by Jill Cohen ARTICLE 2008.12.26 "This document discusses homebirth as one of many avenues toward a successful birth-one that results in a happy and healthy mom and baby. We offer this in support of education, freedom of choice and empowerment of women and their families. While aimed at parents, those considering the profession of midwifery will also find it a useful overview of what a midwife does." READ MORE… by Kate Prendergast ARTICLE 2008.12.10 "I wish I could think of a punch line for this joke: ‘A midwife, a doula and an obstetrician walk into a bar…’ but, I don't really need one since I've gotten plenty of laughs just with that opening. I'm a big fan of using humor. I find laughter useful in my roles as midwife's assistant, midwifery student and doula." READ MORE… by Nancy Wainer ARTICLE 2008.12.1 "When I agreed to have a cesarean, was I really making a choice? First of all, I, the chooser, was not truly informed; second, my doctor lied to me. Third, my insurance company limited my choices in many ways." READ MORE… by Lydi Owen ARTICLE 2008.11.17 There is a rule of labor that forbids a woman to push with contractions until her cervix is completely dilated to 10 cm. Women are warned that to push before this doorway is completely open and out of the way will result in a swollen and/or torn cervix. READ MORE… by Demetria Clark ARTICLE 2008.11.17 "Many midwives work with or have some knowledge of herbal medicine, but still often have questions about different types of applications. Each herbal application is valuable in its own right. Some applications will feel familiar and some will seem to be more work than they’re worth, but I suggest that midwives experiment and have fun. Sometimes one of these experiments will have a real-life application in the home or in midwifery care." READ MORE… |  |  |  | FEATURED PRODUCT 2009.1.2 NEW! Prenatal Massage—A Textbook of Pregnancy, Labor and Postpartum Bodywork contains clear, colorfully illustrated explanations of a wide range of techniques and procedures. Topics covered include Swedish massage, acupuncture points, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, lymphatic drainage, and reflexology. Plus, you can watch demonstrations on the companion DVD. VIEW PRODUCT…
SPECIAL 2009.1.3 NEW! You can still save up to $20 on your Midwifery Today order. Or save $5 on a Midwifery Today subscription. Check out the Online Holiday Coupon Page to find out how, then take advantage of these great savings. LEARN MORE… MIDWIFERY EDUCATION 2009.1.2 NEW! Are you an aspiring midwife who's looking for the right school? Are you a practicing midwife who would like learn more? Visit our Education Opportunities page to discover ways to start or continue your education. LEARN MORE…
MIDWIFERY EDUCATION 2008.11.11 Win a 5-day conference in Copenhagen, Denmark! Enter our WRITING COMPETITION. (Click on "Midwifery Today" in the upper right of the homepage.) Deadline is 1 Feb 2009. LEARN MORE… Trick of the TradeWEEKLY FEATURE 2009.1.4 NEW! To slow down or halt preterm labor, I use several different methods, depending on the woman. I have had good luck with all of these: Benadryl, cell salt (magnesium phosphate), Rescue Remedy, valerian, vodka, checking for urinary infection (get it treated), and a moist heating pad on mom's lower abdomen, right above her pubic hair. If baby is breech or in another malposition that is stimulating the cervix, I give pulsatilla to get the baby moved. I also use bed rest with baby's head off the cervix. Calcium with magnesium also may work. Humor and prayer can work well too.
— S.H., E-News 1:32 Quotable QuoteWEEKLY FEATURE 2009.1.4 NEW! We're used to thinking about how home-based and apprenticeship midwives need hospital-based midwives—to accept the transfers, to work with the women who 'risk out' of homebirth, to work with the women who have learned to fear birth. But hospital-based, medically entrenched midwives need the outsiders' view of the other midwives just as much or even more if they are to retain sight of midwifery as a goal.
— Barbara Katz Rothman, PhD, The Daughters of Time on the Paths to Midwifery FDA Warns about Use of CellCept or Myfortic during PregnancyNEWS ITEM 2008.7.1 The FDA has reissued a warning that the drugs mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) and mycophenolic acid (Myfortic) may cause miscarriages and birth defects if used during pregnancy. Both are used to prevent organ rejection in patients with transplants, but also are sometimes used off-label to treat conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Congenital malformations associated with these drugs include bilateral microtia or anotia (ear deformities, cleft palate and lip and other major structural defects. Go here for the complete warning. |