Please visit us on our current blog and website at www.associationforwisechildbearing.com
Thank you,
Jennetta Billhimer
Director, Association for Wise Childbearing
Author of Amazon Bestseller, Wise Childbearing, What You'll Want to Know as You Make Your Birth Choices
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Saturday, May 16, 2009
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.
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
Friday, May 8, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
hellooooo
I know, it's been a while. Sorry about the impromptu vacation. How you been?
Just a few points of interest.
I read this great commentary about how everyone's got an opinion on birth and breastfeeding, and wouldn't it be nice if people just let women make their own choices, even if you disagree with them? Summed up by this:
"...Wherever you look, whether it's on the internet or in the mainstream media, everyone's got an opinion on what's probably one of the most personal decisions a woman, and her partner if she's got one, are ever likely to have to make.
"Giving birth hurts, and women should be free to decide how they're going to deal with that, just as they should also be free to decide whether they want to breastfeed or not, and if they do, whether they want to do that discreetly or in the middle of Starbucks with their breasts exposed to all and sundry and with an accompanying photoblog on Facebook."
Secondly, here's a tv commercial for mattresses from Spain that features a homebirth. Not kidding! Found via Birth Activist, via google news feed.
Thirdly, for those of you who follow Rixa's blog, she had her baby today! Congratulations!!
Talk to you soon(er than the last time I posted...)
Just a few points of interest.
I read this great commentary about how everyone's got an opinion on birth and breastfeeding, and wouldn't it be nice if people just let women make their own choices, even if you disagree with them? Summed up by this:
"...Wherever you look, whether it's on the internet or in the mainstream media, everyone's got an opinion on what's probably one of the most personal decisions a woman, and her partner if she's got one, are ever likely to have to make.
"Giving birth hurts, and women should be free to decide how they're going to deal with that, just as they should also be free to decide whether they want to breastfeed or not, and if they do, whether they want to do that discreetly or in the middle of Starbucks with their breasts exposed to all and sundry and with an accompanying photoblog on Facebook."
Secondly, here's a tv commercial for mattresses from Spain that features a homebirth. Not kidding! Found via Birth Activist, via google news feed.
Thirdly, for those of you who follow Rixa's blog, she had her baby today! Congratulations!!
Talk to you soon(er than the last time I posted...)
Friday, March 27, 2009
Helping A Mother With Postpartum Depression
Wise words from wonderful French doctor Micheal Odent posted by Sally on Mar 17th!
Not all mothers will have Postpartum Depression but it is much more common than we might think. Here are some things partners and others can do to help if a new mother is experiencing PPD.
http://joyinbirthing.com/FrameFiles/postpartum%20blues.htm
~J~
Not all mothers will have Postpartum Depression but it is much more common than we might think. Here are some things partners and others can do to help if a new mother is experiencing PPD.
http://joyinbirthing.com/FrameFiles/postpartum%20blues.htm
~J~
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Gentle C-section
I thought this Q&A by Michel Odent at Mothering.com might be of interest.
Q: We now find ourselves preparing for a cesarean birth. We are wondering what things would be helpful to keep in mind/plan for/request in order to have the gentlest birth possible considering the circumstances.
A: The best way to deviate as little as possible from the physiological model of birth would be that the medical team is comfortable with the principle of an elective in-labor cesarean. In other words, the medical team would accept to wait until the day when you are in labor to perform an "in-labor non-emergency cesarean." This way it is a guarantee that the baby will have given a signal indicating that his or her lungs are mature. We know today that the baby participates in the initiation of labor. Furthermore, during labor contractions, the baby is exposed to hormones that make more complete the maturation of his or her lungs. This is why, as all pediatricians know, there is an increased risk of respiratory problems during the days following a cesarean performed before labor starts. And—we never know—if you have the possibility to be in labor with nobody around but an experienced, low-profile, and silent midwife, the birth might go faster than what you can imagine. Many women who gave birth by cesarean to their first baby because the pelvis was much too small give birth easily by the vaginal route to their second baby—if they are in a situation of absolute privacy.
~s~
Q: We now find ourselves preparing for a cesarean birth. We are wondering what things would be helpful to keep in mind/plan for/request in order to have the gentlest birth possible considering the circumstances.
A: The best way to deviate as little as possible from the physiological model of birth would be that the medical team is comfortable with the principle of an elective in-labor cesarean. In other words, the medical team would accept to wait until the day when you are in labor to perform an "in-labor non-emergency cesarean." This way it is a guarantee that the baby will have given a signal indicating that his or her lungs are mature. We know today that the baby participates in the initiation of labor. Furthermore, during labor contractions, the baby is exposed to hormones that make more complete the maturation of his or her lungs. This is why, as all pediatricians know, there is an increased risk of respiratory problems during the days following a cesarean performed before labor starts. And—we never know—if you have the possibility to be in labor with nobody around but an experienced, low-profile, and silent midwife, the birth might go faster than what you can imagine. Many women who gave birth by cesarean to their first baby because the pelvis was much too small give birth easily by the vaginal route to their second baby—if they are in a situation of absolute privacy.
~s~
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