We Americans are consumed with the need to believe that we are number one. But here’s a wrenching fact: 41 countries have better infant mortality rates than the US. Read more…. Midwifery and International Maternity Care
I am MorningStar and I believe in the stories and prayers of the people to preserve simple birth. As a Native American and a retired midwife with thirty years of experience…I feel confident, excited and encouraged that we will face the challenge before us and simplify birth. Read more…. Preserving Simple Birth
Photo by Jouwen Wang
Aurelia assists women both in her home and in the women’s homes. If the labor is long, she stays with the woman. She says manzanilla (common chamomile) or malva (mallow) and food oil enema provide pain relief. Read more…. Searching for Lost Treasure
We are in a profession that can give the greatest joy humankind has known—birth. In Spanish, birth is termed a more poetic "dar a luz," bring to the light. We, as midwives, need to bring to the light the truth about what childbirth can be. Read more…. Bringing Good Birth to the Light
We need to rethink risk assessment and how it is used in childbirth. Read more…. Reconsidering Risk
We are mammals. Most mammals birth fine. So what happened to us? We used to birth fine. Women in "primitive" cultures birth fine. What happened to modern women? Read more…. The Battle Is in the Mind
Who or what are we protecting the perineum from? A different take on birthing. Read more…. Honoring Body Wisdom
Midwifery Today turns 19 years old in February of 2005. For me, that is nearly 20 years of working to change birth with Midwifery Today, plus over 10 years of homebirth practice, changing birth one motherbaby at a time. Read more…. Happy Birthday, Birth Change
The term “protocols” is confusing sometimes because it is used differently from location to location, state to state. In general, protocols have to be very carefully written, or midwives damage themselves legally. Read more…. Protocols vs. Guidelines
Photo—Caroline Brown
The timing of birth has major consequences for a baby. Too early or too late can mean the difference between life and death. Or so we have come to believe; and it’s undoubtedly true at the extreme ends of preterm and postterm birth dates. Read more…. A Timely Birth
Off-label use of misoprostol (Cytotec) for labor induction has been steadily increasing for 10 years, even though this use is approved neither by the U.S. [FDA], other national drug regulatory agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, the Cochrane Library nor a number of national obstetric organizations Read more…. Adverse Events Following Misoprostol Induction of Labor
My soul is flooded with grief. My frustration overwhelms me. I cry for countless mothers and babies—for the births that could be. I am overwhelmed because I have felt the strong light of a powerful birth. Read more…. Drugs in Labor
