/prevention & control
Odds Ratio
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology*
Risk Factors
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources:
Elsevier Science
EBSCO
Nursing Consult
OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center
Swets Information Services
Education:
New England Research Institutes Inc.
Medical:
Childbirth - MedlinePlus Health Information
High Risk Pregnancy - MedlinePlus Health Information
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Importance of Childbirth Education & Doula Care
When you get the proper education & care throughout pregnancy & childbirth you improve your chances of having a healthier, and more empowering birth.
This is your baby, it is up to you to decide what kind of birth is best for you.
Your best birth is one where you feel empowered because you know all your options and are confident in the decisions you have made about your birth.
This is your baby, it is up to you to decide what kind of birth is best for you.
Your best birth is one where you feel empowered because you know all your options and are confident in the decisions you have made about your birth.
Chiropractic is beneficial in pregnancy
Pregnancy & the birth process can be physically stressing on the body, chiropractic care can help maintain the body's proper alignment.
sacral misalignment causes tightening in the muscles & ligaments of the pelvis. these effects on the uterus prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth.
What is Websters?
An adjustment of the pelvic region that many times aids with breech, posterior (OP), & the onset & progression of labor.
Chiropractic Treatment may aid with:
*Swelling
*Back pain
*Sciatica
*Headaches
*Breathing difficulties
*Rib pain
*Postpartum depression & more......
sacral misalignment causes tightening in the muscles & ligaments of the pelvis. these effects on the uterus prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth.
What is Websters?
An adjustment of the pelvic region that many times aids with breech, posterior (OP), & the onset & progression of labor.
Chiropractic Treatment may aid with:
*Swelling
*Back pain
*Sciatica
*Headaches
*Breathing difficulties
*Rib pain
*Postpartum depression & more......
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Kangaroo Care Reducing Infant Mortality & Improving the care of infants
The transition from Fetal to Neonatal life represents one of the most dynamic & potentially hazardas events in the human life cycle. The initial postnatal period is characterized by high levels of stress, as exemplified by levels of catecholamines & cortisol secretion & comparatively labile neurobehavioral regulation. Therefore methods that enhance stabilization of neural, behavioral, & state regulation & facilitate the adaption of the infant to the outside worldmight be clinically useful. The current study was designed to test the effect of a behavioral method known as skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care), used as post delivery facilitation of the neurobehavioral self-regulatory responses of the term infant.
The term "self regulation" is widely used to identify infant adaption to various internal & external stimuli & to unstable situations. The development of infant self regulation involves the regulation of physiologic systems, information processes, & the formation of attachment bonds & ultimately determines hoe the infant responds cognitively & social-effectively to the environment. Self regulation develops in the newborn within the womb & throughout the birth process, & it is especially challenged during the 1st hours & days after delivery.
Skin-to-skin contact, the normal mammalian postnatal condition, has been found to improve infant state organization, thermal regulation, respiration, & oxygen saturation, reduce apnea, bradycardia, increase milk production, accelerate weight gain, & quicken hospital discharge.
For more informatin please visit: www.pediatrics.org The effect of skin-to-skin contact
(kangaroo care).
***Traditional hospital care of premature & small newborns:
In many western cultures, the birth process has become a medical procedure. Once a baby is delivered, he or she is tended to by healthcare professionals who provide medical care for the baby apart from the mother & for the mother apart from her baby.
Often, infants are removed from the motherto be washed, weighed, measured, & sometimes given artificial nourishment (Londan, Ladewig, Ball & Bindler, 2006). This is physiologically & emotionally disruptive to a baby who has been securely positioned for months in the womb, in constant contact with the mother & her familiar rhythms.
When the newborn is premature or small in size, there are additional concerns & stressors. Neonatal intensive care nurseries (NICU) have developed to provide specialized, direct care in an environment that is noisy, & bright, & totally unfamiiliar. Incubators with thermostats are used to keep the baby warm & visible. The people around the infant have foreign voices. the pace of the environment is remarkably different from that of the uterus & physiologically the newborn exhibits increased responses to the dramatic change that has taken place.
The Neonatal attachment has been essentially interrupted. Artificial temperature regulation, feeding, & lack of physical contact can have significant deleterious effects on even normal, term newborns. For the premature infant, the effects are compounded!
Kangaroo Care seeks to provide restored closeness of the newborn with mother &/or father by placing the infant in direct skin-to-skin contact with one of them. This ensures Physiological & Psychological warmth & bonding. The kangaroo care position provides ready access to nourishment. The mother's body responds to the needs of the infant directly, helping regulate temperature more smoothely than an incubator, her milk adjusts to the nutritional & imunological needs of her fragile infant, & the baby sleeps more soundly.
Benefits for Preterm & low birth weight infants:
*Normal temp, heart rate, respiratory rate
*Breast milk readily available & strengthens infants immune system
*The maternal contact causes a calming effect with decreased stress & rapid quiescence
*Reduce physiological & behavioral pain responses
*Increased weight gain
*Enahnced mother-infant bonding (positive effects on infant's cognitive development)
*Less nosocomial infection severe illness, lower respiratory tract disease
*Restful sleep
*Earlier discharge
*possible reduced risk of sudden infant death
*Normalized infant growth of premature infants
*May be good intervention for colic
*Possible positive effects in motor development
Benefits for Mom:
*Enhanced attachment & bonding
*Increased milk volume, doubled rates of succesful breastfeeding & increased duration of breastfeeding
*Resilience & feelings of confidence, competence & satisfaction regarding baby care
More information on Kangaroo Care is available at the March of Dimes website: www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/5430_6074.asp
The term "self regulation" is widely used to identify infant adaption to various internal & external stimuli & to unstable situations. The development of infant self regulation involves the regulation of physiologic systems, information processes, & the formation of attachment bonds & ultimately determines hoe the infant responds cognitively & social-effectively to the environment. Self regulation develops in the newborn within the womb & throughout the birth process, & it is especially challenged during the 1st hours & days after delivery.
Skin-to-skin contact, the normal mammalian postnatal condition, has been found to improve infant state organization, thermal regulation, respiration, & oxygen saturation, reduce apnea, bradycardia, increase milk production, accelerate weight gain, & quicken hospital discharge.
For more informatin please visit: www.pediatrics.org The effect of skin-to-skin contact
(kangaroo care).
***Traditional hospital care of premature & small newborns:
In many western cultures, the birth process has become a medical procedure. Once a baby is delivered, he or she is tended to by healthcare professionals who provide medical care for the baby apart from the mother & for the mother apart from her baby.
Often, infants are removed from the motherto be washed, weighed, measured, & sometimes given artificial nourishment (Londan, Ladewig, Ball & Bindler, 2006). This is physiologically & emotionally disruptive to a baby who has been securely positioned for months in the womb, in constant contact with the mother & her familiar rhythms.
When the newborn is premature or small in size, there are additional concerns & stressors. Neonatal intensive care nurseries (NICU) have developed to provide specialized, direct care in an environment that is noisy, & bright, & totally unfamiiliar. Incubators with thermostats are used to keep the baby warm & visible. The people around the infant have foreign voices. the pace of the environment is remarkably different from that of the uterus & physiologically the newborn exhibits increased responses to the dramatic change that has taken place.
The Neonatal attachment has been essentially interrupted. Artificial temperature regulation, feeding, & lack of physical contact can have significant deleterious effects on even normal, term newborns. For the premature infant, the effects are compounded!
Kangaroo Care seeks to provide restored closeness of the newborn with mother &/or father by placing the infant in direct skin-to-skin contact with one of them. This ensures Physiological & Psychological warmth & bonding. The kangaroo care position provides ready access to nourishment. The mother's body responds to the needs of the infant directly, helping regulate temperature more smoothely than an incubator, her milk adjusts to the nutritional & imunological needs of her fragile infant, & the baby sleeps more soundly.
Benefits for Preterm & low birth weight infants:
*Normal temp, heart rate, respiratory rate
*Breast milk readily available & strengthens infants immune system
*The maternal contact causes a calming effect with decreased stress & rapid quiescence
*Reduce physiological & behavioral pain responses
*Increased weight gain
*Enahnced mother-infant bonding (positive effects on infant's cognitive development)
*Less nosocomial infection severe illness, lower respiratory tract disease
*Restful sleep
*Earlier discharge
*possible reduced risk of sudden infant death
*Normalized infant growth of premature infants
*May be good intervention for colic
*Possible positive effects in motor development
Benefits for Mom:
*Enhanced attachment & bonding
*Increased milk volume, doubled rates of succesful breastfeeding & increased duration of breastfeeding
*Resilience & feelings of confidence, competence & satisfaction regarding baby care
More information on Kangaroo Care is available at the March of Dimes website: www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/5430_6074.asp
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Childbirth
Women have the right to seek care that not only is medically safe for themselves and their baby, but that fits their lifestyle and recognizes and respects their individual, social, spiritual and economic needs.
Because the family is the cornerstone of our social structure, maternity care must support and promote unity within the family. Separation of family members, including siblings is to be avoided.
Childbirth is a peak life experience with long-term effects on the development of both mother and baby.
Childbirth is viewed as a natural health process. Confidence in the physiologic function of the body to cope with childbirth is promoted in all aspects of care.
Education of the client is an essential, integral part of midwifery care. With knowledge freely imparted from their health care giver, women are able to assume responsibility for health maintenance and effective utilization of medical care.
Our philosophy is one of family centered care. Pregnancy and birth are important life events not medical conditions.
A woman is a partner in the decisions made during her pregnancy. She shares responsibility with her care provider.
Because the family is the cornerstone of our social structure, maternity care must support and promote unity within the family. Separation of family members, including siblings is to be avoided.
Childbirth is a peak life experience with long-term effects on the development of both mother and baby.
Childbirth is viewed as a natural health process. Confidence in the physiologic function of the body to cope with childbirth is promoted in all aspects of care.
Education of the client is an essential, integral part of midwifery care. With knowledge freely imparted from their health care giver, women are able to assume responsibility for health maintenance and effective utilization of medical care.
Our philosophy is one of family centered care. Pregnancy and birth are important life events not medical conditions.
A woman is a partner in the decisions made during her pregnancy. She shares responsibility with her care provider.
Home Births 'As safe as Hospital'
Home births 'as safe as hospital'
There have been few comprehensive studies into home births
The largest study of its kind has found that for low-risk women, giving birth at home is as safe as doing so in hospital with a midwife.
Research from the Netherlands - which has a high rate of home births - found no difference in death rates of either mothers or babies in 530,000 births.
Home births have long been debated amid concerns about their safety.
UK obstetricians welcomed the study - published in the journal BJOG - but said it may not apply universally.
The number of mothers giving birth at home in the UK has been rising since it dipped to a low in 1988. Of all births in England and Wales in 2006, 2.7% took place at home, the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics showed.
The research was carried out in the Netherlands after figures showed the country had one of the highest rates in Europe of babies dying during or just after birth.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME
It was suggested that home births could be a factor, as Dutch women are able and encouraged to choose this option. One third do so.
But a comparison of "low-risk" women who planned to give birth at home with those who planned to give birth in hospital with a midwife found no difference in death or serious illness among either baby or mother.
"We found that for low-risk mothers at the start of their labour it is just as safe to deliver at home with a midwife as it is in hospital with a midwife," said Professor Simone Buitendijk of the TNO Institute for Applied Scientific Research.
"These results should strengthen policies that encourage low-risk women at the onset of labour to choose their own place of birth."
Hospital transfer
Low-risk women in the study were those who had no known complications - such as a baby in breech or one with a congenital abnormality, or a previous caesarean section.
Nearly a third of women who planned and started their labours at home ended up being transferred as complications arose - including for instance an abnormal fetal heart rate, or if the mother required more effective pain relief in the form of an epidural.
The NHS is simply not set up to meet the potential demand for home births
Louise Silverton Royal College of Midwives
But even when she needed to be transferred to the care of a doctor in a hospital, the risk to her or her baby was no higher than if she had started out her labour under the care of a midwife in hospital.
The researchers noted the importance of both highly-trained midwives who knew when to refer a home birth to hospital as well as rapid transportation.
While stressing the study was the most comprehensive yet into the safety of home births, they also acknowledged some caveats.
The group who chose to give birth in hospital rather than at home were more likely to be first-time mothers or of an ethnic minority background - the risk of complications is higher in both these groups.
The study did not compare the relative safety of home births against low-risk women who opted for doctor rather than midwife-led care. This is to be the subject of a future investigation.
Home option
But Professor Buitendijk said the study did have relevance for other countries like the UK with a highly developed health infrastructure and well-trained midwives.
Women need to be counselled on the unexpected emergencies which can arise during labour and can only be managed in a maternity hospital
RCOG
In the UK, the government has pledged to give all women the option of a home birth by the end of this year. At present just 2.7% of births in England and Wales take place at home, but there are considerable regional variations.
Louise Silverton, deputy general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said, the study was "a major step forward in showing that home is as safe as hospital, for low risk women giving birth when support services are in place.
"However, to begin providing more home births there has to be a seismic shift in the way maternity services are organised. The NHS is simply not set up to meet the potential demand for home births, because we are still in a culture where the vast majority of births are in hospital.
"There also has to be a major increase in the number of midwives because they are the people who will be in the homes delivering the babies."
Mary Newburn, of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "This makes a significant contribution to the growing body of reassuring evidence that suggests offering women a choice of place of birth is entirely appropriate."
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said it supported home births "in cases of low-risk pregnancies provided the appropriate infrastructures and resources are present to support such a system.
But it added: "Women need to be counselled on the unexpected emergencies - such as cord prolapse, fetal heart rate abnormalities, undiagnosed breech, prolonged labour and postpartum haemorrhage - which can arise during labour and can only be managed in a maternity hospital.
"Such emergencies would always require the transfer of women by ambulance to the hospital as extra medical support is only present in hospital settings and would not be available to them when they deliver at home."
The Department of Health said that giving more mothers-to-be the opportunity to choose to give birth at home was one of its priority targets for 2009/10.
A spokesman said: "All Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) have set out plans for implementing Maternity Matters to provide high-quality, safe maternity care for women and their babies."
There have been few comprehensive studies into home births
The largest study of its kind has found that for low-risk women, giving birth at home is as safe as doing so in hospital with a midwife.
Research from the Netherlands - which has a high rate of home births - found no difference in death rates of either mothers or babies in 530,000 births.
Home births have long been debated amid concerns about their safety.
UK obstetricians welcomed the study - published in the journal BJOG - but said it may not apply universally.
The number of mothers giving birth at home in the UK has been rising since it dipped to a low in 1988. Of all births in England and Wales in 2006, 2.7% took place at home, the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics showed.
The research was carried out in the Netherlands after figures showed the country had one of the highest rates in Europe of babies dying during or just after birth.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME
It was suggested that home births could be a factor, as Dutch women are able and encouraged to choose this option. One third do so.
But a comparison of "low-risk" women who planned to give birth at home with those who planned to give birth in hospital with a midwife found no difference in death or serious illness among either baby or mother.
"We found that for low-risk mothers at the start of their labour it is just as safe to deliver at home with a midwife as it is in hospital with a midwife," said Professor Simone Buitendijk of the TNO Institute for Applied Scientific Research.
"These results should strengthen policies that encourage low-risk women at the onset of labour to choose their own place of birth."
Hospital transfer
Low-risk women in the study were those who had no known complications - such as a baby in breech or one with a congenital abnormality, or a previous caesarean section.
Nearly a third of women who planned and started their labours at home ended up being transferred as complications arose - including for instance an abnormal fetal heart rate, or if the mother required more effective pain relief in the form of an epidural.
The NHS is simply not set up to meet the potential demand for home births
Louise Silverton Royal College of Midwives
But even when she needed to be transferred to the care of a doctor in a hospital, the risk to her or her baby was no higher than if she had started out her labour under the care of a midwife in hospital.
The researchers noted the importance of both highly-trained midwives who knew when to refer a home birth to hospital as well as rapid transportation.
While stressing the study was the most comprehensive yet into the safety of home births, they also acknowledged some caveats.
The group who chose to give birth in hospital rather than at home were more likely to be first-time mothers or of an ethnic minority background - the risk of complications is higher in both these groups.
The study did not compare the relative safety of home births against low-risk women who opted for doctor rather than midwife-led care. This is to be the subject of a future investigation.
Home option
But Professor Buitendijk said the study did have relevance for other countries like the UK with a highly developed health infrastructure and well-trained midwives.
Women need to be counselled on the unexpected emergencies which can arise during labour and can only be managed in a maternity hospital
RCOG
In the UK, the government has pledged to give all women the option of a home birth by the end of this year. At present just 2.7% of births in England and Wales take place at home, but there are considerable regional variations.
Louise Silverton, deputy general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, said, the study was "a major step forward in showing that home is as safe as hospital, for low risk women giving birth when support services are in place.
"However, to begin providing more home births there has to be a seismic shift in the way maternity services are organised. The NHS is simply not set up to meet the potential demand for home births, because we are still in a culture where the vast majority of births are in hospital.
"There also has to be a major increase in the number of midwives because they are the people who will be in the homes delivering the babies."
Mary Newburn, of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "This makes a significant contribution to the growing body of reassuring evidence that suggests offering women a choice of place of birth is entirely appropriate."
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said it supported home births "in cases of low-risk pregnancies provided the appropriate infrastructures and resources are present to support such a system.
But it added: "Women need to be counselled on the unexpected emergencies - such as cord prolapse, fetal heart rate abnormalities, undiagnosed breech, prolonged labour and postpartum haemorrhage - which can arise during labour and can only be managed in a maternity hospital.
"Such emergencies would always require the transfer of women by ambulance to the hospital as extra medical support is only present in hospital settings and would not be available to them when they deliver at home."
The Department of Health said that giving more mothers-to-be the opportunity to choose to give birth at home was one of its priority targets for 2009/10.
A spokesman said: "All Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) have set out plans for implementing Maternity Matters to provide high-quality, safe maternity care for women and their babies."
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Let's Celebrate "Licensed Midwives Week"
PRESS RELEASE: Florida Licensed Midwives Week Governor Charlie Crist has signed a proclamation observing October 5 through the 9 as Licensed Midwives Week in the State of Florida, upholding midwives for being “dedicated to the care of pregnancy and childbirth and treat[ing] each woman’s pregnancy according to her unique physical and personal needs.” Governor Crist’s proclamation also recognized midwives for their role in the need to “improve birth outcomes in the State of Florida and ensure that women are given proper care and treatment in all phases of childbirth.”In honor of this week, Florida Friends of Midwives (FFOM), a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the practice of midwifery in Florida, will be hosting various community events throughout the state this month to celebrate the more than 110 Licensed Midwives in the Sunshine State.Florida Licensed Midwives Week coincides with National Midwifery Week, a time to recognize the contributions of Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), Certified Midwives (CMs) and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) nationwide. The American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) publicly announced the week with an introduction to midwifery. “The heart of midwifery care for women and newborns lies more in the nature of that care than in its specific components. Midwifery practice has a firm foundation in the critical thought process and is focused on the prevention of disease and the promotion of health, taking the best from the disciplines of midwifery, nursing, public health and medicine to provide safe, holistic care.”Midwives have a long and valued history in Florida. The state first passed legislation to license direct-entry midwives in 1931. In the 77 years since, Florida’s licensed midwives have continued to tirelessly serve the families of Florida and to ensure the continued availability of safe, evidence-based birthing options for Florida’s families. In 1992, Governor Lawton Chiles declared the first-ever Licensed Midwives Week. More women than ever before are seeking out licensed midwives for maternity care. According to the latest data from the Florida Council of Licensed Midwifery, births managed by Licensed Midwives in the state grew by about 5.5% from 2005 to 2006.“We are honored every day to serve Florida’s mothers, babies, and families,” says Sarasota Licensed Midwife Alina Vogelhut, LM. “It means so much for our profession to be honored by Governor Charlie Crist and the State of Florida.”Midwifery in FloridaIn Florida, two types of midwives are allowed to practice: Certified Nurse-Midwives and Licensed Midwives (a Florida state licensure), also known as direct-entry midwives. Throughout the state, about 11.2 percent of births are estimated to be managed by midwives, rather than by OB-GYNs. Many birth centers and midwives have reported a significant increase in business in the past year. This increase is believed to be a result of various factors, primarily a greater number of women seeking alternative birthing choices due to an unhealthy increase in caesarean sections and other unnecessary interventions that frequently occur in hospital settings. In a 2006 report on Florida Licensed Midwives, midwives had a caesarean section rate of 6.3 percent compared to a 36.64 percent statewide average in hospitals the same year.About Florida Friends of MidwivesFlorida Friends of Midwives is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the Midwives Model of Care and supporting the practice of midwifery in Florida. Florida Friends of Midwives was formed to support midwives who offer safe, cost-effective, evidence based care to Florida's families. For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/l/03ac2;www.flmidwifery.org.--------------------
Monday, October 5, 2009
"HEADS UP on Infant Mortality" Campaign
"Heads Up on Infant Mortality" Campaign
September is Infant Mortality month. Did you know that 1,687 babies died before age one in 2007 in the state of Florida alone? The 2009 Campaign for Helathier Babies is drawing attention to infant mortality by knitting one baby hat for every baby who didn't reach their first birthday.
"Too many babies are being born TOO SOON, TOO SMALL, or TOO SICK to survive." - Jennie Joseph, Executive Director
Please join us in our endeavor to promote early prenatal care and save the lives of our children!
How you can help:
knit or crochet one or more baby hats
teach someone how to knit or crochet a baby hat
donate to the campaign
encourage all pregnant women to start prenatal care right away - we can help, no one is turned away
The hats will be displayed at a rally in September (date & time TBA). You can help by knitting or crocheting one or more infant hats and bringing or mailing your hat(s) by September 22, 2009 to:
The Birth Place1130 E. Plant StreetWinter Garden, FL 34787
Call: (407) 656-6938Email: Elena@TheBirthPlace.org
On Facebook, search “commonsense childbirth, inc.”
Be Alert for Signs of Preterm Labor
Contractions of the uterus - that are less than 10 minutes apart (6 or more contractions in an hour), that may be painless or may feel like the baby is "balling up".
Cramps like those with your period - that come and go, or that don’t go away.
Cramps in the abdomen or stomach - with or without diarrhea.
Increase or change in vaginal discharge - watery or with mucus or blood.
Low, dull backache - that comes and goes, or that doesn’t go away.
Pressure - that feels like the baby is pushing down; comes and goes.
You May or May Not Feel Pain with Preterm Labor
read more
Contents
The JJ Way™
History
Outcomes
Media Coverage
Research Studies
Campaign
How You Can Help
"Heads Up" Hats
Events
Baby! Film Festival
Sponsorship Info.
Contact Us
Campaign
Read more about Jennie's Campaign for Healthier Babies or click the button below to donate.
Progress
$0.00 of $60000
Our Goal
Our vision is that all women have a healthy baby!
Jennie Joseph's amazing photo journal depicts the impact of her maternal child healthcare system, The JJ Way™, on positive pregnancy outcomes. A portion of proceeds from the sale of this book goes to support Jennie's non-profit agency Commonsense Childbirth. Order your copy today!
Order from jenniejoseph.com
Please visit our other websites!
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© 2007-2009 Commonsense Childbirth Inc.
site by leafish.co.uk
1130 E.Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida 34787 ♥ Tel: 407 656 6938 ♥ Fax: 407 656 9161
September is Infant Mortality month. Did you know that 1,687 babies died before age one in 2007 in the state of Florida alone? The 2009 Campaign for Helathier Babies is drawing attention to infant mortality by knitting one baby hat for every baby who didn't reach their first birthday.
"Too many babies are being born TOO SOON, TOO SMALL, or TOO SICK to survive." - Jennie Joseph, Executive Director
Please join us in our endeavor to promote early prenatal care and save the lives of our children!
How you can help:
knit or crochet one or more baby hats
teach someone how to knit or crochet a baby hat
donate to the campaign
encourage all pregnant women to start prenatal care right away - we can help, no one is turned away
The hats will be displayed at a rally in September (date & time TBA). You can help by knitting or crocheting one or more infant hats and bringing or mailing your hat(s) by September 22, 2009 to:
The Birth Place1130 E. Plant StreetWinter Garden, FL 34787
Call: (407) 656-6938Email: Elena@TheBirthPlace.org
On Facebook, search “commonsense childbirth, inc.”
Be Alert for Signs of Preterm Labor
Contractions of the uterus - that are less than 10 minutes apart (6 or more contractions in an hour), that may be painless or may feel like the baby is "balling up".
Cramps like those with your period - that come and go, or that don’t go away.
Cramps in the abdomen or stomach - with or without diarrhea.
Increase or change in vaginal discharge - watery or with mucus or blood.
Low, dull backache - that comes and goes, or that doesn’t go away.
Pressure - that feels like the baby is pushing down; comes and goes.
You May or May Not Feel Pain with Preterm Labor
read more
Contents
The JJ Way™
History
Outcomes
Media Coverage
Research Studies
Campaign
How You Can Help
"Heads Up" Hats
Events
Baby! Film Festival
Sponsorship Info.
Contact Us
Campaign
Read more about Jennie's Campaign for Healthier Babies or click the button below to donate.
Progress
$0.00 of $60000
Our Goal
Our vision is that all women have a healthy baby!
Jennie Joseph's amazing photo journal depicts the impact of her maternal child healthcare system, The JJ Way™, on positive pregnancy outcomes. A portion of proceeds from the sale of this book goes to support Jennie's non-profit agency Commonsense Childbirth. Order your copy today!
Order from jenniejoseph.com
Please visit our other websites!
log in
© 2007-2009 Commonsense Childbirth Inc.
site by leafish.co.uk
1130 E.Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida 34787 ♥ Tel: 407 656 6938 ♥ Fax: 407 656 9161
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Empowering Women Your Birth, Your Choice
* A woman labours instinctively, following her own physiological rhythms & responses,
* the woman takes responsibility for arranging an appropriate setting and caregivers who will enable her to labour as she needs when the time comes,
* the woman, and her partner, are involved in all aspects of pregnancy & birth care, & are enabled to make informed decisions whenever necessary,
* management of the labour is rooted in the midwifery rather than the medical model,
* it is assumed by all involved that the labour & birth are normal, until there is conclusive medical evidence of a problem,
* the woman's assessment of the outcome is accepted & used as the primary measure of success or satisfation, rather than evaluations made by her caregivers.
For a Woman to Feel Empowered:
* she is fully aware of her rights & responsibilities,
* she is enabled to exercise her rights & make decisions about care affecting herself & her baby,
* she has the necessary social supports to ensure her physical & emotional well being,
* she is not subject to discrimination based on her age, sex or her state of pregnancy,
* her ability to grow, produce & nurture her baby is respected & accepted within the framework of birth as a normal bodily function for women.
Empowering Women by Andrea Robertson
* the woman takes responsibility for arranging an appropriate setting and caregivers who will enable her to labour as she needs when the time comes,
* the woman, and her partner, are involved in all aspects of pregnancy & birth care, & are enabled to make informed decisions whenever necessary,
* management of the labour is rooted in the midwifery rather than the medical model,
* it is assumed by all involved that the labour & birth are normal, until there is conclusive medical evidence of a problem,
* the woman's assessment of the outcome is accepted & used as the primary measure of success or satisfation, rather than evaluations made by her caregivers.
For a Woman to Feel Empowered:
* she is fully aware of her rights & responsibilities,
* she is enabled to exercise her rights & make decisions about care affecting herself & her baby,
* she has the necessary social supports to ensure her physical & emotional well being,
* she is not subject to discrimination based on her age, sex or her state of pregnancy,
* her ability to grow, produce & nurture her baby is respected & accepted within the framework of birth as a normal bodily function for women.
Empowering Women by Andrea Robertson
Friday, September 25, 2009
THE BIRTH
The waiting time is almost over. Expectation leaps.
Grasping branch, trunk or house-pole, a woman bends and bears down
over the birthing nest of soft fern or wool, sand, fur or moss:
“Be brave, my love ... Not long ... I see the head.
Reach down and touch.”
Women lean forward, pour water in the bowl,
warm the receiving blanket, wind swaddling bands,
make the mother's strengthening broth.
Then comes that first strange animal cry in the night
like a lamb bleating on moorland,
a child's astonished salute to life.
With birthing a woman has opened her body and given.
Now she takes in, draws to herself,
prints on her being knowledge of this child distinct from all others.
These are the bonds that turn a woman to tiger to defend her child,
shield against danger, that tune her ear to the cry in the night
and bring loving arms to lift her baby to the milk-rich breast.
by Sheila Kitzinger
Grasping branch, trunk or house-pole, a woman bends and bears down
over the birthing nest of soft fern or wool, sand, fur or moss:
“Be brave, my love ... Not long ... I see the head.
Reach down and touch.”
Women lean forward, pour water in the bowl,
warm the receiving blanket, wind swaddling bands,
make the mother's strengthening broth.
Then comes that first strange animal cry in the night
like a lamb bleating on moorland,
a child's astonished salute to life.
With birthing a woman has opened her body and given.
Now she takes in, draws to herself,
prints on her being knowledge of this child distinct from all others.
These are the bonds that turn a woman to tiger to defend her child,
shield against danger, that tune her ear to the cry in the night
and bring loving arms to lift her baby to the milk-rich breast.
by Sheila Kitzinger
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Natural Pregnancy Information.
Natural pregnancy means taking care of your body, including exercising and staying hydrated.
Pregnancy is natural. Work with it naturally.
Being pregnant and giving birth are natural life experiences for which a woman's body is well designed. In most of the world, women labor and give birth with midwives, as they have throughout history. Midwife care has been proven to be a safe, nurturing alternative to physician-attended hospital birth.
A woman's body is innately prepared with the strength, stamina, and ability to nourish a safe and natural pregnancy and childbirth. By supporting the body's own instinctive knowledge, unnecessary medical intervention can often be avoided.
Natural pregnancy includes creating an internal and external environment of healthy, positive elements: healthy eating, appropriate exercise, listening to positive birth stories, gathering knowledge, planning the ideal care, and partnering with a caregiver who can lead you through each step safely and confidently. This caregiver can be a midwife.
Pregnancy is natural. Work with it naturally.
Being pregnant and giving birth are natural life experiences for which a woman's body is well designed. In most of the world, women labor and give birth with midwives, as they have throughout history. Midwife care has been proven to be a safe, nurturing alternative to physician-attended hospital birth.
A woman's body is innately prepared with the strength, stamina, and ability to nourish a safe and natural pregnancy and childbirth. By supporting the body's own instinctive knowledge, unnecessary medical intervention can often be avoided.
Natural pregnancy includes creating an internal and external environment of healthy, positive elements: healthy eating, appropriate exercise, listening to positive birth stories, gathering knowledge, planning the ideal care, and partnering with a caregiver who can lead you through each step safely and confidently. This caregiver can be a midwife.
Home Birth From a Father's Perspective.
Mark Banta June 1, 2007
Had you asked me five years ago what I thought of home birth I would have told you, in no uncertain terms, that the risks far outweigh the rewards. Furthermore, I would have said that there is no reason to do such a thing given the excellent medical technology and gifted medical professionals available to us in this great nation.
That was five years ago.
Today, I have a much different view of childbirth and the "risks" and "rewards" attached thereto. Do I think differently of the excellent medical technology available? No. Do I feel less trusting of the many gifted medical professionals in this great country, our state or our town? Not a bit. In fact, some of the people I admire and respect most in life are medical professionals.
Today I have a different view of childbirth at home because, thanks to my trust of my wife, Lauren, the professionalism of some very gifted midwives, and grace from God, I now have the advantage of having experienced two very beautiful and successful home births. I wholeheartedly believe in home birth.
In the spring of 1997, after 2 1/â„2 years of marriage and six years of post-college experience in my field of work, I was going to be a father! I was very excited and began to imagine life with a new baby in our home. Taking for granted the "normal" pregnancy and quick trip to the hospital that would occur in 9 months, I looked forward to the joys of parenthood. Then, Lauren began to talk of "natural" childbirth, like childbirth was not natural in it's very nature. We began seeing a nurse-midwife, which I didn't view to be out of the ordinary, and attending Bradley classes in preparation for the big day.
Then it happened. Lauren informed me that she had set up an appointment with two professional midwives, Abby and Kelley, to discuss the possibility of giving birth to our baby at home. After my initial reactions of "no way" and "why would we do that?", I agreed to go with her, if for no other reason than to satisfy my curiosity.
I am not certain what I expected prior to that first visit to CHOICE, which I intended to be our last, but what I found was not what I expected. Abby and Kelley were very professional, sincere and serious ladies who knew exactly what they were doing. As much as I wanted to dismiss home birth as an interesting but unrealistic idea, I couldn't help recognizing the confidence and peace about these midwives. I agreed to continue pursuing this new option. After a few more visits to CHOICE, I was convinced that Abby and Kelley were very capable of delivering our baby in our home. Any lack of confidence I might have had was gone.
Our first child, Jacob, was born at the foot of our bed shortly before 6:00 am on February 6th, 1998. It was one of the three most fondly memorable and significant days of my life. Abby and Kelley guided us through a textbook birth in the warmth and privacy our own bedroom. I will never forget the incredible peace and joy of sitting in bed with Lauren and our newborn baby resting safely and instantly bonding as a family unit.
Our second child, Ellen, was born in our home in the middle of the afternoon on April 28th, 2000. For our second birth, Lauren wanted to use an "aqua-doula" (hot tub) and deliver our baby into the very natural and familiar environment of body temperature water. Once again, Abby and Kelley guided us through a textbook home birth. The joy of Ellen's birth was even greater with our son, now 2 years and 2 months old, on hand to join in the instant bonding.
Our third child is due in June and will be born in our home as well. We are very excited about our son and daughter being able to meet and bond with their new sibling instantly. What a joy it will be for our family.
There is no question that home birth, or natural childbirth, for that matter, is not for everyone. There are many factors that make natural childbirth high risk, or not even possible. Likewise, there have been millions of happy, healthy babies born in good hospitals by wonderful medical professionals. However, for our family, home birth with CHOICE has been the right decision. The warmth and serenity of our own home is, in our opinion, the perfect place to bring our children into the world.
For our newborn babies to be instantly nurtured by the people whose voices they have been hearing for their entire prenatal existence makes perfect sense. To be able to bond as a family unit, at home, with no outside influences, is very peaceful. The midwives' professionalism and wisdom from many years of home birthing experiences makes birthing our babies naturally a comfortably safe option. And, perhaps the greatest reward for us, aside from the health and happiness of our children, is the new family members we acquired along the way - Abby and Kelley.
close window
Had you asked me five years ago what I thought of home birth I would have told you, in no uncertain terms, that the risks far outweigh the rewards. Furthermore, I would have said that there is no reason to do such a thing given the excellent medical technology and gifted medical professionals available to us in this great nation.
That was five years ago.
Today, I have a much different view of childbirth and the "risks" and "rewards" attached thereto. Do I think differently of the excellent medical technology available? No. Do I feel less trusting of the many gifted medical professionals in this great country, our state or our town? Not a bit. In fact, some of the people I admire and respect most in life are medical professionals.
Today I have a different view of childbirth at home because, thanks to my trust of my wife, Lauren, the professionalism of some very gifted midwives, and grace from God, I now have the advantage of having experienced two very beautiful and successful home births. I wholeheartedly believe in home birth.
In the spring of 1997, after 2 1/â„2 years of marriage and six years of post-college experience in my field of work, I was going to be a father! I was very excited and began to imagine life with a new baby in our home. Taking for granted the "normal" pregnancy and quick trip to the hospital that would occur in 9 months, I looked forward to the joys of parenthood. Then, Lauren began to talk of "natural" childbirth, like childbirth was not natural in it's very nature. We began seeing a nurse-midwife, which I didn't view to be out of the ordinary, and attending Bradley classes in preparation for the big day.
Then it happened. Lauren informed me that she had set up an appointment with two professional midwives, Abby and Kelley, to discuss the possibility of giving birth to our baby at home. After my initial reactions of "no way" and "why would we do that?", I agreed to go with her, if for no other reason than to satisfy my curiosity.
I am not certain what I expected prior to that first visit to CHOICE, which I intended to be our last, but what I found was not what I expected. Abby and Kelley were very professional, sincere and serious ladies who knew exactly what they were doing. As much as I wanted to dismiss home birth as an interesting but unrealistic idea, I couldn't help recognizing the confidence and peace about these midwives. I agreed to continue pursuing this new option. After a few more visits to CHOICE, I was convinced that Abby and Kelley were very capable of delivering our baby in our home. Any lack of confidence I might have had was gone.
Our first child, Jacob, was born at the foot of our bed shortly before 6:00 am on February 6th, 1998. It was one of the three most fondly memorable and significant days of my life. Abby and Kelley guided us through a textbook birth in the warmth and privacy our own bedroom. I will never forget the incredible peace and joy of sitting in bed with Lauren and our newborn baby resting safely and instantly bonding as a family unit.
Our second child, Ellen, was born in our home in the middle of the afternoon on April 28th, 2000. For our second birth, Lauren wanted to use an "aqua-doula" (hot tub) and deliver our baby into the very natural and familiar environment of body temperature water. Once again, Abby and Kelley guided us through a textbook home birth. The joy of Ellen's birth was even greater with our son, now 2 years and 2 months old, on hand to join in the instant bonding.
Our third child is due in June and will be born in our home as well. We are very excited about our son and daughter being able to meet and bond with their new sibling instantly. What a joy it will be for our family.
There is no question that home birth, or natural childbirth, for that matter, is not for everyone. There are many factors that make natural childbirth high risk, or not even possible. Likewise, there have been millions of happy, healthy babies born in good hospitals by wonderful medical professionals. However, for our family, home birth with CHOICE has been the right decision. The warmth and serenity of our own home is, in our opinion, the perfect place to bring our children into the world.
For our newborn babies to be instantly nurtured by the people whose voices they have been hearing for their entire prenatal existence makes perfect sense. To be able to bond as a family unit, at home, with no outside influences, is very peaceful. The midwives' professionalism and wisdom from many years of home birthing experiences makes birthing our babies naturally a comfortably safe option. And, perhaps the greatest reward for us, aside from the health and happiness of our children, is the new family members we acquired along the way - Abby and Kelley.
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Monday, September 21, 2009
New Class for Perinatal Exercise & Wellness START DEC. 1ST
Healthy Moms® is an organization dedicated to enhancing the physical and psychological well being of women before, during, and after pregnancy. In addition to keeping “moms healthy”, Healthy Moms® is an industry leader in perinatal fitness education and training for fitness and health professionals who care for women throughout the childbearing year.
Baby Love Births is introducing New Perinatal Exercise & Wellness class with December 1st enrollment into Natural Childbirth Classes!
***All New Mommies receive Baby Love Births Gift Bag***
Baby Love Births is introducing New Perinatal Exercise & Wellness class with December 1st enrollment into Natural Childbirth Classes!
***All New Mommies receive Baby Love Births Gift Bag***
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Rights of Childbearing Women*
The Rights of Childbearing Women* At this time in the United States, childbearing women are legally entitled to those rights.** The legal system would probably uphold those rights.
Every woman has the right to health care before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth.
Every woman and infant has the right to receive care that is consistent with current scientific evidence about benefits and risks.* Practices that have been found to be safe and beneficial should be used when indicated. Harmful, ineffective or unnecessary practices should be avoided. Unproven interventions should be used only in the context of research to evaluate their effects.
Every woman has the right to choose a midwife or a physician as her maternity care provider. Both caregivers skilled in normal childbearing and caregivers skilled in complications are needed to ensure quality care for all.
Every woman has the right to choose her birth setting from the full range of safe options available in her community, on the basis of complete, objective information about benefits, risks and costs of these options.*
Every woman has the right to receive all or most of her maternity care from a single caregiver or a small group of caregivers, with whom she can establish a relationship.
Every woman has the right to leave her maternity caregiver and select another if she becomes dissatisfied with her care.* (Only second sentence is a legal right.)
Every woman has the right to information about the professional identity and qualifications of those involved with her care, and to know when those involved are trainees.*
Every woman has the right to communicate with caregivers and receive all care in privacy, which may involve excluding nonessential personnel. She also has the right to have all personal information treated according to standards of confidentiality.*
Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that identifies and addresses social and behavioral factors that affect her health and that of her baby.** She should receive information to help her take the best care of herself and her baby and have access to social services and behavioral change programs that could contribute to their health.
Every woman has the right to full and clear information about benefits, risks and costs of the procedures, drugs, tests and treatments offered to her, and of all other reasonable options, including no intervention.* She should receive this information about all interventions that are likely to be offered during labor and birth well before the onset of labor.
Every woman has the right to accept or refuse procedures, drugs, tests and treatments, and to have her choices honored. She has the right to change her mind.* (Please note that this established legal right has been challenged in a number of recent cases.)
Every woman has the right to be informed if her caregivers wish to enroll her or her infant in a research study. She should receive full information about all known and possible benefits and risks of participation; and she has the right to decide whether to participate, free from coercion and without negative consequences.*
Every woman has the right to unrestricted access to all available records about her pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum care and infant; to obtain a full copy of these records; and to receive help in understanding them, if necessary.*
Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that is appropriate to her cultural and religious background, and to receive information in a language in which she can communicate.*
Every woman has the right to have family members and friends of her choice present during all aspects of her maternity care.**
Every woman has the right to receive continuous social, emotional and physical support during labor and birth from a caregiver who has been trained in labor support.**
Every woman has the right to receive full advance information about risks and benefits of all reasonably available methods for relieving pain during labor and birth, including methods that do not require the use of drugs. She has the right to choose which methods will be used and to change her mind at any time.*
Every woman has the right to freedom of movement during labor, unencumbered by tubes, wires or other apparatus. She also has the right to give birth in the position of her choice.*
Every woman has the right to virtually uninterrupted contact with her newborn from the moment of birth, as long as she and her baby are healthy and do not need care that requires separation.**
Every woman has the right to receive complete information about the benefits of breastfeeding well in advance of labor, to refuse supplemental bottles and other actions that interfere with breastfeeding, and to have access to skilled lactation support for as long as she chooses to breastfeed.**
Every woman has the right to decide collaboratively with caregivers when she and her baby will leave the birth site for home, based on their conditions and circumstances.** � 1999, 2006 Childbirth Connection
Every woman has the right to health care before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth.
Every woman and infant has the right to receive care that is consistent with current scientific evidence about benefits and risks.* Practices that have been found to be safe and beneficial should be used when indicated. Harmful, ineffective or unnecessary practices should be avoided. Unproven interventions should be used only in the context of research to evaluate their effects.
Every woman has the right to choose a midwife or a physician as her maternity care provider. Both caregivers skilled in normal childbearing and caregivers skilled in complications are needed to ensure quality care for all.
Every woman has the right to choose her birth setting from the full range of safe options available in her community, on the basis of complete, objective information about benefits, risks and costs of these options.*
Every woman has the right to receive all or most of her maternity care from a single caregiver or a small group of caregivers, with whom she can establish a relationship.
Every woman has the right to leave her maternity caregiver and select another if she becomes dissatisfied with her care.* (Only second sentence is a legal right.)
Every woman has the right to information about the professional identity and qualifications of those involved with her care, and to know when those involved are trainees.*
Every woman has the right to communicate with caregivers and receive all care in privacy, which may involve excluding nonessential personnel. She also has the right to have all personal information treated according to standards of confidentiality.*
Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that identifies and addresses social and behavioral factors that affect her health and that of her baby.** She should receive information to help her take the best care of herself and her baby and have access to social services and behavioral change programs that could contribute to their health.
Every woman has the right to full and clear information about benefits, risks and costs of the procedures, drugs, tests and treatments offered to her, and of all other reasonable options, including no intervention.* She should receive this information about all interventions that are likely to be offered during labor and birth well before the onset of labor.
Every woman has the right to accept or refuse procedures, drugs, tests and treatments, and to have her choices honored. She has the right to change her mind.* (Please note that this established legal right has been challenged in a number of recent cases.)
Every woman has the right to be informed if her caregivers wish to enroll her or her infant in a research study. She should receive full information about all known and possible benefits and risks of participation; and she has the right to decide whether to participate, free from coercion and without negative consequences.*
Every woman has the right to unrestricted access to all available records about her pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum care and infant; to obtain a full copy of these records; and to receive help in understanding them, if necessary.*
Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that is appropriate to her cultural and religious background, and to receive information in a language in which she can communicate.*
Every woman has the right to have family members and friends of her choice present during all aspects of her maternity care.**
Every woman has the right to receive continuous social, emotional and physical support during labor and birth from a caregiver who has been trained in labor support.**
Every woman has the right to receive full advance information about risks and benefits of all reasonably available methods for relieving pain during labor and birth, including methods that do not require the use of drugs. She has the right to choose which methods will be used and to change her mind at any time.*
Every woman has the right to freedom of movement during labor, unencumbered by tubes, wires or other apparatus. She also has the right to give birth in the position of her choice.*
Every woman has the right to virtually uninterrupted contact with her newborn from the moment of birth, as long as she and her baby are healthy and do not need care that requires separation.**
Every woman has the right to receive complete information about the benefits of breastfeeding well in advance of labor, to refuse supplemental bottles and other actions that interfere with breastfeeding, and to have access to skilled lactation support for as long as she chooses to breastfeed.**
Every woman has the right to decide collaboratively with caregivers when she and her baby will leave the birth site for home, based on their conditions and circumstances.** � 1999, 2006 Childbirth Connection
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Making a Difference.
Our mission is to Enhance Lives! It is putting principles into action. It is taking a step toward making the world a healthier place to live in. Everything is based on making a difference for all of us and our communities, and our world.
For more information please visit: www.LiveTotalWellness.com/LiveLifeNow .
For more information please visit: www.LiveTotalWellness.com/LiveLifeNow .
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Today, I will be looking at the benefits of working from home:
Save time on commutingThe average commuting time to work is approx. 30-45 min. At one point, I had a 90 min. commute. Multiply that by two to get back home at the end of the day, and you have spent close to 10% of your day just on transportation.
Working from home makes you save all of this time. This can help you get a little bit more sleep in the morning and have more time for yourself in the evening for activities & leisure.
Save money on transportation If you work from home, you may not even need a car altogether. This can save you $300-400 a month plus the costly gas, parking, and insurance expenses. Simply not taking the bus or subway will save you $50-100 per month in bus tickets or passes. Arguably the biggest money saving benefit from working at home is the transportation cost savings.
Save money on lunches & shoppingI remember that one of the biggest expenses I had working from an office was on food. You get fed up of packing a lunch after a while, and once you start eating out, it’s very hard to stop! Not only that, but just walking around stores and boutiques during breaks, you are more likely to spend money that you normally wouldn’t if you were working from home. Plus, at home, you can be more creative with your lunches, and it will never feel like a “packed lunch”. So not only you save money, but you eat healthier as well.
Less likely to get sickWhen I would take public transit to work, I would get sick at least twice per year. That’s just transit. There is also the threat of getting sick at the office, where if one person has a virus, it’s almost impossible not to get it. I would lose about 7-10 days per year on sick days, something that I never encountered working from home. This also makes you save money on health costs since you are not in need of medication or doctor visits as frequently.
Expenses are deductibleThis can work for both employees or self employed people. You can deduct your internet, phone, supplies, and even the square footage that you use in your home to work. For self employed, it’s a must, and for employees, you can always ask for your company to pay for your internet access, phone line, and supplies. This saves you the cost of having those items also as personal expenses since you already have it for business usage in your home.
More flexible scheduleWhen working from home, you are not under the same discipline as office workers where you absolutely need to be working from 9 to 5 every weekday. Chances are, your schedule at home is much easier to bend. Therefore, if you have appointments or you need to buy something at the store quickly, you do not need to take a day off from work. I know some office workers that have to take a day off from work if they want to do some personal shopping or errands, otherwise they just do not have the time outside work hours. It’s much easier to tie in your personal schedule with your work schedule when you work from home.
Less stress & anxietyJust off the top of my head, I can think of at least 5 people I know that had to take extended time off from work due to stress, burnouts, and the likes. I’ve never ever heard of that from anyone working from home. An office can bring about a lot of competition, gossip, and backstabbing among co-workers. This type of environment takes its toll after a while both mentally and physically. Working from home will save you these headaches.
Increased productivityWith all the time that you are saving from not having to commute to work, and not socializing half the day with co-workers, you end up getting a lot more done when you are working from home. As long as you remain motivated and driven, working from home is much more effective to deliver results.
Less negative influencesSadly, an office is riddled with a few people that take joy into bringing everyone around them down. This is not done by the gossiping & competition I talked about above. This is the lingo that is used daily by people in the office. Some people will just complain about everything and it affects the psyche of everyone around them. I have seen people with great potential have their momentum & motivation completely destroyed in a matter of weeks simply because they were spending their breaks and lunches with these office “parasites” that will badmouth the company at any given opportunity. When working from home, you do not have to deal with these types of people. You only have to answer to yourself, and as long as you keep a positive outlook, you will have nothing to worry about.
Closer relationship with kids/familyObviously, if you are home more often, you will dramatically increase the chances of spending quality time with your loved ones, and at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want? I know I would have loved for my parents to have been home more often when I was a kid, so this is a huge positive that cannot be denied. Working from home allows you to have such freedom which you just cannot put a price tag on.
As you can see, there are many advantages to working from home. Tomorrow, I will be doing the reverse and looking at the positives & benefits of working in an office environment. Check back tomorrow for what will be an interesting comparison
(update 6/25/2008 - check out the follow up article The Advantages of Working from an Office)
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Advantages Of Working From Home", url: "http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/06/the-advantages-of-working-from-home/" });
Save time on commutingThe average commuting time to work is approx. 30-45 min. At one point, I had a 90 min. commute. Multiply that by two to get back home at the end of the day, and you have spent close to 10% of your day just on transportation.
Working from home makes you save all of this time. This can help you get a little bit more sleep in the morning and have more time for yourself in the evening for activities & leisure.
Save money on transportation If you work from home, you may not even need a car altogether. This can save you $300-400 a month plus the costly gas, parking, and insurance expenses. Simply not taking the bus or subway will save you $50-100 per month in bus tickets or passes. Arguably the biggest money saving benefit from working at home is the transportation cost savings.
Save money on lunches & shoppingI remember that one of the biggest expenses I had working from an office was on food. You get fed up of packing a lunch after a while, and once you start eating out, it’s very hard to stop! Not only that, but just walking around stores and boutiques during breaks, you are more likely to spend money that you normally wouldn’t if you were working from home. Plus, at home, you can be more creative with your lunches, and it will never feel like a “packed lunch”. So not only you save money, but you eat healthier as well.
Less likely to get sickWhen I would take public transit to work, I would get sick at least twice per year. That’s just transit. There is also the threat of getting sick at the office, where if one person has a virus, it’s almost impossible not to get it. I would lose about 7-10 days per year on sick days, something that I never encountered working from home. This also makes you save money on health costs since you are not in need of medication or doctor visits as frequently.
Expenses are deductibleThis can work for both employees or self employed people. You can deduct your internet, phone, supplies, and even the square footage that you use in your home to work. For self employed, it’s a must, and for employees, you can always ask for your company to pay for your internet access, phone line, and supplies. This saves you the cost of having those items also as personal expenses since you already have it for business usage in your home.
More flexible scheduleWhen working from home, you are not under the same discipline as office workers where you absolutely need to be working from 9 to 5 every weekday. Chances are, your schedule at home is much easier to bend. Therefore, if you have appointments or you need to buy something at the store quickly, you do not need to take a day off from work. I know some office workers that have to take a day off from work if they want to do some personal shopping or errands, otherwise they just do not have the time outside work hours. It’s much easier to tie in your personal schedule with your work schedule when you work from home.
Less stress & anxietyJust off the top of my head, I can think of at least 5 people I know that had to take extended time off from work due to stress, burnouts, and the likes. I’ve never ever heard of that from anyone working from home. An office can bring about a lot of competition, gossip, and backstabbing among co-workers. This type of environment takes its toll after a while both mentally and physically. Working from home will save you these headaches.
Increased productivityWith all the time that you are saving from not having to commute to work, and not socializing half the day with co-workers, you end up getting a lot more done when you are working from home. As long as you remain motivated and driven, working from home is much more effective to deliver results.
Less negative influencesSadly, an office is riddled with a few people that take joy into bringing everyone around them down. This is not done by the gossiping & competition I talked about above. This is the lingo that is used daily by people in the office. Some people will just complain about everything and it affects the psyche of everyone around them. I have seen people with great potential have their momentum & motivation completely destroyed in a matter of weeks simply because they were spending their breaks and lunches with these office “parasites” that will badmouth the company at any given opportunity. When working from home, you do not have to deal with these types of people. You only have to answer to yourself, and as long as you keep a positive outlook, you will have nothing to worry about.
Closer relationship with kids/familyObviously, if you are home more often, you will dramatically increase the chances of spending quality time with your loved ones, and at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want? I know I would have loved for my parents to have been home more often when I was a kid, so this is a huge positive that cannot be denied. Working from home allows you to have such freedom which you just cannot put a price tag on.
As you can see, there are many advantages to working from home. Tomorrow, I will be doing the reverse and looking at the positives & benefits of working in an office environment. Check back tomorrow for what will be an interesting comparison
(update 6/25/2008 - check out the follow up article The Advantages of Working from an Office)
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Thursday, January 29, 2009
2009 is the year for Moms to Work from Home!
It is difficult being a parent and if you are a single parent well, that go's without saying. It is even worse when you can't be there for your kids when they need you. These days Moms are expected to not only take care of all the needs for our families but, many of us are working 1 or more jobs outside of the home.
I have discovered a way to make a significant income and still have time for my children - and I am excited to show others how to do the same. My company has been profiled in some of the country's most respected publications and television shows (Time, Wall Street Journal, New York times, 60 Minutes etc.), and is the Nation's leading home-based business. Full training and support and the benefits are wonderful.
Please contact me Today so that I can help you fulfill your dreams one at a time in 2009!
I have discovered a way to make a significant income and still have time for my children - and I am excited to show others how to do the same. My company has been profiled in some of the country's most respected publications and television shows (Time, Wall Street Journal, New York times, 60 Minutes etc.), and is the Nation's leading home-based business. Full training and support and the benefits are wonderful.
Please contact me Today so that I can help you fulfill your dreams one at a time in 2009!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
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