Issue 83

Safer Birth in a Barn?

Don’t let the mare see you; crouch here in the hallway where you can peek over the half wall of the foaling box—the stress of seeing strangers at this time could put the foal in danger! Read more…. Safer Birth in a Barn?

The Function of Joy in Pregnancy

Frequent contributor Michel Odent discusses how joy in pregnancy protects the baby against harmful stress hormones.

This post is only available to members. To purchase an online membership, go here.

If you are already an online member login here.

 Read more…. The Function of Joy in Pregnancy

Footling Breech: A Midwife’s Own Birth Story

In this memoir a midwife reflects on the story of her birth as a footling breech in Germany during WWII, and the homebirths that she has attended in her life. She touches on both themes, remembering not only breech births, but the role that animals have played in many births she has been involved with. Read more…. Footling Breech: A Midwife’s Own Birth Story

Who Are the Statistics?

According to the Listening to Mothers II survey conducted in 2005, four in 10 women had their labors induced and 47% were augmented with Pitocin. Women are given epidurals, they are catheterized, they are forced to birth on their backs and nearly 30% have their babies cut out of them. Read more…. Who Are the Statistics?

The Underside of the World: An American CPM’s View of Midwifery in New Zealand

The author shares her experience of working in New Zealand, and some of the negative and positive aspects of the free midwifery care in that country.

This post is only available to members. To purchase an online membership, go here.

If you are already an online member login here.

 Read more…. The Underside of the World: An American CPM’s View of Midwifery in New Zealand

La Partería Global – Tradicional y Oficial – y la Humanización del Nacimiento

Hasta hace 200 años toda la atención del nacimiento en el mundo era humanizada ya que era brindada por parteras que mantenían a la mujer en el centro, y en general, respetaban la naturaleza y la cultura. Read more…. La Partería Global – Tradicional y Oficial – y la Humanización del Nacimiento

Turning Breech Babies After 34 Weeks: The If, How, and When of Turning Breech Babies

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Midwifery Today, Issue 83, Autumn 2007. Join Midwifery Today Online Membership Abstract: Techniques for turning a term breech baby are 1). external cephalic version (ECV) using hands and ultrasound only; 2). acupuncture point stimulation, by needle or moxibustion; 3). chiropractic “Webster” technique; 4). hypnotherapy; and 5). special exercises. Fifty % of breech fetuses at 34 weeks will turn by themselves to head down by 38 weeks. Therefore, to be considered effective, a technique for turning breech must turn the baby and keep it turned more than 50% of the time. Only ECV with an experienced practitioner has been documented to have a greater than 50% success rate at 37 weeks; in 95% of cases the head stays down. Most women experience the fetus turning by hand as quick but very painful. “Unstable lie” is sometimes used as a baseless excuse for inducing labor after the baby turns from breech to head down. ([email protected]) Even before the 2001 recommendation by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) that all breech babies be delivered by cesarean, the cesarean rate for singleton breech births was 85% overall, 90% for first-time mothers and 77% for subsequent breech births. In 2006, an amendment to the ACOG recommendation noted that vaginal breech delivery may still be a viable option with a caregiver who has lots of experience, strict hospital protocols and a patient who clearly understands the risks. The best way to avoid being a participant in the vaginal breech birth controversy is to have a baby in head down position! By 34 weeks, 92% of babies are head down. The head is the heaviest part of the fetus and naturally gravitates down because gravity pulls it down. The buttocks are lighter and bulkier. The legs kick, an… Read more…. Turning Breech Babies After 34 Weeks: The If, How, and When of Turning Breech Babies

This post is only available to members. To purchase an online membership, go here.

If you are already an online member login here.

 Read more…. Turning Breech Babies After 34 Weeks: The If, How, and When of Turning Breech Babies

Visiting Wild Assam

The name “Assam” comes from asom, which means “unequal or unrivaled” in Sanskrit. The state of Assam is located in northeastern India, which is full of hills and plains and is uneven, probably contributing to its name.

This post is only available to members. To purchase an online membership, go here.

If you are already an online member login here.

 Read more…. Visiting Wild Assam

Marion’s Message: The Safest Kind of Breech

Sharing our birth stories is one way of teaching midwives their trade. Marion tells the story of a frank breech presentation, describing the steps in how the birth occurred.

This post is only available to members. To purchase an online membership, go here.

If you are already an online member login here.

 Read more…. Marion’s Message: The Safest Kind of Breech

Breech Birth from a Primal Health Research Perspective

“Being breech-born by the vaginal route is associated with the highest possible mean intelligence scores.” This is one conclusion of the Primal Health Research of the author. Read his simple rules for vaginal birth.

This post is only available to members. To purchase an online membership, go here.

If you are already an online member login here.

 Read more…. Breech Birth from a Primal Health Research Perspective

The Power of Georgina

We include an excerpt from Sister MorningStar’s upcoming book, The Power of Wimyn, about another inspiring birth.

This post is only available to members. To purchase an online membership, go here.

If you are already an online member login here.

 Read more…. The Power of Georgina

Skip to content