Babywearing class

This Tuesday, May 19th: Babywearing

Beate Frome of Children's Needs will talk about the benefits to the family when babies and small children are carried by their mother/ parents. Bring your baby or a doll. Different styles of wraps, for trying out a variety of holds, will be used. You are welcome to bring your favorite way to carry your baby and show us, too!

coming up next:

May 26th: Waterbirth

Watch the film "Birth Into Being" and witness incredible footage of waterbirths in Russia. This is a beautiful, eye-opening film made available by Waterbirth International.

For location or more information, email Jennetta at wise [dot] childbearing {at} gmail [dot]com

Tension between doctors and homebirth midwives

This isn't news to anyone, but when a planned homebirth turns into a hospital transfer, there can be tension, if not conflict, between the midwife (passing over her client) and the doctor (taking the client on).

What's interesting about this article is how frankly and objectively it is being addressed in a community in Oregon.

What started out as a research project about higher than expected prematurity and low birth weight rates revealed a "deep mistrust" between doctors and midwives. The Oregon State researcher, who also happens to be a practicing midwife, has found a local obstetrician willing to work with her to draft guidelines for midwives and doctors who find themselves suddenly working together.

The main purpose is, of course, not a perfect medical world where doctors are respectful of all homebirth practitioners, but a world where *some* are willing to work together, so there is data to support the fact that homebirth is safe, and that smooth hospital transfers are crucial.

Good for them, I say.