Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators's topics - tribe.net

Searching for midwife in California Bay Area++++

2009-12-22T05:41:57Z

Hi, I am expecting my second child. First was a homebirth, would like for this one to be as well. I am searching for a midwife in the bay area or north. I may be moving. Bless and give thanks. One Love. Namaste

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

birth videos

2009-10-09T04:18:38Z

I know we've talked about it before but i can't find the thread. I have a group of first-time mama's that i'd like to show birth videos to. They're planning hospital births so the problem is finding one that normalizes birth, but doesn't demonize the hospital experience too much since that's already their plan.
'
The only one i can think of is Birth Day with Naoli Vivender.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

Online Holistic Childbirth Class

2009-07-05T22:35:09Z

Check out this online natural childbirth class at: http://www.maiahealingarts.com/onlinebirthclass/

It's multimedia, with comprehensive information, videos, articles, resources, positive birth stories, and healthy recipes!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

The Doctors

2009-05-31T02:11:44Z

Did anyone else catch the episode of "The Doctors" that talked about home birth? Ricki Lake was the guest.
I don't think I can post a link to the whole show, but ya'll are smart cookies and can use the google......

The thing that really got me was towards the end of the segment when they were talking about VBAC.
OF COURSE the OB/GYN had to say "There are huge risks involved........The incidence of uterine rupture is around 1%.....but there are still huge risks involved". In what scientific field is 1% a HUGE risk? And thanks so much for continuing the fear mongering by ending the segment with that!
Is it possible that doctors are scared of VBAC because, for the most part, interventions are more dangerous and less (if at all) recommended for VBAC?
In speaking about C/Sec, they didn't seem to think that you could put a number on how many is too many. I call BS on that :) When the World Health Organization comes out and says NO MORE than 10-15%, anywhere in the world, maybe these docs should take notice!

I've just got my panties in a bunch because I just read "Silent Knife". It's an older book, but there is some really good info that is help-full to counter all those scary baby bursting through your uterus ideas people have about VBAC and the "Oh, c-sections are a fine way to have your baby, totally safe and fulfilling" condescension that has lead to the freakishly high c-section rates in this country.

I really should know better than to watch network TV..........
At least Ricki got to point out that "Well, alot of people feel there is more risk having your baby IN the hospital." and she got to plug her new book which I hope will replace that "What to expect when you're expecting" drivel on the shelves of ladies everywhere.
Actually, I wish we could hand out Ina May's Guide to Childbirth in every OB's office, but that might be trespassing :)

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

caught this article on my home page this morning.....................

2009-05-21T05:30:02Z

Think Outside the Cubicle
4 In-Demand, Office-Free Careers
by Erika Malzberg, LiveCareer

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If you dream of breaking free from the padded confines of your cubicle, you're not alone. "Office jobs aren't for everyone," says David Rosen, author of What's That Job and How the Hell Do I Get it? "Some people find comfort in of the stability of office life. Others find themselves yearning to be on the move."

If you're not the desk-job type, maybe you should consider a high-paying and in-demand job that will get you out of the office. Here are four examples:

Doula

Play a supporting role in the miracle of life. Doulas are trained to provide physical, emotional, and informational guidance to mothers before, during, and after birth. They usually assist births in clients' homes or hospital rooms. Find out if being a doula is the right job for you.

Median salary: Variable. You can earn $250-$1,000 for each client, according to CostHelper.com.

Interesting fact: According to some studies, labors are 25% shorter and with fewer complications with the support of a doula.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

manual dilation

2009-05-14T03:14:09Z

in what circumstance is this ever called for & what (or whose) purpose does it serve? isn't it best to allow the body to dilate naturally? if the mother is manually dilated against her wishes, does this count as assault?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 17 replies

Midwifery Today conference

2009-03-24T08:56:24Z

anyone else attending? http://midwiferytoday.com/conferences/Eugene2009/
see you there!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 5 replies

Understanding Our Bodies, Empowering Ourselves: fertility awareness class 3/29 (Bay Area)

2009-03-16T18:30:46Z

Understanding Our Bodies,
Empowering Ourselves
What Your Mother Never Told You
SUNDAY, MARCH 29TH, 1:00-4:00 PM
Reserve your space now

Do you…
…Wonder why you have PMS, Cramps, Menstrual Migraines or other menstrual issues?
…Want to stop using The Pill but you’re not excited about the alternatives?
…Wish you could pinpoint exactly when you are most fertile to increase your chances of getting pregnant?

What you will get out of this class:

• Protect yourself from unplanned pregnancies without The Pill
• Make planned pregnancies happen faster
• Learn how to chart your cycle and understand your signs
• Discover the common imbalances that cause menstrual symptoms
• Communicate your needs better with your spouse or partner
• Nourish your body with foods that support your reproductive system
• Cooking demo and tasting
• Enjoy a better quality of life and more confidence living in your body
• Answers to your questions and plenty of time to ask them; all are welcome

Emily Bender, NC, CHN of Nutrition for the Whole Family is a Nutrition Consultant and co-author of Our Bodies, Ourselves. Her practice focuses on individually-tailored food, supplements, lifestyle and environmental choices that support fertility and reproductive health for women. She is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition & teaches Masters students at Hawthorn University.

Karmin Guzder teaches healthful cooking classes for the public as well as Gardening and Nutrition at Waldorf Schools. She is passionate about traditional foodways and natural health that supports a sense of confidence and well-being.

Join us at the Community Center
behind the Unitarian Church, Berkeley
(at Cedar & Bonita Streets)

Class fee is $30.
Low-income/student $20.
Mother and Daughter $10 off;
Space is limited;
Reserve now
For more information please contact 415-259-4471 or emily@nutritionforthewholefamily.com

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Unassisted Home Breech Birth...?

2009-03-16T17:46:31Z

What do you say to dear friends who are deciding to go ahead without their midwife (as it's illegal in their state for a home delivery of a breech presentation) and proceed alone? I've had a home birth and loved it, I was born at home myself! My midwife is amazing (she caught me for crying out loud!) but I also know that she is very cautious about any problems that may arise to hinder a safe birth journey at home...
Anyone out there who has had a similar experience? I know breech birth happens, but am I wrong in my understanding (of what I have read at least) that most folks were not aware of a breech presentation, and just go with the flow?
This is the Mama's second baby and second home delivery as well... it is my friend's (Dad) first baby tho... They have tried MANY methods to get the little one to move and no luck... and sooo, since the baby being breech is a known fact, how could one give the right support, besides just waiting on baited breath and prayers?
Thanks in advance!
Merry M

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 7 replies

Looking for a wise woman.

2009-02-04T17:42:53Z

My first child is due in august, all of the Alberta registered midwives through the Alberta midwife Association are booked up, none can or will take me for that time. Im looking for a wise woman, to aid my partner and I in a conscious birth. Birth can take place anywhere, but preferably In Calgary Alberta Where I live or in Windermere BC in a cabin on the lake (a 3 hour drive from Calgary). Is anyone feeling up to the challenge and would like to stretch their traveling legs, or have any soul connection with other doulas, or midwives in my area. Im 22 very healthy and have little fear. Thank you for bringing in the indigos and master teachers of our time. love and light
Blessed be

Message me

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Just Another Day in a Woman's Life? Free lecture in Portland!

2009-01-29T07:53:50Z

OHSU Nurse Midwifery Grand Rounds is pleased to present

Penny Simkin

Just Another Day in a Woman's Life?

Lifetime effects of care received during childbirth and its relation to post-traumatic stress disorder

7:30-8:30 AM Tuesday, February 3, 2009

DCH 11620 Miller's Auditorium

Doernbecher Children's Hospital, 11th Floor

Free!

~ Penny Simkin will be speaking about "Just Another Day in a Woman’s Life?", her ongoing research regarding the lifetime effects of the care received the day a woman gives birth and relate it to recent studies on post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth, its causes and its prevention.

~ Penny Simkin, PT, is a physical therapist who has specialized in childbirth education since 1968. She estimates she has prepared over 9,500 women, couples, and siblings for childbirth. She has assisted hundreds of women or couples through childbirth as a doula. She is the author of many books on birth for both parents and professionals, at least one of which is a required text in the OHSU Nurse Midwifery program. Currently, she serves on several boards of consultants and editorial boards, including the journal, Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care; the International Childbirth Education Association; and the Seattle Midwifery School.

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For more information about OHSU's Nurse-Midwifery Grand Rounds, you can contact: Cassandra Selby, Midwifery Graduate Student, selbyc@ohsu.edu , or Carol Howe, CNM, DNSc, FACNM, Grand Rounds Faculty Advisor, howec@ohsu.edu

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Calm Birth Teacher Training

2009-01-23T08:36:07Z

CALM BIRTH Teacher Training www.calmbirth.org

This three day program is part of the certification process for healthcare professionals who desire to teach the Calm Birth method to pregnant women and their partners. Calm Birth was created using principles of meditation science and mind/body medicine. The method is based on programs developed and researched at the Harvard University Medical School and the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. The practices of Calm Birth are a vital compliment to medical birth and natural childbirth, and an opportunity for complete perinatal care for the 21st century. (see below)

y Date: Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 5, 2009

y Time: 8:00am to 4:00pm

y Place: Community Education Classroom; MAC II Building; Overlook Hospital, Summit, New Jersey

y CEUS’s: 18.0 contact hours by MediGrace and approved by the California Board of Nursing,

an approved provider of continuing education in nursing.

y Registration: Morristown Memorial Hospital or Overlook Hospital staff or members

of affiliated physician practices: $400; all others: $450.

y Registration Deadline: March 20, 2009. Registration fee is non-refundable after March 27, 2009.

y Registration fee includes: Conference materials and processing of contact hours. Meals on your own.

y CD’s and books available for purchase (cash or check only).

y Further Information: For a complete program agenda, course objectives or other information contact Amy Gole, RNC, LCCE, Ed.M (908-522-2346 or amy.gole@atlantichealth.org or Christine Novak, RNC, HNC, CCE (732-689-1125 or cnovak0815@yahoo.com).

For further information on Calm Birth, visit www.calmbirth.org.

-------------------------------------------------------------Detach-----------------------------------------------------------

Registration Form

Please print clearly

Name:_______________________ Address: ________________________________________

Email: _______________________ City: ________________ State :________ Zip: __________

Phone (H): ___________________ Phone: (W or cell): ________________________________

Employer: ___________________ Amount Enclosed: ________________________________

Credit Card: Type: _____________ Number: ______________________ Exp. Date: _________

If paying by check, make checks payable to: Parent Education

Mail to: Overlook Hospital ; Parent Education; 99 Beauvoir Avenue ; Summit , NJ 0790

Calm Birth New Potential of Childbirth

Changes in the medical paradigm have encouraged the development of new childbirth methods. Based on meditation science that is a good model for present medical practice, the Calm Birth method offers women an empowering vision of their body and potential in childbirth.

“Calm Birth is a sublime gift to all of us. It contains the blueprint for reconnecting with birth wisdom on all levels…Doing the practices will transform the birth practice and imprint a peaceful beginning in both mother and child. The positive impact of this on society can’t be overestimated.”

Christiane Northrup, MD

Author, Mother-Daughter Wisdom and Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom

“Calm Birth is the childbirth method that society and I have waited for. It’s been a long time coming, a very long time. I am a midwife and an educator, with a steady devotion to childbirth…Calm Birth does what is so deeply needed. It heals the Earth by healing birth.”

Jeannine Parvati Baker, Midwife and Educator

Author, Prenatal Yoga and Natural Childbirth and Conscious Conception

"I feel very excited to recommend the Calm Birth method for my patients. I am confident that this method will truly reduce anxiety for expectant parents. I encourage its use to improve the overall physical and emotional experience that comes with giving birth.”

Russell Hoffman, MD, FACOG, obstetrician in private practice in Summit , New Jersey

Clinical Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Overlook Hospital

“We recommend our pregnant patients take a Calm Birth class and develop a regular practice using the Calm Birth CD. Using the Calm Birth practices is an ideal way for pregnant women to reduce stress, fears and anxiety while improving their sense of well-being, energy levels and stamina.”

Gary Kaye, MD, FACOG and Alissa Kaye , MD , FACOG

Obstetricians in private practice in Cranford , New Jersey and Overlook Hospital

“Calm Birth…based on the best principals of psychosomatic medicine…encourages and supports natural childbirth and helps to heal the side effects of medications and invasive procedures…An empowering alternative to the ‘medicalization of birth,’ the techniques liberate women to channel their innate wisdom into welcoming their newborn child in a truly life affirming way.”

Thomas Verny, MD, DPsych, DHL, FRCPC

Author, The Secret Life of Your Unborn Child and Tomorrow’s Baby

Founder and former president, the Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health

“I took a Calm Birth class during my third pregnancy and listened to the CD several times a week. I handled my busy work days with improved energy, stamina and focus. Using Calm Birth practices during labor allowed my body to soften, handle the demands of labor and trust that I could do it. Most amazing is how I am parenting my older children more mindfully and responding to my new baby's needs more easily and calmly. Calm Birth is a wonderful gift to pregnant women and their partners.”

CindiSue Gilmore, Massage Therapist and mother of three

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

LOT versus ROT

2009-01-13T19:48:24Z

i cannot seem to get any info on LOT versus ROT.
One would presume that a woman's hips, pelvis on avarage is pretty well balanced.
So why would it be perfectly normal for labor to start out of an LOT position with the baby turning OA during labor but not for out of an ROT position. I presume that the baby is capable of decending from right as much as from left anterior position.
There are no physical obstacles on the right side that might hinder that baby's decent.
The only argument I found was that babies tuck easier from the left then from the right which would position them better into the pelvis.
But then again why would baby not tuck on the right and decent as easily into the pelvis as on the left?

I welcome any clarification more experienced doulas or midwifes can give me.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Volunteering Q's

2009-01-08T05:56:10Z

I was wanting to volunteer in the childbirth community next semester. I'm not certified in anything but was thinking that I would like to become a childbirth educator or a doula later on in life. Does anyone have any suggestions about volunteering optionsn to give me exposure to such an occupation?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 6 replies

Online Birth Class

2008-12-28T02:17:35Z

The Co-Creative Birthing Circle is an online holistic, multimedia childbirth class for parents-to-be at www.maiainstitute.com

Comprehensive information for prenatal wellness, labor preparation, conscious birth, and a happy postpartum. Includes videos, links, articles, activities, online discussion forum, ebook, positive birth stories, and whole foods cookbook.

Conscious Birth Education for 21st Century Parents

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Beautiful Natural Childbirth Film

2008-11-24T19:22:11Z

I just saw a beautiful film....three short films actually, without speaking or soundtrack, but just the beauty of birth in a natural setting. It's a black and white film and done in a completely artistic way. By watching, I felt that I was present for these births...and could tap into the beauty and amazement of both child and mother. An amazing film.

http://www.newearthrecords.com/web/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=18&idproduct=1487

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Dysautonomia/MVPS

2008-11-11T07:38:31Z

I'm about 7 weeks preggo and desire a homebirth. How do most Midwives feel about dysautonomia? Does that push me into the "too high risk" population? I would like to hear your opinions...I exercise and stay hydrated, but I have slowly come off of my beta-blocker...

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

Asking advice from midwives over past broken pelvis and natural birth

2008-10-26T01:37:17Z

Hello,
I wanted advice from those who might know....

I'm wanting to get pregnant. I'm a right leg above knee amputee (accident in '89). I had my pelvis broken in 2 places in my accident. It has been explained to me that my pelvis should be strong enough for a natural birth. What probability would I be labeled as a "High Risk" birth? I eat well, take prenatal vitamins, and am getting back into yoga & pilates. How likely is it that I can have a natural birth? And what direction should I focus my research in to help assure that?

Thank you for your time!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 8 replies

anterior/posterior cervix question

2008-10-22T05:08:09Z

this is for the midwives:
can any of you explain to me, in simple terms, the difference between anterior & posterior cervix. i understand that anterior means "front" & posterior means "back", so does it mean an anterior cervix has the opening facing the abdomen & a posterior cervix has the opening facing the back? i'm just trying to understand what i'm reading. thanks, midwives!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

what do you think?

2008-10-19T13:33:02Z

a thread in another tribe got me thinking about something: we are discussing the practice of lying-in, which many traditional cultures do. mothers who are lying-in may not get all the sunshine & vitamin d they need, so i'm wondering, in poorer countries which have certain taboos about the community being exposed to women who have just given birth, they cloister away the women for a certain period of time, weeks, months, whatever. with this lack of daily vitamin d, do you think it's possible that it contributes to cephalopelvic disproportions in these communities with higher maternal death rates? i mean, i realize it would take a long amount of being shut away to become so deficient that the pelvis is affected, but i was wondering if there might be a connection. thoughts?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

Anne Frye Textbooks

2008-10-15T21:51:24Z

I am looking to buy Anne Frye's Holistic Midwifery books Vol. 1 & 2. I would like to buy these for a decent price as they are so exensive new.
Can anyone help?
I also would be willing to trade soemthing for them. I knit, can paint, ect. It would be helpful as I will be assisting very soon. I need to brush up on some basic skills.
Thanks so much sisters.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Dr. Phil planning "Homebirth Horror Stories" show

2008-10-03T16:55:22Z

They appear to be asking for midwife horror stories; I want to
swamp him with stories about great experiences and for the midwives to
write and tell their stories; I think it would really help for
them to see how people really feel.

Please send your story in; It may not do any good, but we can
only try. To be silent will help no one.

Midwives, please send this link to all your clients and ask them to do
the same.

http://www.drphil.com/plugger/respond/?plugID=12524

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 4 replies

Lactation Consultant

2008-09-24T17:15:59Z

hey lovelies,
i am considering entering a lactation consultant exclusive homestudy program..
(thru www.bsccenter.org)
which will cover all the grids of the IBLCE exam, along with my extensive labour/postpartum experience..
any LCs here?
anyone with thoughts, suggestions, opinions?
im interested in either doing some per diem hospital consulting or private consulting!
i live in a rural area, we have no LCs anywhere..

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

frontier

2008-09-12T14:39:37Z

anyone here a grad of the frontier school of nurse midwifery?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

new group:childbirth and labor

2008-09-12T14:08:56Z

http://triberefugees.ning.com/group/childbirthlaborandeverythingyouneedtoknowaboutit
Tribe has become too unreliable lately the server is not working properly. This new site is much better and we can upload videos music,, The focus of the group is slighly changed.. given the possibilities of interactive media. This is also an expansion of the Tribe watsu and pregnancy
check it out and give some feed back.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Question on homebirth midwives vs hospital midwives

2008-09-12T05:58:52Z

So - I have been trying to figure this out ... and make decisions for my impending birth ... - other than the obvious, you're at home vs, you're at the hospital, does a hospital based midwife ACT alot different than a home birth midwive? Would my level of care be substancially different with a hospital based, vs home-based midwife? Are midwives in hospitals restricted in things they could or normally would do, because of hospital policy? Do hospital based midwives get pulled into the whole intervention system of the GYNs ? What about a hospital based midwife who is practicing out of a GYN network office - would they be limited in alot of ways ?

I'm leaning towards home and a nice, comfortable atmosphere, though am running up against insurance, which , if I choose a "hospital based midwife" , I supposedly only pay a total of $400, vs the homebirth, where I may end up paying $4000 ... not that I want this decision based on finances, because if the care at home is going to be more free-ing for the midwife, than I would lean towards it anyways ... but was hoping someone could explain to me??? thanks!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

ACOG is at it again

2008-09-02T20:24:41Z

PushNews from The Big Push for Midwives Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 1, 2008

Number Two With a Bullet: Critical Women’s Health Issues Neglected as Physician Group
Yet Again Sets its Sites on Midwives

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 1, 2008)In the newest phase of its ongoing effort to deny women the right to choose their maternity care providers and birth settings, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has announced that
eliminating access to midwives who specialize in out-of-hospital birth is now the second most important issue on its state legislative agenda. This move puts restricting access to trained
midwives ahead of such critical issues as contraceptive equity, ensuring access to emergency contraception, and the prevention and treatment of perinatal HIV/AIDS.

“ACOG claims to be an advocate of women’s health and choice, but when it comes to the right to choose to deliver your baby in the privacy of your own home with a Certified
Professional Midwife (CPM) who is specifically trained to provide the safest care possible, ACOG’s paternalistic colors bleed through,” said Susan M. Jenkins, Legal Counsel for the Big
Push for Midwives Campaign. “It is astonishing that an organization that purports to be a champion of women’s healthcare would put a petty turf battle that affects less than one percent of the nation’s childbearing women ahead of pressing issues that have an impact on nearly every woman in this country. If this is not dereliction of duty, I can’t imagine what is.”

In recent years, ACOG has led a well-financed campaign to fight legislative reforms that would license and regulate CPMs and has now teamed up with the American Medical Association (AMA) to promote legislaton that would prevent families from choosing to give birth at home. Despite these joint efforts, the groups have not been successful in defeating the groundswell of grassroots activism in support of full access to a comprehensive range of maternity care options that meet the needs of all families.

“Wisconsin is a good example of what ACOG and the AMA are up against,” said Jane Crawford Peterson, CPM, Advocacy Trainer for The Big Push. “Our bipartisan grassroots coalition of
everyday people from across the state managed to defeat the most powerful and well-financed special interest groups in Wisconsin, all on an expenses-only budget of $3000 during a legislative session in which $47 million was spent on lobbying. When you try to deny women the fundamental and very personal right to choose where and how to give birth, they will get organized and they will let their elected officials know that restrictions on those rights cannot stand.”

Noting these successes, ACOG has recently launched its own grassroots organizing effort, calling on member physicians to recruit their patients to participate in its “Who Will Deliver My Baby?” medical liability reform campaign.

“ACOG itself admits that we’re facing a critical shortage of maternity care providers,” said Steff Hedenkamp, Communications Coordinator for the Big Push. “They certainly realize that medical liability reform is nothing more than a band aid and that increasing access to midwives and birth settings is critical to fixing our maternity care system and ensuring that rural, low-income and uninsured women don’t fall through the cracks. Midwives represent an essential growth segment of the U.S. pool of maternity care providers, but instead of putting the healthcare needs of women first, ACOG would rather devote its considerable lobbying budget to a last-ditch attempt to protect its own bottom line. This is not a happy Labor Day for our nation’s mothers and babies.”

The Big Push for Midwives (http://www.thebigpushformidwives.org) is a nationally
coordinated campaign organized to advocate for regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and to push back against the attempts of the American Medical Association and
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to deny American families access to safe and legal midwifery care. The campaign plays a critical role in building a new model of U.S.
maternity care delivery at the local and regional levels, at the heart of which is the Midwives Model of Care, based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. Media
inquiries: Steff Hedenkamp (816) 506-4630, mail to: steff@thebigpushformidwives.org

The Big Push for Midwives Campaign is fiscally sponsored by
Sustainable Markets Foundation, a not-for-profit organization
recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section
501(c)(3). The mission of the Big Push for Midwives is to build
winning, state-level advocacy campaigns towards successful
regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives
(CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto
Rico.
Visit the Big Push for Midwives Campaign on the Web at
www.TheBigPushforMidwives.org
Sustainable Markets Foundation | 80 Broad Street, Suite 1600 |
New York, NY 10004-2248
The Big Push for Midwives Campaign | 2300 M Street, N.W., Suite
800 | Washington, D.C. 20037-1434

The Big Push for Midwives Campaign, 2300 M Street, N.W. Suite
800, Washington, DC 20037-1434 United States

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

Los Angeles hospital advice

2008-08-21T19:41:33Z

Any of you from LA? Practice down here?
I just moved here and I am trying to navigate the hospitals and birthing centers.
Any awesome hospitals/Doctors?
Any in Pasadena?
Thanks you!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 7 replies

Online Co-Creative Birthing Class

2008-08-21T10:49:55Z

The Co-Creative Birthing Circle: Online Multi-media Natural Childbirth Education for Parents
at the Maia Institute of Co-Creative Healing
www.maiainstitute.com

Comprehensive conscious birthing preparation with seven class modules, extensive articles, 40+ videos, 150+ links and resources, Birth Stories, the Mamatoto Cookbook, Birth Humor, and the Birth Circle Discussion Forum!

The Co-Creative Birthing Circle Facilitator Class is coming soon for birth professionals and advocates!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Orgasmic Birth Screening in Fullerton, California 9/27/08

2008-08-18T20:17:57Z

Please check the website www.socalbirth.com. to learn more about the film “Orgasmic Birth” which will screen on Saturday, Sept. 27th at 4:30pm here at CSUF in our Kinesiology theater KHS-199. The cost is $20, $15 for students and $10 for pregnant women. You can purchase tickets online at the link above or at the door. There is a max seating of 125.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Looking for Doulas on the SF Peninsula

2008-08-12T17:45:01Z

Hi Everyone,

My name is Jennifer Wolfe and I own the Dolphin Yoga & Doula Center in San Mateo, CA. We specialize in Doula Services, Prenatal Yoga & Childbirth Education. We are starting a Dolphin Method Doula Training in September which includes childbirth hypnosis and hands on training and mentoring.

I am actually posting because I am looking for doulas who have some experience already (optimally at least 15-20 births) to join our team. You will be trainied in hypnosis for childbirth for free in exchange for providing back-up (there is a lot of back-up work) and then getting your own births. If you are interested please contact Jennifer Wolfe or Tracy Stettner at 650-888-6996. Thanks!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

AMA feels homebirth should be illegal

2008-08-06T13:55:26Z

The AMA this week put out a resolution toward creating legislation that would make homebirth illegal and any woman who has a homebirth punishable by arrest. They are equating it to child abuse. They have taken particular offense to Ricki Lakes Business of Being Born movie

http://cfmidwifery.blogspot.com/2008/06/grassroots-network-ama-resolution-to.html

Ricki, Abby's and Jennifer Blocks response
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ricki-lake-jennifer-block-and-abby-epstein/docs-to-women-pay-no-atte_b_107845.html

Another article
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2033135/posts

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 11 replies

childless doulas and midwives...

2008-07-31T20:04:11Z

As i have moved closer to a personal dream of becoming involved
in birth arts work I have been noticing that there is a perspective out there
that women who are most qualified to be doulas and miswives are women
who have had children of their own. I completely understand where
this perspective comes from..it makes really obvious sense.
It challanges my own mind because I feel called to this work in
a very real and big way and I do not have children..i've never given
birth. And i am not sure that i ever will. I don't feel like this affects
my commitment or love or desire for this work...Of course there
will always be an element of birth i cannot tap into if i haven't
experianced it..or is there..?
any thoughts ladies..i've been chewing on this for months
and would love to hear other peoples persectives..ideas...

bevin

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 16 replies

New tribe.

2008-07-07T21:09:14Z

Please check out and feel free to join the "Maternal Organic Methods".
Namaste

http://tribes.tribe.net/maternalreturn

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

breech babies

2008-07-06T23:10:08Z

i'm reading "heart & hands" by elizabeth davis & i was reading her step-by-step to assisting breech births. she says that the room should be warm because baby's body will be exposed to air for a longer period before being born entirely (makes sense), and that if the room is not very warm, to wrap 2 blankets in order to prevent stimulation of respiratory efforts. so i'm wondering, if exposure to air stimulates baby's breathing reflex, would it be more beneficial to birth a known breech in warm water? any discussion & experiences would be welcome.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

Attorneys looking for VBAC ban victims

2008-07-04T16:57:51Z

Attorneys looking for VBAC ban victims

Dear Friends,

As you are likely aware, many women are denied access to VBAC (Vaginal birth
after cesarean) because of hospital policies and outright bans. Attorneys
with the Northwest Women's Law Center in Seattle are looking at this issue.
One of them asked us to post the following:

I'm a lawyer with the Northwest Women's Law Center in Seattle. I'm
investigating possible legal responses to bans on vaginal birth after
cesarean at hospitals in the northwest states Alaska, Idaho, Montana,
Washington and Oregon. If you are currently pregnant and want to have a
VBAC, but are facing a hospital policy that would require you to have a
c-section regardless of whether you want it and regardless of whether it is
actually medically necessary, and you are willing to consider working with a
lawyer on this, we'd like to talk with you. Please respond to vbacbanhelp@ican-online.org

Even if you are not in one of the states listed, you can still help by
emailing this out to any email lists you are on and asking everyone who
receives it to email it to all the lists THEY are on as well so that it is
distributed far and wide. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Susan Hodges, "gatekeeper"

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

birth in mainstream media - videos needed

2008-07-01T07:47:35Z

i am creating a video montage to be shown in my classes and i need sources of mainstream media depictions of birth. i tried to get the scene from "knocked up", but for some reason it's not transferring over to my iMovie player to be clipped. can you help me think of other contemporary films & t.v. shows i could rent on dvd that show birth in some context? do you know of specific episode titles to look for? some shows i'm considering are: ER, Friends, House and Scrubs. Reality shows i want to use are Maternity Ward & A Baby Story.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 6 replies

Orgasmic Birth Screening (PDX) June 28th and 29th

2008-06-29T18:49:20Z

There will be 2 screenings of Debra Pascali-Bonero's movie Orgasmic birth this coming weekend (June 28th and 29th) in Portland Oregon. The showing will feature an introduction by Debra herself and a discussion panel directly afterward. This is a fundraiser for Waterbirth International

For more information regarding the showings: http://www.waterbirth.org/mc/page.do

For info on the movie: http://www.orgasmicbirth.com/

Tia
Birth Doula and AAMI Student Midwife
www.inner-serenity.org

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

Books and what not

2008-06-25T07:16:00Z

So, my true wish for every woman, not just the ones about to give birth, but all those who may in in future.......is that they see "The Business of Being Born" and read Ina May's "Guide to Childbirth".
I kind of want to add Naomi Wolf's "Misconceptions", but I'm not sure about it.
Thoughts?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

it's finally happening!

2008-05-31T20:35:28Z

i received my learning materials yesterday from ALACE & i'm on my way to becoming a certified childbirth educator! i can hardly wait! i'm definitely going to work hard & apply myself so i can get thru the course quickly, but with a very athletic toddler running around, that might be a challenge. i'm so looking forward to my future career & shaping the way our next generation is born. i look forward to putting the power back into women's hands regarding their birth experiences. i'm also looking forward to spreading the pro-breastfeeding, anti-circumcision gospel & meeting like-minded people in the natural birthing culture - people i've only read about & dreamed of meeting. this is very big news & i felt like gushing!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

etiquette with compensation

2008-05-29T15:25:02Z

So here is the story, in a nutshell:
Very young girl, great attitude about her birth, single mama, dad not in the picture. At first asked me to be her birth attendant but I wasn't ready to take that on, she ended up with the local midwives who took her on after a while because they were too busy to take her on at first (hence her approaching me). She still wanted me to be involved at her birth. I came and did prenatals with her a few times, I dropped off my homeopathic kit when I was going to be away for a while, called, checked in on her, got her lists, helped her prepare, etc etc etc.
The birth comes, she wanted me there, I cancelled work, it ended up being a 2 day birth which ended very happily and beautifully...

And now.... I am kicking myself for not asking for something for being a helper because a) I tend to be shy when it comes to asking for money and b) I make the foolish assumption that people view doulas and birth assistance as people who WORK and therefore need to be compensated!! Instead, it cost me to go to the birth, and truthfully, I have been to and will go to many births. I also did not talk to her about compensation beforehand because once she got on with the midwives it never came up in conversation... the closer she got to the birth the more little things needed to be mentioned when we spoke the more it slipped my mind.

But truthfully, I busted ass for her and really assumed that she would have recognized that and offered me something. SOMETHING!! At this point it seems to be more of a gesture of appreciation rather than true compensation for the amount of time prenatals, the birth, and postpartums consume.

Is it too late for me to bring this up?
Should I just let it go?
Chalk this up as a 'freebie' for a single mom?
I need some advice... because I'm a little choked. I feel unappreciated, I feel like i haven't been honoured for all that I gave.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 5 replies

Joyous victory for PA midwife

2008-05-24T19:21:08Z

Here in Pennsylvania we are currently celebrating with Certified
Professional Midwife Diane Goslin in her recent victory regarding
the Commonwealth Court's judgement of her midwifery practice...

www.savehomebirth.com/newsandviews.html

GOSLIN WINS!
Cease and Desist Order Reversed!

"The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania today reversed
the September 2007 decision of the Pennsylvania Board of
Medicine to order Lancaster County midwife, Diane Goslin,
to cease and desist from the practice of midwifery.

In a surprising blow to the Board of Medicine, the
Commonwealth Court opined that, "...practicing midwifery
cannot be construed to be the same as practicing medicine
and surgery." The Board had contended that Goslin was
in violation of the 1985 Medical Practice Act by practicing
medicine without a license.

They further pointed out that the 1985 Act, "...authorizes
the Board to impose penalties only upon persons who
practice as a nurse-midwife without a nurse-midwife
license." Goslin is a Certified Professional Midwife."

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

cool resource for moms-to-be AND doulas

2008-05-22T03:39:46Z

http://www.bellywomen.net/index.php?&MMN_position=1:1

i just found this today, trying to help a fellow pregnant mommy to find a free or low cost doula in her area, i can NOT believe i hadn't seen this earlier, i feel a little like a dunce! i just signed up myself, if any of you choose to do the same, let me know how it goes and if it really is the valuable resource i am thinking it will be!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Doula Training

2008-05-07T03:54:21Z

Hi all. Kara Spencer is teaching a class in Bend Oregon, a doula training.
If you know anyone who would be interested please pass the information on.

Birth Arts International Doula Workshop
Bend Birth Center
Bend, Oregon
May 2, 3 & 4, 2008
Email: kara@birtharts.com
Phone: 541-520-0681
Fee: $350
Contact Kara Spencer to Register

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

birth and bellydance

2008-05-06T20:04:12Z

Hello All,
I am studying to be a doula through Birtharts distance learning program. I am researching belly dance as an appropriate healing modality for women in childbirth. I have read a lot of stories about pre-natal support that it offered, as well as post natal recovery. In my own experience I have found belly dance to be really healing. Not only has it helped my body to properly support my sacrum, but I feel like it has healed a lot of trauma for me as well.
I read one woman's experience that figure eight and hip circle patterns were very soothing during labor. Does anyone use belly dance in their practice, or in their own birth experiences? Thanks for taking the time to read this. Blessings.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 5 replies

Baby International Film Festival

2008-04-25T14:58:30Z

In case you haven't heard of this - it looks amazing! It's a mobile film festival dedicated to the finest in birthing films.

Website: http://www.babyff.com/site/

From their website -

"The mission of BABY! International Film Festival is to offer film images that will deepen and expand our sense of trust about pregnancy, birth, and parenting. We believe many personal and social problems can be prevented or decreased by proper support of the family during pregnancy, birth and the first 5 years of the child's life. In addition, we hold the intention to use the film festival event as a focal point for organizations who provide services for families and children, encouraging them to network and giving them the opportunity to increase their public visibility. We place a particular emphasis on including young adults and people from all ethnic and racial origins, as we believe that it is through diversity and the voices of all ages that we may come into a state of deeper understanding of what it is means to be born."

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

you know you were raised by hippies when...

2008-04-25T14:01:47Z

You know you were raised by hippies when...

* Your name is Sensamailia, Spitfire, Rainbow, Coriander, Aster, Peach Fuzz, or the like.
* As a child, a nutritious after school snack consisted of your parents "stems and seeds" found on a tray on the living room table.
* the jungle of house plants, next to the television, served not only as a good hiding place for hide and seek when you were a kid, but they smelled nice too, especially when they were cut and hung to dry.
* when your parents tried to rid you of lice the "natural way," and none of the herbal remedies worked, they decided that the next best choice was to shave your head... which within it's self is fine, but the photos of you running bare ass naked and completely balled, resembling one of the aliens from Close Encounters, is a keepsake that's been shared with company one too many times!
* instead of time outs or spankings, your punishment for missbehaving as a child was to do yoga poses and excercise out the "negative energy"

Okay folks.... add to the list... when I thinnk of more I will post them. This should be fun!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

Orgasmic Birth DVD

2008-04-21T15:30:27Z

>Date: April 18, 2008 03:18:42 PM EDT
>Subject: Birth film release
>
>Dear Friend,
>
>I'm proud and excited to announce the completion and release of our
>documentary, "Orgasmic Birth."
>
>If you choose to respond, we would appreciate your doing so through the
>film's website rather than in direct e-mail messages to us. With the
>entire world about to join in, you can imagine how crammed our inboxes would
>become! Thanks for understanding.
>
>We hope you will host or attend a screening and spread the word.
>
>For details, please see below.
>
>Warmly,
>Debra Pascali-Bonaro
>
>The Best-Kept Secret--Unveiled
>
>"Orgasmic Birth," a new documentary film by internationally renowned
>childbirth educator, doula, and birth activist Debra Pascali-Bonaro,
>challenges cultural myths by revealing the emotional, spiritual, and
>physical heights attainable through birth. Viewers witness the passion of
>birth as an integral part of women's sexuality and a neglected human right.
>
>Five years in the making, "Orgasmic Birth" will have its world premiere on
>May 12 at the fifth annual World Respected Childbirth Week conference in
>Prague, Czech Republic. Subsequent screenings will be held in London on May
>29; in Paris on May 30; and in Glasgow on June 4 at the 28th Triennial
>Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives.
>
>On May 16, "Orgasmic Birth" will be featured on a segment of "20/20", the
>acclaimed ABC-TV news show, as part of its Mother's Day program. The
>reporters will interview Debra, who produced and directed the film; women's
>health advocate Christiane Northrup, MD, who appears in it; and several of
>the 11 couples who courageously permitted their birthing experiences to be
>shown. Dr. Northrup, the author of "Mother-Daughter Wisdom" (Bantam, 2005)
>and "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom" (Bantam, revised 2006), appears
>frequently on PBS.
>
>Among other well-known health professionals who present their views in the
>film and discuss evidence-based support of its claims:
>
>o Ina May Gaskin, MA, CPM, world-renowned midwife, author, and
>founder/director of the Farm Midwifery Center in Summertown, Tennessee
>
>o Maureen Corry, MPH, executive director, Childbirth Connection, a
>not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of maternity
>care
>
>o Sarah J Buckley, MD, a general practitioner/ o Sarah J Buckley, MD
>qualifications in obstetrics; author of "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering"
>
>o Marsden Wagner, MD, former director of Women's and Children's Health,
>World Health Organization
>
>You too can be a part of this exciting project! Go to www.orgasmicbirth. You
>and:
>
>o Share your birth experience and read about the birth experiences of
>others.
>
>o Sign up to host a local screening of this important documentary. It¹s
>easy with the comprehensive Community Screening Packet developed for the
>film. Download these materials at the website, where you can register your
>screening dates (which we will post online), watch a trailer of the film,
>find a Birth Planning Q&A section by our birth experts, and much more.
>
>Joyous, sensuous, and revolutionary, this pioneering film will compel many
>to reexamine their perceptions about childbirth. Viewers will understand
>that the use of normal, undisturbed birthing methods can aid the health and
>well-being of future generations.
>
>The DVD is available with subtitles in French, German, Spanish, and
>Portuguese and has a remarkable score by John McDowell, composer of the
>Oscar-winning documentary "Born Into Brothels."
>
>Questions? Please use the "Contact us" e-mail tab on the home page of
>www.orgasmicbirth. www.o

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

Trusting in the Process

2008-03-28T02:57:57Z

So I am in post recovery from a birth yesterday as a Doula. This entire last weekend I have been pondering the birthing process and the journey it is. How we treat it in our world. So here is a the story of the birth....

I had a client begin laboring on Feb 11th and on the 12th was 3cm 60% effaced... She lost her mucous plug and so we all thought soon... I told her to rest, hydrate and eat. She took walks with her mate and looked forward to the day... Well time passed and she would have periods of regular contractions that by bedtime when she was tired would just slide away... By the 22nd after losing two mucous plugs and having bloody show off and on for a week. she began contracting at 1am (Friday) 5 min apart, she rested, ate drank and just hung through them.... This continued through the weekend... intensity building...(baby reactive and doing well through it all)
Monday the 25th 5:30 am I get a phone call that they are pretty intense 2 min. apart... so it's time to go to her home.... We labor at home till I see the dilated pupils and wild look in her eyes, her water had broken 30 minutes before... time to go Transition has arrived... At the hospital she is 7 cm and goes to 10 within 30 minutes... Beautiful chubby baby born 90 min. later... With a thick healthy placenta... Oh and her caregivers honored her plans (push in whatever position, late cord clamping, mother/baby/daddy bare skin contact without time limits, no Vacc or interventions etc...) This in a 90% epidural rate hospital....

OK so my client knows that without me to sound her out and reassure her she would have gone to her caregiver and would have been in the hospital many days before this one... She was being seen by two CNM's and a OB in practice together. She knows she most likely would have ended up on Pitocin and much more had they known about her pattern of labor... I find this sad that "I" was their saving grace from that process.

None of the books that most people read really talk about labor and birth looking like this... So how are mothers to know that what their body is doing is perfectly normal. This woman happened to be highly attuned to her body and baby. More so than most woman, I truly believe that is part of what let her slowly labor her baby out. She labored for hours and hours over the weekend and would sleep when she needed it, her body and adapting to those needs...

She did so much of the work of labor calmly, relaxed, smiling... The intense part was very intense, but also very short in comparison to the whole process... In all this woman and her mate had an experience full of respect and beauty without fear and manipulation.

This is a pattern we need our caregivers and ourselves to honor, that we need to write about and teach... I believe even midwives need to really look at this, and learn to trust and honor the birth process. I see many who fear the process that is not "normal". So what is normal? That is not a simple answer, normal is as different as each individual person is.

This journey I shared in was natural and very normal, not maladaptive... Instead of seeing the normal pattern, most see problems and look for reasons why the baby isn't popping out in the 14 hr medical time plan...Of course back in the 60's normal labor was thought to last as long as 36-38 hrs... In the 80's it was knocked down to 24hrs, we now expect it to last 14 hrs... Have our bodies changed so much?

Tia Rich
AAMI Student Midwife #1940
www.inner-serenity.org

PS... Any who are not registered for the Trust Birth Conference... Rethink whether you can miss this experience. I know even more after this birth that I NEED this conference, I have so much more to learn, and honestly I need the recharge to sit in a room with others who trust and believe in birth....

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 11 replies

Support a Family Healing Arts Center!

2008-03-25T23:00:47Z

Hello, please vote for my hoopdancing video "Gemini Hoops" and help me to win $10,000 to fund the creation of a healing arts center!

PLEASE VOTE FOR "GEMINI HOOPS" on CLIPSTAR!

www.clipstar.com/videopage.jsf

My intention is to win this contest in order to have the funds to create a Family Healing Arts Center in Eugene, OR with craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, midwifery, and classes for fertility, pregnancy, babies, children, and families. I already have the space and practitioners available. I just need the money to remodel the space, buy furniture, signs, insurance, and the start-up costs. Your vote can help make this family healing space into a beautiful community center!

Thank you! Every vote counts! Feel free to pass this along!

Blessings, Kara

P.S. Voting continues until April 30th. You will need to register to vote, however when you register you can choose not to receive any other emails from this company or others, so your privacy is insured. THANK YOU!!!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

The Business of Being Born

2008-03-18T22:12:09Z

On Saturday 1/12/08 I decided to drive by-myself to NYC to be one of the first to see The Business of Being Born. I felt it was necessary for me to support this movie in the beginning so they makers can bring it to more cities and raise more awareness of a huge healthcare crisis. I met up with a good friend once i was there and she was such a trooper for coming with me to see the movie considering she is never planning on having children. But we support each other so it was good quality time with a good friend.

Since I decided to follow the path of midwifery, I have found more and more motivation and inspiration with every book, website and birth film that I have come across. This movie has been far more motivating than anything I have stumbled across in my journey thus far.

The birth experts and the World Health Organization make their cry for help abundantly clear : The U.S is putting women in danger to make money. The US ranks second to last of all developed countries for healthy outcomes for mom and baby. In all the other countries with far better outcomes the common denominator is the use of Midwives. In Japan and Europe 70% of births are attended primarily by midwives and the doctors are only used for the high risk populations. In the US only 8% are attended by midwives with less then 1% giving birth at home. The interventions the US uses for everyday birth in hospitals put mother and child at risk. The free flowing use of Pitocin to stimulate contractions and the pain medication cocktails used to numb the experience create a physiological mess that can only be fixed with a c-section when the baby becomes distressed due to interventions. Its a giant snowball of manipulation of these women the second they walk into a hospital maternity unit in labor, or even during pregnancy when the doctors try to push for elective c--sections for trivial or vain reasons. They use the "baby is in trouble" line in which any mother would tell the doctor to do what he needs to do insure the safety of the baby. In most cases the heart rate of the baby drops due to interventions such as Pitocin. But nobody is going to tell mommy that in the hospital.
And why wouldn't a doctor want to do a c-section? He is in and out in 20 minutes and gets paid far more. Our population must be made aware of these startling numbers from the WHO and changes must be made in this country's birth culture. I hope that this movie raises the awareness needed to make a difference in this country. I know that I am going to try to do what I can make a difference. Every women who is pregnant or ever planning on become a mother needs to see this movie so they can take the proper steps to educate themselves and not be a victim of terrible system. Education is The most powerful tool in protecting the safety of our mothers and babies!

WWW.THEBUSINESSOFBEINGBORN.COM

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 9 replies

St Johns Wart/ Pregnancy/ Bipolar

2008-03-15T04:29:11Z

Does anyone know anything about treating anxiety/depression durring pregnancy. I have a friend who is 7 + months prego. is diagnosed with Bipolar but can't take anything while she is pregnant. she was told to take atavan for anxiety but is not comfortable doing so... it makes her worry... so she asked me about St. Johns Wart.... I don't know much about this herb.... any information would be helpful!
Thanks Inanna

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

UGGG New York Times Article

2008-03-06T19:13:54Z

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/fashion/02doula.html?

Wow... just when it seems like we doulas are breaking through the old stereotypes the New York Times puts this Article out! Honestly my biggest complaint with it is that negative experiences with doulas are not the norm and there are no positive stories to balance the negative. It completely distorts the role we play and the contribution we make to create positive birth experiences.

I have done about 200 births as a doula and worked with hundreds of pregnant women doing hypnosis and prenatal yoga, my goal is not that every woman have a natural childbirth even if that is more often than not the outcome. My goal is that the women have a good birth experience, that includes making sure the staff and i are getting along so the womans' experience is not impacted by having tension in the room. Also why attack lactation consultants???

This is so discouraging...any thoughts on something positive to do to counteract this negativity???

Jen
www.jenniferwolfeyoga.com
www.dolphinyoga.com

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

what does the call feel like to you?

2008-02-20T09:37:11Z

when did you first feel inspired to do what you're doing? how did you begin? what year was it? what was the birthing trend at the time?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 5 replies

Wow

2008-02-19T04:25:02Z

Just attended my first birth.
My good friend wanted to go natural (I gave her Ina May's books and got her to my side of birth).
She ended up with a c-section b/c they were pushing induction so hard.
She was just at 41 weeks, feeling mild rushes for a month.
I really feel it wasn't time yet.
But everyone is happy and healthy.
I always thought my first birth would solidify my drive to help women. Now I know.
It was amazing to see my friend's face during rushes. I saw a newborn and the oldest woman in the world on her face.
I was sad I couldn't fight with the staff more. It was the snowball we were afraid of.
Now I have to find my next step..........

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

Countdown to first birth!

2008-02-19T03:23:20Z

So I need some help!
I' m a doula in training and I found out today that the mother to be tested positive for group b strep. Anyone had any experience with this, if so any advice as to how I should handle and prepare for this (besides reading about it)? Her due date is this week and I have one more prenatal visit with the couple and I want to go in there prepared for questions.
Any advice would be sooooo great!!!

blessed be
Michele :)

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 7 replies

birth control, artficial hormone replacement, and animal product hormones

2008-02-03T03:12:36Z

i have been feeling a little concerned by the large size of teenage girls's breasts lately and many mother's reports of their 7 and 8 year old girls developing breasts. i don't know what even more serious side effects these hormones may be causing, but this is alarming enough for me to feel impassioned for a change. as healthcare providers to women i think that this is an important topic to bring up. i truly think that's it's the hormones in animal products and the artficial hormones in the water supply that's causing this.

did you know that it's not possible to filter hormones out of water? that's right, the artificial hormones women take and people eat are urinated into the sewer system. this sewer water is filtered and put into the waterways. however, hormones cannot be removed. in fact, there are some fish who no longer have males because of the estrogens in water. i am not trying to scare people, but it is a disturbing thing to realize. also, there are very well known health risks to hormonal birth control.

it may be time for responsible men and women to consider non-hormonal methods of birth control such as barrier methods, the copper iud (paraguard) which is non-hormonal, and using fertility awareness methods.

we can also make an effort to not eat hormone-raised animals and products and to teach our clients about the importance of organic animal products even if they can afford to go organic on any other foods.

the pill, patch, etc... have given women control over their fertility and i feel they are still very important especially as over population threatens the health of our ecosystem more and more. however, there are other ways...

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

real job/vs. fantasy....*

2008-02-01T04:26:20Z

Hello Midwives & Doulas out there.
I am currently researching the career outlook for midwifery and or becoming a doula.
Quickly about me- I am Bay area raised- moved to Santa Cruz mountains at ripe old age of 20- 2 years laterhad a home birth with my son- attended herb school for 2 years-then Sage Femme midwifery course for a year-moved out of area at 27 north to Mendocino. 2 years later had daughter at home- became practicing massage therapist ( part time) Now ready for choosing career path- I am 1 1/2 hours from local community college to attend nursing programs- and have minimum 2 years of pre-reqs before I may be accepted-then nursing program-then distance education for CNM. I am seriously considering the doula path in conjunction with massage. I almost see that as being more of a need where I am.I am seeking info about what a practicing doula may make in an average year- if she is self supporting with that- or needs other forms of income to compensate- also what an average CNM may make in a year. I recognize that living in a heavy urban environment if different $ than a rural one.
I am beginning the process to make inquires locally with midwives here- but I would like to hear from other women.
Thanks for your replies, Nicole*

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 4 replies

Moving Through referrals for Portland OR

2008-01-27T21:34:43Z

Moving Through Referrals

Doulas

Moving Through: Nicole Sanson-Frey
Birthing From Within model of doula care, trained with Pam England, author of BFW… Nicole also teaches prenatal yoga and Birthing From Within classes
Cell : (503) 358-0517 email: movingthrough@gmail.com
www.movingthrough.com

Inanna Doula Care: Katherine Stewart
DONA trained, also a BFW childbirth mentor and prenatal Pilates instructor
Cell: (503) 309-8577 email: stewartk22@msn.com

Mother Tree Birth Services
(I recommend Jennifer Steele, she is a BFW mentor and also an acupuncturist)
http://www.mothertreebirth.com/
(503) 343-9911

Davis Doula
http://www.davisdoula.com/
(503) 320-9847

Triple Moon Doulas
http://www.triplemoondoulas.com/

Sliding Scale Doulas

Laura Jones, LMT
(210) 445-5870
nutrility21@yahoo.com

Supported Start: Katie Briggs: (503) 830-5322
Katie@supportedstart.com
www.supportedstart.com

Volunteer and/or student doulas

Birthingway College of Midwifery
http://birthingway.org/student_doulas.html
(503) 760-3131

PDX Doulas
http://www.pdxdoulas.org/
1-888-266-6160

Postpartum Doula Services

ABC Doula Service, Inc. (503) 752-1691
http://www.oregondoula.com/ABC/Welcome_Page.htm

(Prenatal) Massage Therapists

Laura Jones, LMT, Simply Massage
(210) 445-5870
nutrility21@yahoo.com

Zennana Spa , a spa for pregnant and post partum women
(I recommend Delinda for massage, she’s incredible!)
http://zenana-spa.com/
2024 Se Clinton St
Portland, OR 97202
(503) 238-6262
Delinda 503-754-0247 cell

Nephyr Jackobson, The Naga Center (prenatal Thai massage)
(503) 473-4268
http://www.nagacenter.org/booking.html

Craniosacral Bodywork

Carol Gray
http://www.carolgray.com/carolgray/Study_Bodywork_&_Craniosacral_Therapy_With_Carol_Gray.html
1414 NW 53rd Drive
Portland, OR 97210
voice: 503-236-2999fax: 503-236-4334
e-mail: carolag@e-z.net

Acupuncture
Mississippi Health Center
http://www.mississippihealthcenter.com/Acupuncture.htm
(503) 282-5358
Ask for Jennifer Steele… she is a birth doula and a BFW mentor as well

Riverwest Acupuncture, Lisa C. Francolini
http://www.riverwestacupuncture.com/
5441 SW Macadam Ave. | Portland, OR 97239
503.246.0103 | lisa@riverwestacupuncture.com

Chiropractic Bodywork

West Hills Chiropractic Clinic
Dr. Sarah Conroy
503-644-5100
cell – 503-860-9001

Lactation Consultants

Beyond Birth Lactation Specialists
http://www.beyondbirthservices.com/
(503) 232-2229
(located at Zenana Spa and Wellness Center)

Nursing Phone Support

La Leche League Portland
(503) 282-9377
http://www.mothersource.org/resources_listing.php?id=20_0_4_0_C

Nursing Mothers Counsel of Oregon
• Portland: (503) 282-3338
• Vancouver: (360)750-0656

http://www.nursingmotherscounsel.org/sitemap.htm

Home Birth & Birthing Centers

Alma Midwifery
http://www.almamidwifery.com/
(503) 233-3001
1608 SE Ankeny St. Portland

Natural Childbirth and Family Clinic
http://www.naturalchildbirthclinic.com/
10360 N.E. Wasco St.
Portland, OR 97220
Phone: 503.252.8125 or 1.800.961.8125
Fax: 503.256.8422
Email: info@naturalchildbirthclinic.com
NCFC also hosts a vaccination talk every month w/ Edwin Hoffman-Smith

Creative Space Midwifery
Beth Sagli, CPM
Marilyn Milestone, LDM, CPM
503-239-7069
info@birthissafe.com
www.birthissafe.com
3021 SE Division, Portlnad

Northwest Community Midwives
Susan Moray, CPM, LDM (susan@nwmidwives.com)
Celeste Kersey, CPM, LDM (celeste@nwmidwives.com)
503.230.2831
Portland, Oregon

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

how does this sound to you?

2008-01-24T03:50:48Z

alright, i've narrowed my interests down to the basics:
Master Herbalist (2300 hours of home study, $850 thru Heart of Herbs),
Childbirth Educator (thru Birthing from Within, $1350 plus $1400 plus $100 annual fees)
Doula/Midwife's Assistant/Lactation Consultant (thru Michigan School of Traditional Midwifery, not sure of costs).

i'm not ready to accept the responsibility of being a Midwife. simply put, i'm scared. is it normal to feel a little bit of fear & apprehension before embarking on such a path? education is crazazy expensive, but that's not my primary concern.
i'm feeling thrilled, nervous, anxious & impatient. does anyone have personal recommendations? i really want to get started, but i have to go back to work for while first so i can earn a little money. i'm hoping to get on my way by autumn. would anyone like to be my mentor? i'd like to attend some births, but i don't know anyone who's pregnant just now. how do i begin with no certifications? whos gonna trust me?! lol

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 10 replies

Baby Healing Project Needs Your Votes for Funding!

2008-01-23T08:44:58Z

Your Vote is Needed to Fund a Free Aquatic Baby Bodywork Clinic!

I am a Finalist in the www.IdeaBlob.com Contest to win $10,000 to fund a small business or project. Your support will allow me to create a free monthly clinic for pregnant women, babies, and children to receive Aquatic CranioSacral Therapy in the therapeutic, warm, salt-water pool at the Tamarack Center in Eugene, OR.

Please vote for the WaterBaby CranioSacral Therapy Project!!! Every vote counts!
http://ideablob.com/ideas/1225-WaterBaby-CranioSacral-Therapy-

Thank you!!!!!!

Here's what Mothering Magazine, www.mothering.com, has to say about my project:

Healer's Project Needs Your Votes for Funding

When it comes to bringing aid and comfort to mothers and babies, Kara Maia Spencer, www.maiahealingarts.com, has credentials galore—she is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, CranioSacral Therapist, Holistic Childbirth Educator & Consultant, Homebirth Midwifery Assistant, Reiki Master & Energy Healer, and is Certified in Bodywork for the Childbearing Year.

Dedicated to providing gentle, non-invasive, effective healing—as well as creating community among new parents—Kara intends to facilitate a free monthly CranioSacral Therapy clinic for pregnant women, mothers and babies, at a community therapeutic pool near her home in Eugene, Oregon. She has entered a funding contest with the hopes of winning $10,000 with which to rent the Tamarack Wellness Center's, www.tamarackwellness.com, warm, salt-water, solar powered therapeutic pool (the most eco-pool in Oregon) each month to host the free community clinic.

Please vote here to support Kara's goal—each vote counts, and registration is very quick and free.
http://ideablob.com/ideas/1225-WaterBaby-CranioSacral-Therapy-

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Hypnotherapist providing Low Fee Postpartum Doula and Volunteer Birth Doula services

2008-01-22T21:39:21Z

Hi my name is Alexis Cohen and I am a Certified Hypnotherapist, postpartum and birth doula. The form of Hypnotherapy I practice is called Depth Hypnosis and it blends elements of Shamanism, Buddhism, Energy Medicine and Transpersonal Psychology. I am a newly trained postpartum and birth doula getting a practice started in San Francisco. I am also an artist and connect deeply to the Birthing from Within Method of Pregnancy and Childbirth as well as elements of Hypnobirthing. I offer extended prenatal care (5-6 prenatal visits incorporating hypnotherapy as opposed to the usual 2 visits) before the birth. My hypnotherapy practice specializes in working with mothers in the prenatal, birth preparation and Postpartum period of childbirth. If you or know someone who might be interested in my services, please contact me at info@alexiscohen.org and my website is www.alexiscohen.org I offer package deals for the hypnotherapy sessions as well!

take care
Alexis Cohen, CHT
www.alexiscohen.org

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

I'm confused.

2008-01-20T05:38:41Z

My good friend is aprox 3 weeks from her "due date" and is having pressure.
She goes to the doc (who seemed to be ok with her requests for a minimally invasive birth, as she (the doc) has had two babies without intervention, in hospital), they find no dilation, but want to schedule an induction for 6 days after her due date saying they don't want her to go more than 1wk past her date.
Why would they arrange this so far in advance when my friend has been clear about her intentions?
As her other birth support (my first birth!!! Whoo-hoo!!), I've commited to walking with her every day to avoid the induction.
I'm not actually a doula, but it's a path I'm moving towards. I have done a lot of reading and my friend asked me to do this because I have always been able to balance her, calm her and set her to reason when she's stressed. I kind of feel like this is the event that will tell me if I can actually be a doula.
So my real question is: what is up with the super early induction plan? I know it's the medical method, but this just seems silly. Any ideas?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 9 replies

need some emotional support

2008-01-11T16:40:55Z

I finally started my OB rotation, which i've been looking forward to and dreading this whole time. I love birth, it's what got me into medical school, but i have so many issues with the american medical model i knew it wouldn't be easy. Well, it's been even harder than i thought, and i'm only at the end of my second week with 4 more to go.
Here's a condensed picture of the doctor i'm working with:

within the first 5 minutes of meeting him he went on a rant about how female physicians all feel entitled to do half the work but get equal pay as their counterparts. Every few minutes he'd start with "I'm not chauvinistic, but..." and go from there. Since then i've heard

-homebirths are evil, stupid and extremely dangerous (this is an ongoing lecture directed solely at me, because he found out i had a home birth)
- lay midwives are incompetent and dangerous
- nurse midwives are lazy
-nurse practitioners are wannabe doctors

yesterday i made it through the whole day in clinic without getting the homebirth snarkiness, but he dropped these new gems

-epidurals are often medically necessary (directed to a young woman, because she said she wanted to try going natural) and "no one needs to be a martyr"
- La Leche League is full of fanatics and he never recommends them as a resource to his nursing moms (because i had just done so with a mom who complained of nursing problems. I was tempted to tell him my mom had been a leader with them almost since their founding, but hey- he dislikes me enough already)

He started out the first day also going on about several of my classmates he'd failed or almost failed, which i took as a Loud and Clear warning to keep my mouth shut so i've been suffering at the receiving end of these lectures with a blank face and noncommital "uh huh"s. This man is responsible for my grade, but it kills me to see all these moms (who really do think he's great) getting eaten by the medical system. Honestly i haven't posted this earlier because although it's unlikely it'd ever get back to him, well- it is a public forum. Anyway, please- i could use some words of encouragement so i don't pop off and say something to get me thrown out of the rotation. Thanks.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 8 replies

Waterbirth International Needs our Help

2008-01-09T03:04:15Z

Please help Barbara Harper keep waterbirth alive

Waterbirth International may close doors. Here is a note from Barbara Harper of Waterbirth International

Barbara Harper wrote:.

I cannot yet imagine a world without the voice and work of Waterbirth
International - we get calls and emails every day from women who need help
convincing one hospital or another to let them labor or birth in water. If
we die - a big part of the movement dies. Waterbirth has shown us all that
women know how to give birth and babies know how to be born. Waterbirth
gave us "hands-off", sit back and let the baby out. I see waterbirth
mentioned on Blogs every single day, not to mention Baby Story on the TV. I
took Waterbirth International to ACOG two years in a row - and was the ONLY
booth showing birth films to obstetricians and especially to student
physicians. There were tears, laughter and outrage - just the thing to stir
up those young crop of doctors. I am finally realizing a life's dream.

But now I am faced with letting this dream go. Perhaps I have done enough.
Perhaps it is time to quit.

About 18 years ago, maybe it was longer, when Mothering Magazine was facing
bankruptcy Peggy did a heartfelt plea asking their readers to consider
ordering a Life-time subscription. I think the subscriptions were $1000 or
$1200, I can't remember now. I do remember that I couldn't imagine not
reading my Mothering. So, I bought two and gave one to my obstetrician's
office.

How can you help us stay open to take the next phone call? - to convince the
next obstetrician to incorporate waterbirth into his/her practice - to work
with the nurse midwives to install pools in their facilities? To educate an
entire hospital on the benefits of allowing women freedom of movement in the
water. How much is it worth to see waterbirth become the norm in the US,
like it is in the UK? I think we only need a few more years to make that
happen. Do women really want waterbirth to be an available choice in every
hospital? I think so.

Can you help us by getting the word out on blogs and lists? I had to let go
of all of the staff except one person to process orders. Miraculously, we
made payroll today, but we can't hang on much longer. We need a miracle.

If I need to call every single waterbirth parent personally, I will. I
don't want 25 years of work to end over a measly $200,000.

The work that we have done the last few years has been phenomenal. How God
arranged for me to teach in hospitals and medical schools around the planet
- Taiwan, Venezuela, Turkey, Mexico, Canada, Holland, Portugal, China,
Trinidad, Croatia - I'll never figure that out. I laugh out loud sometimes
when I get up in front of an audience of physicians in a medical school
overseas - who all want to hear about waterbirth and the incorporation of
Gentle Birth practices and principles into their routines.

Think about what you can do and call me if you want to chat or if you have
some great ideas on how we can quickly move into the black and keep
waterbirth alive and thriving.

We need your help. Barbara Harper needs your help. The waterbirth/gentle
birth movement needs your help.

Blessings,
Barbara
Barbara Harper, RN, CLD, CCE
Founder/Director
Waterbirth International
www.waterbirth.org
503-673-0026 -office (out of US or in Portland)
800-641-2229 - toll free
503-710-7975 - cell phone

We LOVE helping women get into Hot Water!!
And have been doing it for 24 years!!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

ABOUT BIRTHING IN THE USA ( The Business of being born)

2008-01-08T09:12:01Z

I thought this documentary is going to be very interesting and informative about the state of birthiing in the USA. As I wish to become a doula this is very helpful for me for me.
http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

some advice from my predecessors, please

2007-12-28T21:13:11Z

i think i would make a good doula or midwife, but i am afraid to embark upon the schooling for it because i'm worried i'll have to watch circumcisions or disect cadavers. tell me what the schooling actually involves. are my concerns completely groundless?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 9 replies

New project started in Copan, Honduras.

2007-12-21T23:43:04Z

Myself along with several other women doctors and fellow Canadians have started a project in Copan, Honduras. The project is very grassroots right now but is rapidly evolving. We got our website up last week and are now working on promoting the project and getting the word out! Over the next few months we will be visiting many of the small mountain villages to connect and work with the local midwifes. In mid January we will be holding a two-day conference for the village midwifes to help educate them on danger signs as well as nutrition and proper sterilization of tools. The project has many possibilities and lots of potential. I'm most excited about the adopt a midwife program, which is easy way to help get involved in the education of other midwives in the world.

Check out our website at:

www.lifetolifehonduras.org

Please feel free to pass on the website and see how you can help out as we need all the help we can get!!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Holistic Doula Training in N. Virginia

2007-12-17T19:50:22Z

Matrona Holistic Doula Training

Four weekends...starting January 26th & 27th.
Also, March 8th and 9th, April 5th and 6th
and May 3rd and 4th

Class times...
Saturday and Sunday -- 9:30 am till 5:30 pm

Learn the Art of Birth
and how to assist women and families create a natural birthing experience.

You will learn...
How to calculate a mom's Estimated Date of Birth
How conception and placentation takes place
The hormones of pregnancy
How pregnancy evolves and how labor begins
How dilation and effacement take place
The Holistic Stages of Labor
How to catch a baby and assist the Mother
Waterbirth and Positions for Labor
Comfort Measures for Labor
The Birth of the Placenta and Placenta Medicine
Assisting Postpartum and Breastfeeding
The Normal Newborn
Homeopathy and Herbs for the Childbearing Continuum
____________________________________________

This series includes 64 hours of Doula Training and
Certificates will be awarded at the conclusion of the program.
Classes will be held in Sterling, VA
Cost $600 for the series

For registration and logistical information please call...
Allison Tilluma at 703-298-5876

For information on the curriculum and scope of the classes...
Whapio at belovedpilgrim@yahoo.com or 828-242-2188

Visit www.thematrona.com for complete curriculum

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

how to start a birth center

2007-12-17T00:49:31Z

can anyone share good resources with me?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

beautiful homebirth montage

2007-12-09T17:30:21Z

from Circle of Life midwifery in Salam.

gorgeous!

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=3c5b874ed95f8ea9bf9466&skin_id=1009&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

help...

2007-12-03T21:05:20Z

who would your recommend for doula training....why....

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

Birth Arts Doula Workshop in Eugene

2007-11-15T21:36:43Z

BIRTH ARTS INTERNATIONAL DOULA WORKSHOP

http://www.maiahealingarts.com/birth-arts-eugene-oregon/

November 30th, December 1st & 2nd, 2007
at Sacred Waters Birthing Center, Eugene, OR

Join us for a weekend educational immersion into the science and spirit of labor support. Learn how to provide support for women and babies through pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum.

The training includes an three days of class, extensive workbook, and on-going mentoring through didactic work to complete the program and receive certification as a Certified Birth Arts Doula.

Birth Arts offers a complete birth doula training integrating evidence-based maternity care research with traditional women’s wisdom and intuition. The workshop includes hands-on experiential practice in bodywork, rebozo, labor support techniques, and non-pharmacological methods of pain relief. We will go into detail about the practice of supporting women at birth at home, birth center, and hospital environments.

Kara Maia Spencer, LMT, CD, CBE
Patricia Couch, Midwife, CD, CBE

Tuition: $350

Schedule:

Friday evening - 6-10pm
Saturday - 9am - 6pm
Sunday - 9am - 6pm

Location:
Sacred Waters Community Birthing Center
Eugene, OR

For registration or inquiries contact:

Kara at 541-520-0681 or email kara@birtharts.com

http://www.maiahealingarts.com/birth-arts-eugene-oregon/
www.birtharts.com

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Denver/Boulder Area Midwives/CNM's

2007-11-03T22:05:22Z

Hello! I am new to the area and would like to enroll in the National College of Midwifery (http://www.midwiferycollege.org/index.htm) some time next year. However the program is long distance and requires that I have a local Preceptor/s. Is there anyone out there interested in helping me get my ASM? What would your services cost to me?
Thanks a bunch!
Daizee

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 6 replies

Anyone looking to be a Doula? Labor Assist? Workshop here in San Diego, CA

2007-11-02T17:28:41Z

I am helping to hosting a Labor/Birth Assistant Doula training workshop at the end of this month. ALACE (Association of Labor Assistant and Childbirth Educators) the oldest Labor Assistant/ Doula training program in America, and they are having a 3 day workshop for anyone who has interest in Labor Assisting/Doula. This is a great course for anyone who wants to learn more about Pregnancy and Birth and how to support women and their partners during labor. This has been an amazing career choice for me, and everyone I know that has been able to move into this line of work.

The workshop is November 30th-Decemer 2nd at the UCSD Women's Health Center on the UCSD campus in La Jolla. The trainer coming out for this workshop has been a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) and Doula for over 20 years, and she is awesome! If you want me to mail you a brochure, or email you one give me a call or email me at SDAlaceWorkshop@Gmail.com or (619) 849-8708. You can also message me here on Tribe.

"An ALACE Certified Labor Assistant/Birth Doula is a professional care provider who understands and trusts the process of birth, who respects its transcendent and sacred aspects as well as its physical and emotional aspects, and who facilitates the birth experience for parents, baby and primary care providers."- from the ALACE website.

For more information on what a Doula does please also feel free to visit the ALACE website at www.Alace.org

Thank you!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Birth Arts Doula Workshop at Harbin Hot Springs

2007-10-14T02:49:43Z

BIRTH ARTS INTERNATIONAL
DOULA WORKSHOP

at Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, CA
October 19th-21st, 2007

To Register and for more info: www.maiahealingarts.com/harbin...oct-07/

Join us for a weekend educational immersion into the science and spirit of labor support. Learn how to provide support for women and babies through pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum.

The training includes an three days of class, extensive workbook, and on-going mentoring through didactic work to complete the program and receive certification as a Certified Birth Arts Doula.

Birth Arts offers a complete birth doula training integrating evidence-based maternity care research with traditional women’s wisdom and intuition. The workshop includes hands-on experiential practice in bodywork, rebozo, labor support techniques, and non-pharmacological methods of pain relief. We will go into detail about the practice of supporting women at birth at home, birth center, and hospital environments.

with Kara Spencer, LMT, CD
Harbin Hot Springs, Middletown, CA
October 19-21, 2007

Kara Spencer - Maia Healing Arts: www.maiahealingarts.com
Birth Arts International ~ www.birtharts.com
Harbin Hot Springs Retreat Center - www.harbin.org

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Reading List

2007-10-11T15:00:58Z

So, as a total birth junkie, pregnant mama & aspiring future midwife, I need to know which books to invest in (time, money, etc) & which to ignore. Are there certain textbooks I should get my hands on? Fun fiction? Interesting historical accounts? A little of everything?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 8 replies

Gentle Birth World Conference in PDX (x-post)

2007-09-13T04:52:51Z

http://www.gentlebirthworld.com/mc/page.do

This is coming up in about a month here in Portland and i was curious if anyone from Tribe is going? I'm wanting to make the Sat/Sun part.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 7 replies

Sacred Birthing Workshops on Maui in September

2007-08-24T07:28:48Z

Sacred Birthing: Co-creating Birth with Nature & Spirit

September 14-19, 2007 Maui, Hawaii

www.sacredbirthing.com

We are all to be “Baby Whisperers”. We are each intuitive already. What would it mean to your families if you could listen to the needs of the unborn, & understand what this fetus needs so it may be addressed and not manifest into emotional patterns? What if you could pacify the fears of this newborn, or know why this baby is not able to be comforted?

Our teacher is nature herself, for when we are asking birth to be our teacher, we interface with nature, the only one who holds birth's wholeness. Nature is our bridge to birth. We will build on what was learned in the last birthshop, and learn to merge with nature in order to see and hear subtle layers.

In this Birthshop, you will be shown that what you are getting is absolutely trustworthy. Knowing you are receiving your own right answers allows you to stop doubting, and accelerates your inner hearing, sight and intuition to your next level. It reveals your own symbology, and gives you enough fun practice with these tools to be proficient by the end of the week. Please join in this co-creation with us.

It is preferable that you have completed the Awareness in Sacred Birthing or Foundations in Sacred Birthing workshop prior to undertaking this workshop. This is the second Birthshop in the series toward Certification for teaching Sacred Birthing.

There will be a pre-workshop from September 12-14 for those who have not attended a level one birthshop and would like to get into the level two birthshop from September 14-19.

* Tuition cost Pre-workshop 2 days : us $150
* Tuition cost Birthshop 5 days : us $400
* Food & Lodging ~ 5 days $600 / 7days $740)

** please note these prices are an indication only as cost dependant upon type of accommodation required. For venue information

Location: Hale Akua Shangri-la www.halehakuashangri-la.com
Registration

To reserve your space in this birthshop either please send a non-refundable $150 deposit made payable to Sacred Birthing Foundation P.O. Box 790298 Paia, Hawaii 96779 USA

All Birthshop fees to be received in full please by the 5th September 2007.

Please click on the hotlink below the picture for a full description. You will need to come back to this page to register for the seminar by using the " PayPal Payments" button below. Please click for more information on rooms, locality and amenities.

For more information regarding the birthshop please contact:Anastacia

Email healingbirth@juno.com ot telPacific Coast Time: 425-228-8555

www.sacredbirthing.com

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

free and easy way to help homeless children

2007-08-02T21:49:21Z

www.railwaychildren-friends.com/email.asp

place this web search-engine in place of your old one and raise 10p per search

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Birth Arts Doula Training at Lost Valley, Oregon - Aug 24-26

2007-07-17T08:30:05Z

Birth Arts International Doula Training
at Lost Valley Educational Center, Dexter, OR (near Eugene)
August 24-26, 2007
www.birtharts.com

For more information see: http://www.maiahealingarts.com/lost-valley-oregon-august/
or contact Kara at 541-520-0681

Join us at Lost Valley for a weekend educational immersion into the science and spirit of labor support. Learn how to provide support for women and babies through pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum.

The training includes a weekend workshop, lodging (dorm or camping), meals, an extensive workbook, and on-going mentoring through didactic work to complete the program and receive certification as a Certified Birth Arts Doula.

Birth Arts offers a complete birth doula training integrating evidence-based maternity care research with traditional women’s wisdom and intuition. The workshop includes hands-on experiential practice in bodywork, rebozo, labor support techniques, and non-pharmacological methods of pain relief. We will go into detail about the practice of supporting women at birth at home, birth center, and hospital environments.

Instructors:

Kara Maia Spencer, LMT , CD, CBE

Tuition: $350

Food & Lodging: $130 - dormitory lodging, $70 - camping in your own tent
includes delicious vegetarian meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch

For registration or inquiries contact:

Kara at 541-520-0681 or email kara@birtharts.com

Mail your registration form and tuition to: Kara Spencer, 2833 Willamette St, Suite B, Eugene, OR 97405

About Lost Valley Educational Center:

Lost Valley, www.lostvalley.org, is a permaculture school, intentional community, and workshop retreat center. Situated just 25 minutes east of Eugene, OR on a beautiful reserve of land, there are hiking trails, a creek with a swimming hole in the summer, and guided nature trails.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

midwifery schools

2007-07-17T03:23:47Z

hi all... I am just starting to look into midwifery schools. Can any of you rave about a particularly stellar program? Any warnings away from others?
Thanks, Elise

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 28 replies

IUD with progesterone

2007-06-25T23:36:42Z

A friend of mine recently had the IUD with progesterone inserted, it was advised by a Dr. friend of ours.
I'm skeptical and a little worried about the information she received.
She was told that the hormone 'only stays in her uterus' and doesn't enter her general circulation.
She is also a heavy smoker.
I would NEVER advise a smoker to have anything to do with hormone contraception. I've always thought that it increases the risk of cancers by a hundredfold or something.
Does anyone know something that I don't?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 5 replies

CB classes in Del Mar/Solana Beach/Encinitas area?

2007-06-24T15:34:08Z

My sister is finally pregnant and having her first baby!! I am looking for a good childbirth educator in North County San Diego area. Does anyone have any reccommendations? I am looking for someone who is very well versed in natural birthing and who can offer lots of options for comfort measures during the labor--especially ones in which her husband can have an active role.

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

midwives in az?

2007-06-24T14:18:55Z

hello,
I am looking for a concious midwife in the state of arizona does anyone know of any or have any recommendations ?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

Birth Arts International Doula Workshops

2007-06-22T08:34:29Z

Upcoming Birth Arts Workshops in Vermont, Oregon, Texas, and California!
www.birtharts.com

Birth, Postpartum, and Advanced Doula Trainings integrating wise women traditions with evidence-based research.

Birth Arts Postpartum Workshop
Bennington, VT - July 28th-29th
contact: Helena Wu at helena@birtharts.com / 802-235-1512

Birth Arts Advanced Workshop - Vibrational Medicine for Birth
Chester, VT - August 25th-26th
contact: Helena Wu at helena@birtharts.com / 802-235-1512

Birth Arts Labor Doula Workshop
Lost Valley Center, Dexter, OR - August 24th-26th
contact: Kara Spencer at kara@birtharts.com / 541-520-0681
www.maiahealingarts.com/doula-training/

Birth Arts Labor Doula Workshop
Alma De Mujer, Austin, TX - August 24th-26th
contact: Patricia Couch at patricia@birtharts.com / 541-556-8415
www.pattycakebirthingservices.com/b...x/

Birth Arts Labor Doula Workshop
Harbin Hot Springs, Middletown, CA - October 19th-21st
contact: Kara Spencer at kara@birtharts.com / 541-520-0681
www.maiahealingarts.com/harbin...oct-07/

More dates coming soon. Contact demetria@birtharts.com if you are interested in hosting a class in your area or for interest in distance learning programs.

Birth Arts International
www.birtharts.com

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Birth Center Closing

2007-06-22T01:15:04Z

I live in a super conservative area where most people are opposed to home birth, natural birth is an anomaly, and the C-section rate is about 32%. We have one local birth center staffed by midwives, that is located within a hospital's L&D center. It seems that the L&D center is in need of costly repairs and updates so the hospital is planning on closing it down, this will also include our only local birth center. The area midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, and some families are trying to organize and convince the hospital to keep the current birthing facilities. I was hoping that some of you might have experience with similar situations or ideas on how to successfully accomplish this mission. I can't wait to get your ideas! Also, does anyone know of other groups that might be helpful with this?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

"Pushed" by Jennifer Block

2007-06-21T20:46:20Z

This should be a good one --includes a section on Cynthia Caillagh's prosecution re: the death of Julia Peters and the history of midwifery legalization in VA.

Interview with Jennifer Block, Author of "Pushed"
www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2...-pushed

AMAZON INFO:
Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block (Hardcover - Jun 30, 2007)
www.amazon.com/exec/obido...vbfreedomus

1st customer review:
By Liberty (Liberty, ME United States)
"This engaging journalistic expose was a real eye-opener, and a must-read not just for women, but for anyone considering becoming a parent, or really anyone concerned with the direction health care in the U.S. is headed. The cesarean rate in our country is over 30%, nearly three times that of some European countries. Are our bodies really that different? Somehow, I doubt it. Ms. Block explores the troubling trends that push doctors to perform often uncalled-for major abdominal surgery, and shows how this is harmful both to mothers and babies. With stylish, riveting prose, an exciting first-hand account of traveling "underground" with an illegal midwife, and tales from the operating table, Block skillfully takes stock of the current state of birth in America. Not to be missed."

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

Birth Arts Birth Doula Training in Austin, TX, Aug 24-26, 2007

2007-06-18T09:11:05Z

What: Birth Arts International Doula Training and Retreat

When: Friday, August 24th - Sunday, August 26th, 2007

Where: Alma De Mujer Center for Social Change, Austin, TX

Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in learning to support women through pregnancy, birth, and immediate postpartum. This workshop is perfect for aspiring doulas, aspiring midwives, nurses, childbirth educators, college students, parents, and more.

Cost: $490, includes workshop tuition, lodging, food, and incidentals

Join Birth Arts International at Alma De Mujer Center for Social Change for a weekend educational immersion into the science and spirit of labor support. Learn how to provide support for women and babies through pregnancy, labor, birth, and immediate postpartum. The training includes a weekend workshop, lodging, meals, an extensive workbook, and on-going mentoring through didactic work to complete the program and receive certification as a Certified Birth Arts Doula.

Birth Arts offers a complete birth doula training integrating evidence-based maternity care research with traditional women's wisdom and intuition. We will go into detail about the practice of supporting women at birth at home, birth center, and hospital environments.

The workshop includes hands-on experiential practice in many useful doula skills including but not limited to: bodywork, Rebozo, labor support techniques, and non-pharmacological methods of pain relief.

More information about the workshop is available at: www.withHeartandHands.net/bai.aspx

More information about Birth Arts International is available at: www.birtharts.com

More information about Alma De Mujer Center for Social Change is available at: www.main.org/alma

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

No period after quitting the pill!!!

2007-06-18T05:04:26Z

Greetings Everyone!!!

I am wondering if anyone can help me as I have not had a period in three months. I came off the pill in November and had normal periods all the way till March and even ovulated (I get the pain in my side when I do). Anyways since March I have had no period. I know it is normal to have irregular periods after quitting the pill but isin't it weird that I had normal ones and now have had not had any! Oh and I have taken several pregnancy tests--through the doctor and from the drugstore and they are all negative. It's very frustrating as my husband and I are trying but it is pretty hard when I have no idea if I am ovulating now or when to really 'try'. I have tried to bring it on with parsley and that hasn't worked...Does anyone know why this is happening or when my period is going to come back. I am relatively thin (119 pounds and 5'8) but before I went on the pill I had normal periods. Also I went to see the doctor about it and he tested everything and all my hormone levels came back normal. So how come I'm not bleeding?!!! Does this mean I'm not ovulating

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

Anthropology of Childbirth

2007-06-16T04:39:02Z

Hi, I'm new to this tribe and I wanted to introduce myself.
I'm finishing up my anthropology degree at UCSC and my plans are to study midwifery after I graduate. At the moment, I'm researching the act of childbirth and how people approach it; in other words, where does meaning lie, what language is used to discribe it, and so on. I'm interested in defending natural childbirth as a realistic choice despite the dominant western medical culture's ideologies. I haven't narrowed down my thesis yet but-
I wanted to ask permission to observe the dialogs that take place here. If privacy is an issue, I could make sure to use pseudonyms. Please feel free to ask me any questions.
Blessings!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

Politics in Birth

2007-05-12T05:17:45Z

Sounds horrible doesn't it?

Unfortunately, there is an increasing need to get politically involved if you want to secure a future of independent midwifery. The AMA is looking to control "alternative" practices like midwifery to minimize the scope of practice for midwives.
I ust found and joined this tribe and would like to discuss the politics of birth.
I am the lobbyist in Washington State for an organization called Citizens for Safe Birth.
I assume many of you are midwives or doulas.
Your experiences these past few years?

Ezra

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 20 replies

Orgasmic Birth Documentary

2007-05-09T06:06:34Z

Here is another vital documentary being made... We are the ones who need to make sure this information is put to the public...

http://orgasmicbirth.com/

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 2 replies

tempe ,az doulas ????

2007-05-07T20:52:03Z

hello im looking to meet with a doula or midwife who is holistic and can help me during the next 9 months looking for someone very interesting with knowledge of herbalism and aromatherapy please contact me soon please if you fit ...
peace & love - paradise

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

thinking of becoming a doula...

2007-04-29T23:49:56Z

hi all! i'm considering doula training, and i'd love to get recommendations regarding training. i'm in austin, texas, but i can easily make it to dallas, houston, or san antonio... i know cappa has a weekend training coming up in january, and A.L.A.C.E. has one in February.
also, i'd like to know more about the certification process... any advice, tips and information you experienced folks have would be so, so appreciated!
thank you!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 3 replies

ALACE Doula/Labor Assist. Training- San Diego, CA

2007-04-27T23:26:26Z

ALACE (Association of Labor Assistant and Childbirth Educators) the oldest Labor Assistant/ Doula training program in America, is going to be offering a 3 day workshop for anyone who has interest in Labor Assisting/Doula. This is a great course for anyone who wants to learn more about Pregnancy and Birth and how to support women and their partners during labor. This is a growing field and a really amazing career training opportunity as more and more mothers/hospitals/doctors/midwives are supporting doula's and what they offer.

The workshop is June 22nd-24th at the UCSD Women's Health Center on the UCSD campus in La Jolla. For more information please feel free to call me (Chelsea Burris) at (619) 849-8708 or Meredith Paige (858) 705-4275. You can also message me here on Tribe or email me at SDAlaceWorkshop@Gmail.com.

"An ALACE Certified Labor Assistant/Birth Doula is a professional care provider who understands and trusts the process of birth, who respects its transcendent and sacred aspects as well as its physical and emotional aspects, and who facilitates the birth experience for parents, baby and primary care providers."- from the ALACE website.

For more information on what a Doula does please also feel free to visit the ALACE website at www.Alace.org

Thank you!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

From a Recent Birthing From Within newsletter for BFW mentors, written by Pam England

2007-04-23T06:02:33Z

Now...a brand-new article just for you, by Pam England.

INFORMATION versus AWARENESS
By Pam England

Are you wondering, what does birthing from within mean? Or how does a mother give birth from within? In a word: awareness. Rather than acting from conditioning (primarily: from fear, avoiding blame or conflict, and believing experts know more), a woman can prepare by being pregnant in-awareness. Each day she can bring attention to what she is telling herself and what she is feeling in her physical and emotional body when she receives information, advice, or has an impulse to act.

It would seem at first glance that a mother who gathers lots of information during pregnancy is motivated and headed in the "right direction." However, a more important detail of her preparation is her being aware of what is motivating her to become so well-informed. What does the drive for information feel like in her body? How does she know in her bones and gut how to use the information? And to what degree is she is aware of any of this?

If she is not listening to the subtle messages in her body, in her breath, in her dreams, or in the patterns in her thoughts and emotions, then she is acting from her conditioning and not from awareness. From the outside, no one may be able to tell the difference, but on the inside, she will feel the difference.

We certainly want our health-care practitioners (doctors, midwives, and nurses) to be well-informed about physiology, diagnosis, a variety of treatments, and pharmacology. Hunting and assimilating new information is part of their chosen professions, and they should be passionate and diligent about it.

However, a new mother, with only months or weeks before giving birth, does not have time to gather, learn, and assimilate all the information out there. Many women are conditioned to believe that if they have lots of information, then they will "pass the test" or be able to control their birth outcome. Gathering birth information sometimes becomes a kind of addiction; parents can feel the adrenalin and endorphin surges as they learn, learn, learn by surfing the net and reading. There is often an extra surge when their eyes glued to the medicalized birth shows on TV.

Here is a practice for mothers (and their partners!):

The first step in birthing (and living) in-awareness, is to turn your attention inward each day. One of the important tasks of pregnancy is to consciously tune into, develop, and trust your own, new, maternal intuition. While you are growing a baby in your belly, it's a good time to grow awareness or gut instinct.

In the same way you take a prenatal vitamin every day,
take an "Awareness Moment" everyday.

Choose the time of day in your busy life when you regularly have ten minutes to spare. Commit to enjoy your ten minute Awareness Moment during this time. Doing it at the same time each day adds rhythm and grounding to your life; it also makes the practice more potent, more quickly. Focus and concentration actually increase relaxation and awareness of your body, mind, breath, and life. Doing this practice right when you wake up is ideal, because your mind is not racing. If it means you wake up ten minutes earlier, then do it. (You're going to be getting up "earlier" in a few months anyway!)

Your Awareness Moment
Sit up straight. Sit outside if weather permits. Open your chest, open your legs, and straighten your back. Be in your body. If you can get into a body position that encourages optimal fetal positioning, that is be ideal. Don't slouch, as that sends a negative message to your body-mind.

Begin by practicing Breath Awareness (described in our books, classes, and CD), which will bring you into Quiet Mind. Day by day, the more you practice, the more quickly and deeply you will enter Quiet Mind.

When you are in Quiet Mind, your brain waves slow down. Your blood pressure and heart rate drop, then you begin to breathe more deeply and naturally. The muscles in your jaw, neck, shoulders, and pelvis began to loosen and make more room. You move from your conscious thinking (which is not very deep) and into your Quiet Mind and your wise deeper well of knowing.

Sometimes you will have a question buzzing around in your mind. A question you've been trying to answer with research and by asking others what they think. Take that question into your Awareness Moment practice. As your mind becomes quieter and quieter, ask, "What do I really want and need to know about this?" Then Listen Within.

Continue breathing quietly, and feel the answer. Don't "think" the answer. Just wait for the answer to come to you. Feel the answer in your body. It may come as image, a single word, a story, or a feeling.

Some people think BIRTHING FROM WITHIN is narrowly focused on achieving a natural birth, that is, a labor without drugs or interventions, or even without pain. Birthing from within has nothing to do with birthing normally or quietly, or without pain or interventions. A mother could have every intervention in the book and still be birthing in-awareness. When she is aware of what she is feeling emotionally and physically, and she is in her self-awareness, then she is gentle with herself and those who are working with her; she is acting and speaking from that deeper knowing. When she can't change what is happening out there, she brings attention to what is happening within her. She does not abandon herself, her "inner-Child" or her spiritual practice.

In upcoming newsletters, I will go on describing in more detail how you can cultivate awareness in your life and in your birth and postpartum journeys, and how people who work in birth-related fields can bring their own knowing and listening within to their own practice.

In-Love,
Pam England

--------------------------------------------------------
MORE TO THINK ABOUT

How much information do you need? When you are listening within, you may better know what is motivating you to want to know something. Preparing to birth from within doesn't mean you won't read or research anything about birth ever; it does mean you will know from a deeper, calmer place if you do need to research, or get a second opinion, or take action of any kind. You may find yourself doing just what needs to be done in the moment, instead of doing everything you can to avoid or control certain outcomes.

As an exercise in cultivating Awareness,
before each "information feeding frenzy", inquire:
What do I really want to know?
How will I use this information?

After each" information-feeding frenzy," inquire:
So, what do I know now?
What do I feel or know in my body-mind?
Do I feel more peaceful? More confident?
More open and ready to give birth?

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Calm Birth/Calm Mother

2007-04-21T23:05:43Z

See http://calmbirth.org

contact Robert Newman info@calmbirth.org
Periodic teacher trainings at Wellsprings in Ashland, Oregon, NYC and more

Calm Birth teaching page:
Below is an important response to the use of Magical Passes for the Womb in postnatal care. It comes from Dr. Francoise Freedman of Cambridge University, England, who attended a class I gave at the recent APPPAH congress. When Francoise wrote this to my associate Judith Halek, recommending the use of the gentle Calm Birth meditation practices in postnatal care as probably more appropriate for most women than the use of the Magical Passes for the Womb, she was unaware that we already have a postnatal meditation program, Calm Mother. She also has not seen The Empowerment of the Womb dvd, Shianna Walker presenting sacred temple dance and the Magical Passes for childbirth. I myself have not made the use of sacred movement in our program clear enough to the Calm Birth teachers. Francois' excellent and cautious response helps us clarify the whole issue.

The use of the Empowerment of the Womb dvd by certified Calm Birth teachers is optional. It is something antithetical to drugs, something potentially empowering to offer to women for postnatal care, but not in place of Vase Breathing and the other meditation practices. As Francoise says, these are sophisticated, "polished" practices. They are the heart of our program. The dvd is primarily concerned with a slow, gentle, profound sacred temple dance, centered in the womb, the Vase, and the earth. After that Shianna teaches Magical Passes for the Womb for postnatal care. We advise that any use of the Magical Passes should be based on Francois' considerations. Shianna Walker learned the Magical Passes directly from Carlos Castaneda, and, more importantly, from three dynamic women of the Toltec lineage, over a period of several years, and she has been teaching tantric dance and the Magical Passes to women for more than 10 years. Her training, her work, enables us to offer venerated movement practices that some women will find right and magnificant, and integrate into their child care. But we emphasize that the movement practices are not as essential as our primary method which in both prenatal and postnatal care offers women an empowering vision of their body and potential. Probably all of your clients would appreciate Shianna's dvd. If some of them want to incorporate the movements into their lives, with respect to the temple dance there is nothing to caution about; encourage it. With respect to the Magical Passes, please send them Francois' letter.

Robert Newman

on 4/17/07 10:40 PM, Francoise Freedman at francoise@birthlight.com wrote:

Hi Judith and Robert,

Just to clarify that I endorse what Robert wrote and I certainly do not want to play authority in the matter. At Birthlight we are keen to give teachers and parents the freedom to find ways that best promote wellbeing and joy for them and their families rather than issuing do's and don'ts. It may be that some new mothers are genuinely drawn to practise the Magical Passes if they feel fit and well soon after giving birth, but waiting for one month would protect them from the common risk of over-exertion after the high of a birth without intervention (when women feel they can move mountains). I talked about this with Robert after discussing it with Judith, which explained why Robert refers to my mention of 30 days although I had not yet thought of this as a common cross cultural time of near seclusion for new mothers worldwide for postpartum recovery and spending intimate time with the new baby. We humans are very flexible beings but among mammals there seems to be a general post-partum time in which mothers stay with their youngs and engage in little activity. And Judith is right to mention hormones, because this time is dominated by oxytocyn and prolactin, particularly if the mother is breastfeeding, while it seems to me from practising them that the Magical Passes are more conducive to generate antagonists of these hormones. However to add complexity to this delicate matter, many women are used to get a high from strong exercise that they manage to maintain up to the end of their pregnancies and they miss this terribly after giving birth. The Magical Passes may be a way to recover this high, particularly for mothers whose births has not been as wonderful as they expected and who need to engage their energies positively in a way that gives them continuity across the pregnancy. Perhaps the babies will be the best arbitrators in the matter since if their mothers thrive and are happy they will benefit. So babies, if we care to observe them, will direct their mothers to more or less activity and hopefully mothers will listen and adjust their behaviour. Teachers such as Judith will have an important role to play in assisting these adjustments as some babies may respond well to their mothers practising the Magical Passes and others show their need for full time soft cuddling. This is when the application of the other practices of the Calm Birth approach that Robert mentions will be very helpful to women adjusting to their babies' different needs.

More and more we are gearing to treating the first three months post-partum as a fourth trimester of pregnancy that requires just as much attention as the others physically, psychologically, mentally and spiritually. Generally there is a tendency to rush through the postpartum with the aim of 'returning to normal' as soon as possible after the birth. Perhaps the prenatal practices of Calm Birth could be used again -possibly in a modified form- after birth until new mothers recover their core strength (something quite different from just feeling fit and energetic). Robert may argue that the Magical Passes, as effective shamanic practices, address this core strength and he is right. But it's the way in which they 'feed' the core strength that is of concern to me. Amazonian shamans pay a great deal of attention to closed and open bodies, as do Yaqui shamans too. Lactating or still bleeding women, like menstruating women, are powerful in their openness, that also makes them dangerous and vulnerable at the same time. Passes and other shamanic practices aim at regulating the energetic closure and openness of bodies in a conscious way but this is not perceived as being compatible with maternal nurturing.
Whether this traditional antagonism applies to new mothers in our culture, I am not sure, perhaps to some and not others. After all women who engage in shamanic practices in many of the shamanic traditions worldwide are quite rare and constitute a small minority among world shamans. I am open to the possibility that Magical Passes as developed by Castaneda may fulfill an important need of women in our culture as new mothers (although this may be a loss rather than a gain) and that if taught carefully with attention paid to how babies respond to their mothers' practice (in the same way that the babies of new mothers who resume the practice of Ashtanga Yoga soon after birth may be more unsettled than expected), this may be beneficial. It would be wonderful if Judith taught the Magical Passes with an observation of a group of new mothers and followed their and their babies'responses over a few months.

I agree about communication being important and also in this case there is an experimentation taking place: we need to know more about the neuro-chemistry of the Magical Passes in relation to the physiology of the postpartum and understand better the pros and cons for a majority of women; we need to listen to new mothers expressing their needs after having babies and draw conclusions from this. Robert also needs to consider how the Magical Passes fit with the other practices he has brought together in Calm Birth, as the Tibetan practices have been polished by centuries of spiritual and religious tradition together while the Mexican practices are more directly shamanic.

I hope this makes some sense as it's quite late in the night but I would like to continue talking with both of you and hope that this email has bridged a gap of communication which I am truly sorry to have caused or broadened as my attitude to the Magical Passes postpartum is open-minded with caution, nothing dogmatic, just trying to think it through.

Hug to Robert and lots of love to Judith with full respect for her caring attitude
Francoise

A teaching tool from the Calm Birth program:

The uterus of a woman practicing Womb Breathing will probably generate even more vital hormonal
and pleasure-causing agents in addition to what is described below. (See: BENEFITS on the Calm Birth website.)

“For years the uterus was viewed as merely a recipient of biochemical information, the target

of endocrine activity generated elsewhere in the body. It was not thought to manufacture essential chemicals on its own.

"More recently, the uterus has emerged as a maker as well as a taker. Yes, it responds to hormones from the ovaries and other organs, but it also expresses hormones and releases them into the body.

"The uterus fabricates drugs that would be considered illegal in other contexts.

"It synthesizes and secretes beta-endorphins and dynorphins, two of the body's natural opiates, and chemical cousins to morphine and heroine.

"It makes anandamine, a molecule almost identical to the active ingredient in marijuana.

"Until recently, these compounds were thought to be the exclusive property of the central nervous system (the brain & spinal cord). The uterus produces at least as much opiate material as the brain, and it makes 10 times more of the marijuana equivalent than any other organ in the body.

"It makes proteins, sugars, fats, and prostaglandins (which very likely affect the walls of your blood vessels, improving vascular tone, and perhaps preventing hardening of the arteries that can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease).

"In truth, we know remarkably little about the purpose of the various opiates, chemicals, hormones, and hormone precursors that the uterus secretes with such vigor. We don't know how important the output is to our overall health and well-being.

"We should be humbled by the fact that scientists discovered the very dramatic concentrations of anandamine in the uterus as recently as the late 1990s. And that humbleness should in turn enhance our vigilance against removing the uterus in all but the most extreme circumstances."

Natalie Angier, “Woman: An Intimate Geography”

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 0 replies

Doula training in L.A.?

2007-04-17T07:12:21Z

hi all, don't know if i have posted on this site yet

i am wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction of a good, down to earth, holistically minded Doula training course here in the L.A. area? i have spoken with daBomb, but also wanted to put it out here, before i go out searching too much...like who is a great teacher, how much should i expect the cost, the time, etc.?

any good suggestions? i am in the Santa Monica area, but would be willing to drive a bit for the right classes

this has been something in the back of my mind and heart for a long time, especially as a bodyworker, and it has been really coming up this year...thanks everyone!

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 1 reply

2007 Gentle Birth World Congress

2007-04-04T22:04:23Z

I just spoke to Barbara Harper and cannot tell you how excited I am to have the Gentle Birth World Congress here in Portland....

http://www.gentlebirthworld.com/mc/page.do

Portland was voted two years in a row in the top five places to have a baby by Fit Pregnancy Magazine. One of the qualifiers was the diversity of providers and places for women to give birth....more home birth per capita than any other place in the US, naturopaths chiropractors, nurse midwives in every hospitals, holistic providers, doulas, therapists, and a population of child-bearing age men and women who are interested in sustainable living, protecting the environment and conscious about healthy life style choices, including birth and baby care options.

I attended the 1st International Waterbirth conference 6.5 yrs ago here in Portland sponsored by Waterbirth International when I was pregnant with my last child... It made a huge impact upon me...

Namaste,
Tia

posted in Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators - 4 replies

Midwives, Doulas, & Childbirth Educators's topics - tribe.net

Searching for midwife in California Bay Area++++

birth videos

Online Holistic Childbirth Class

The Doctors

caught this article on my home page this morning.....................

manual dilation

Midwifery Today conference

Understanding Our Bodies, Empowering Ourselves: fertility awareness class 3/29 (Bay Area)

Unassisted Home Breech Birth...?

Looking for a wise woman.

Just Another Day in a Woman's Life? Free lecture in Portland!

Calm Birth Teacher Training

LOT versus ROT

Volunteering Q's

Online Birth Class

Beautiful Natural Childbirth Film

Dysautonomia/MVPS

Asking advice from midwives over past broken pelvis and natural birth

anterior/posterior cervix question

what do you think?

Anne Frye Textbooks

Dr. Phil planning "Homebirth Horror Stories" show

Lactation Consultant

frontier

new group:childbirth and labor

Question on homebirth midwives vs hospital midwives

ACOG is at it again

Los Angeles hospital advice

Online Co-Creative Birthing Class

Orgasmic Birth Screening in Fullerton, California 9/27/08

Looking for Doulas on the SF Peninsula

AMA feels homebirth should be illegal

childless doulas and midwives...

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breech babies

Attorneys looking for VBAC ban victims

birth in mainstream media - videos needed

Orgasmic Birth Screening (PDX) June 28th and 29th

Books and what not

it's finally happening!

etiquette with compensation

Joyous victory for PA midwife

cool resource for moms-to-be AND doulas

Doula Training

birth and bellydance

Baby International Film Festival

you know you were raised by hippies when...

Orgasmic Birth DVD

Trusting in the Process

Support a Family Healing Arts Center!

The Business of Being Born

St Johns Wart/ Pregnancy/ Bipolar

UGGG New York Times Article

what does the call *feel* like to you?

Wow

Countdown to first birth!

birth control, artficial hormone replacement, and animal product hormones

real job/vs. fantasy....*

Moving Through referrals for Portland OR

how does this sound to you?

Baby Healing Project Needs Your Votes for Funding!

Hypnotherapist providing Low Fee Postpartum Doula and Volunteer Birth Doula services

I'm confused.

need some emotional support

Waterbirth International Needs our Help

ABOUT BIRTHING IN THE USA ( The Business of being born)

some advice from my predecessors, please

New project started in Copan, Honduras.

Holistic Doula Training in N. Virginia

how to start a birth center

beautiful homebirth montage

help...

Birth Arts Doula Workshop in Eugene

Denver/Boulder Area Midwives/CNM's

Anyone looking to be a Doula? Labor Assist? Workshop here in San Diego, CA

Birth Arts Doula Workshop at Harbin Hot Springs

Reading List

Gentle Birth World Conference in PDX (x-post)

Sacred Birthing Workshops on Maui in September

what does the call feel like to you?