Birth As a Rite Of Passage's topics - tribe.net

The Other Side of The Glass - The Trailer

MoonMamaAly — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:33:18 GMT

Hey everyone...

I wanted to share this trailer with you all in Birth as a Rite of Passage. I think it is important to begin awareness with our babies' birth experience and wanted to share this empowering film trailer. It is being made with father's in mind.

My son's birth was video taped for this film and I feel very blessed to be part of this project. The overview (part 1 to the film) is coming out in about a month.

Peace and Blessings,
AlyGirl xo

p.s. This will be posted in a couple other tribes that some of you might be members of. :-)

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 1 reply

new group Chilbirth and labor

Gamo — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:16:05 GMT

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 Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

odd questions - (Fire performance while pregnant)

alix — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:06:47 GMT

At risk of this being an odd question.... I wanted to know if it is a good idea to refrain from any type of fire performance while in the state of pregnancy? Being around fire performers, lighting up my own fire toys etc. My intuition was telling me to stay away from all toxic fuel smells, which are typically smelled around fire play circles, curious if anyone has a definitive advice on fire / fuels while pregnant? I'm assuming its safer to just not light up and not perform and stay away from all of it, but curious if any of you ladies had been around fire / fire performance / while pregnant and what, if any impact was there on your pregnancy / baby ?

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 2 replies

Online Conscious Birth Class

kara — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:42:10 GMT

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 Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Natural Pregnancy & Childbirthing Class

ALICHAE — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:11:24 GMT

Join us for a 4-week class beginning bimonthly that celebrates pregnancy and childbirth from a holistic & practical approach. Our next class will begin on August 15th. The class is taught by a naturopathic physician & will be meeting weekly to discuss the following topics:

• Natural childbirth preparation
• Home & hospital births
• Maternal & fetal development
• Common concerns
• Nutrition
• Exercises & yoga
• Journal writing
• Partner support
• Relaxation techniques
• Movies & birth stories
• Emergency situations
• Basic newborn care

Cost: $180/couple $90/single mama
Scholarships available for those in need.

Register online at doctorpalmeri@gmail.com or call (503) 515-7377

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

birth petition

Grandma — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:49:14 GMT

The AMA wants to legislate how and where we must give birth. Click here to just say NO:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/birthathome/index.html

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education Class in North Oakland

carrie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:00:51 GMT

HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method
A Celebration of Life
HypnoBirthing is a comprehensive childbirth education class focusing on pregnancy and birth that teaches mothers & their birth companions techniques for safe and satisfying birthing through guided imagery, visualization and special breathing. HypnoBirthing is taught in 5 two-and-a-half hour classes.

“My dream is that every woman, everywhere, will know the joy of a safe, satisfying birth for both her baby and herself—one she’ll not need to forget.”
-Marie F. Mongan, 1999

Terra’s Temple
654 Oakland Avenue, North Oakland
Tuesdays June 10th, 17th, 24th, July 1st & 8th
6:30-9:00 pm
With Carrie Flemming, M.A., H.B.C.E.
$250-300 sliding scale
Includes HypnoBirthing book & relaxation/visualization cd
510.907.0075
flemmica@gmail.com
(Private classes also available in your home)

About HypnoBirthing:
The HypnoBirthing Childbirth method is as much a philosophy of birth as it is a technique for achieving a satisfying, relaxing, and stress-free method of birthing. HypnoBirthing teaches you, along with your birthing companion, the Art and Joy of experiencing birth in a more comfortable manner. You will learn to call upon your body’s own natural relaxant and thus lessen or eliminate discomfort and the need for medication. When a woman is properly prepared for childbirth and when mind and body are in harmony, nature is free to function in the same will-designed manner that it does with all other creatures.

You will be fascinated as you view HypnoBirthing films showing laboring mothers, awake, alert and in good humor as they experience the kind of gentle birth that you, too, can know when you are free of the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome.

HypnoBirthing teaches you to release all prior programming about birth, how to trust your body and work with it, as well as how to free yourself of harmful emotions that lead to pain-causing fear and unyielding muscles.

HypnoBirthing will teach you the art of using your own natural birthing instincts. With HypnoBirthing, you will be aware and fully in control, but profoundly relaxed.

YOU WILL LEARN:

Everything you need to know to achieve safer, easier and more comfortable birth

To explode the myth that pain is a necessary accompaniment to labor

What’s wrong with labor as it exists with most other childbirth methods

Techniques of deep relaxation to help you eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome

How your body is naturally designed to conceive, nurture and birth your baby with ease and comfort

To create your body’s own natural relaxant, the only safe labor enhancement

Natural ways to bring your body into labor without artificial chemical induction

How you and your birthing companion can create a birthing environment that is calm, serene and joyful, rather than tense and stressful

Gentle birthing techniques that allow you to breathe your baby into the world without the violence of hard physical pushing

To use your natural birthing instincts to birth your baby in a way that most mirrors the way that nature intended

Carrie Flemming is a Certified HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator, birth doula & visual artist. She studied birth with Elizabeth Davis, Felicia Roche & Marie Mongan, and has supported families in various settings for 6 years. She holds master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and Women’s Spirituality & Social Change from New College of California, and is affiliated with The HypnoBirthing Institute.
Her support is compassionate, creative & from the heart.
posted by:

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Pregnant/ Bipolar... St. Johns Wart?

Freyaphrodite — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:32:23 GMT

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 Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 4 replies

Moving Through referrals for Portland OR

Nicole — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:33:46 GMT

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 Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 1 reply

Birth Arts Scholarship

demetria — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:03:52 GMT

Birth Arts International have the following scholarship options.
Check it out.
http://www.birtharts.com/scholarships.htm
We have the following available
Distance Learning Doula Program
Distance Learning Postpartum Doula Program

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Vote for a free Water Baby CranioSacral Clinic!

kara — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:24:52 GMT

Vote for the WaterBaby CranioSacral Clinic Project!

CranioSacral Therapy is wonderful for preventing, easing, and healing breastfeeding challenges, reflux, colic, and much more! Please help support the babies, mamas, and families this project would help!

Go to: http://ideablob.com/ideas/1225-WaterBaby-CranioSacral-Therapy-

Please help me win funding to create a free Water Baby CranioSacral Therapy Clinic for mamas and babies ages 0-3. This vote would support over 100 babies to receive free therapy in the first year of the project alone and provide for expert consultation and program development.

Thank you!!! Be well, Kara

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Circumcision-He's for, I'm against--WWYD?

tereskasmooshie — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:44:20 GMT

With our last baby, we briefly touched on the subject of circumcision. Without ever really getting into the debate, my husband stated his opinion that he should like to have his son circumcised while I said I was against the procedure. It ended up being a non-issue at around 4 months when the ultra-sound revealed we were having a girl.

But since the initial conversation, we've touched on it again in passing. DH forwarded me that article from the New York Times a few months ago "proving" that circumcision helps prevent AIDS and other STDs. Somehow this was supposed to change my mind.

Well, I'm pregnant again. And if this baby is a boy, he will be circ'd over my dead body. Period.

DH says a boy "should look like his father." And "he will get terrorized by his school-mates," and "it's cleaner." My question first is why do so many men champion genital mutilation while so many women oppose it? Weird.

Also, have any of you had to struggle over this issue with your baby daddies? I don't want him to feel like he doesn't have a say in any of this, but if he forced me to send my newborn baby off to have part of his penis ripped off for no reason, I'd never get over it.

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 14 replies

Why Empowered Women Choose Not To Circumcise

BradT — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 18:04:39 GMT

Below is the link to an excellent article.

Why Empowered Women Choose Not To Circumcise
by Aubrey Taylor

http://wnc-woman.com/0405circumcise.html

Here is the actual article.

why empowered women choose not to circumcise
by aubrey taylor

Circumcision? What on earth does circumcision have to do with being an empowered woman?

The answer isn’t obvious. The two issues seem worlds apart, one having to do with an infant’s foreskin, and the other: you. Some of us seeking personal strength and empowerment in our lives may never have children, some already have, but the fact is that knowing the truth is empowering for any woman, or any man. How many times have I heard something similar to “If I had known, I never would have let them do it.” This statement is often times made, unfortunately, by the mothers of boys who have had complications, which sometimes need additional surgery to correct. Having the truth about circumcision can only lead to an empowered decision, should the occasion arise, or having an empowered position in your community. However, knowing why an empowered woman would choose not to circumcise goes beyond simple education, and into our strengths and weaknesses; and to see it we must examine also why nowadays we circumcise in the first place, even in the face of the truth.

So let’s start with the truth. Circumcision is unnecessary. You may be thinking “But they’ve been doing it for so long, and I’ve always heard that it’s cleaner.” The medical documents regarding circumcision in the United States date back to the late 1800’s and quote well-respected doctors saying that circumcision would, among many things, end masturbation and even cure insanity.

The hygiene issue wasn’t brought up until after those ideas were realized as false, or as a sort of afterthought. No one had, at that time, ever studied the foreskin, and claiming that it’s cleaner not to have it, is like claiming that it’s cleaner to remove your fingernails so that dirt cannot collect under them. As far as I know, fingers come into more contact with contaminants than the penis.

Since then, there have been many other excuses that take turns defending circumcision, and even today medical professionals are still debating the supposed benefits that include an implication of preventing STDs and penile cancer. Yet, the American Academy of Pediatrics has stated since the 1970’s that there is “no valid medical indication for circumcision”

Still others hold to the old assumed facts. In the face of professionals making opposite claims one can either study everything there is to be studied, or resort to common sense: If 85% of the world has natural genitals, and they don’t end up needing modification, perhaps what’s natural is safe. After all, women have many more folds of skin “down there” and we seem to do OK. Even in the face of an infection or other problems, the solution is NEVER amputation. There isn’t after all, a single body part that is free from an occasional problem. We don’t cut off our toes to prevent getting an ingrown toenail!

Circumcision is also extremely painful and inflicts damage; that’s what they WON’T tell you. The foreskin in infancy is attached to the head of the penis with a membrane called synechia that is similar to the membrane attaching your fingernail to your finger. The foreskin must therefore be torn from the head of the penis before it can be amputated. This would be like shoving a blunt metal probe under your fingernail.

The complications of circumcision arise from the risk of taking too much skin or accidentally cutting off other structures like shaft tissue or the glans (penis head), there’s a risk of infection and hemorrhage, as well as issues arising after the circumcision like skin bridges and chordee (bent penis). There have been many unfortunate instances where the infant suffers a loss of the entire penis or even death.

Though it isn’t well known, the foreskin is an essential part of the penis. The foreskin of an infant protects the glans from abrasion, and contains a tight ring of tissue at the end that keeps fecal matter and other debris from coming in contact with the urethral opening. Later in life, after the glans and foreskin separate, the gliding motion of the foreskin aids in smooth sexual intercourse. The average foreskin is also innervated with 10 to 20 thousand sexually responsive nerve endings.

Finally, we must consider the moral implications of removing a part of someone’s genitals by force. Whose body is it? Who should decide? Who has the right to remove a part of your genitals without asking? No one? Well, how nice for you. In the United States, female minors are protected from any kind of genital cutting by federal law, regardless of race or religion. According to the 14th amendment, everyone deserves equal protection under the law regardless of race, religion or SEX.

Most women in the United States have no experience with an intact penis. There is an underlying belief that it’s ‘gross’ or ‘dirty’. We generally don’t know that it has a function, and are told that circumcision is a good thing. Even as knowledge that circumcision isn’t medically necessary spreads and becomes more commonplace, we are still circumcising. Why? As a woman it is our instinct and our conscious desire to protect our children from any harm. Aside from our ignorance about the subject, what could be so strong that it is able to override this natural tendency? The reasons are the things that hold us down in other situations: the pressure to socially conform, avoiding conflict by allowing denial, and the inability to assert ourselves.

The need to be “normal” is a natural human instinct. That’s why teasing and ostracism are so effective. No one wants to feel like they’ve stepped over the boundaries of taboo. For many women, being seen as different is an unacceptable risk and she will conform to the perceived ‘norm’ to avoid it. Society used to punish those who were different with very severe consequences including death. Living in a more sophisticated and civilized society we no longer face anything as extreme as physical harm for stepping out of the norm, but the weight of social expectation is still too much for some women to handle. “That’s not the American way”, “He’ll be the only boy on the block”, “My parents won’t agree” or “I don’t want to be different” are things that she may worry about. It takes a confident and empowered woman to let go of any concerns about what others will think, or the desire to be like everyone else, in favor of doing what’s right. In fact, in these changing times the rate of circumcision is as low as 30% on the west coast, and possibly only 60% nationwide and dropping. Worrying about being different is becoming less of an issue for women and young boys. Not to mention that most of the world does not routinely circumcise male infants. Boys are more likely to face teasing from peers about things that are obvious at first sight, like clothes, or weight, and we accept this as a normal part of growing up.
A good way to avoid thinking about an uncomfortable topic, or having to make a tough decision is to simply ignore it, or believe something that allows you to dismiss it. This is generally something common with people who are stuck in a negative situation that cannot be changed, so that they don’t have to feel bad. Women who have already had their son circumcised would have to admit they were wrong if they accepted that circumcision is damaging or unnecessary. This plays a large role in circumcisions’ perpetuation. We don’t want to admit that we could have hurt our children, so we may even take it as far, in our subconscious defense, as insisting that it’s necessary and that it continue to prove we were right.

For those with the decision still in front of them, it may be easier to simply believe what we’ve always heard, and skip the argument altogether. Many simply don’t want to know the truth, because it would complicate their situation. Accepting myth at face value and denying yourself knowledge is like locking your own chains. It is allowing someone else to make your decisions for you. Being empowered means having the strength and the courage to stand against oppression, even if it comes from inside your own self. Refusing to deny is a difficult quality to obtain, because the one you’re fighting is yourself.

When a baby boy is born, or sometime before, a woman is faced with the question “will the baby be circumcised?” She must then deal with many pressures. If the baby’s father was circumcised, he may want the same for the child. Because it is an issue concerning the penis, a woman may feel that the decision isn’t hers to make, and even though she may not want to allow it, she will defer to the father. Perhaps the doctor has said that it is necessary. In the United States we trust that our doctors know all and are infallible. It may seem rude or insulting to go against what her doctor has suggested. Who supposes to know more than a doctor?

Even a woman’s faith may be questioned if circumcision is perceived as a religious necessity. She doesn’t want to appear as though she is going against her religion. All of these pressures may make a woman feel as though it’s not her place to interfere with the issue of circumcision, and she finds it difficult to assert herself feeling less than empowered. However, a mothers’ first job is to protect, because infants cannot speak for themselves, so circumcision most certainly is her business. Taking a stand against your mate, doctor, or religious peers is without a doubt a challenge. Again it takes a woman with strength and courage to overcome such situations.

An empowered woman is educated, refuses to believe myth, is strong, moral, and she stands up for herself and the defenseless; it takes all of these things to say no to circumcision. For those empowered women who aren’t faced with making this particular decision, they will have the same qualities: refuse to continue to be a catalyst for the perpetuation of a harmful practice against the defenseless.

References & further information:

John Harvey Kellog, Treatment for Self-Abuse and Its Effects, Plain Facts for Old and Young, Burlington, Iowa: P. Segner & Co. 1888, p. 295

W.G.Steele, MD. Importance of Circumcision. Medical World,Vol. 20 (1902): pp.518-519.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Standards and Recommendation for Hospital Care of Newborn Infants. 5th ed. Evanston, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 1971:110.

For the AAPs’ most recent circumcision policy statement, visit aap.org
Deibert GA. The separation of the prepuce in the human penis. Anat Rec 1933;57:387-399

For a comprehensive list of articles documenting circumcision risks and damage, visit cirp.org/library/complications
Doctors Re-examine Circumcision by Thomas J. Ritter, M.D. and George C. Denniston, M.D. 2002

Cold, C, Taylor, J, “The Prepuce,” BJU International 83, Suppl. 1, (1999): 34-44.

Sex as Nature Intended It by Kristen O’Hara with Jeffrey O’Hara. 2001

See also:
• jewishcircumcision.org
• acts15.org
• quran.org
• circumcisionquotes.com

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA WOMAN
is a publication of INFINITE CIRCLES, INC.

PO BOX 1332 • MARS HILL NC 28754 • 828-689-2988

Web Design by HANDWOVEN WEBS
Celebrating the Spirit of Place in Western North Carolina

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 10 replies

Anyone looking to be a Doula? Labor Assist?

Chelsea — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:14:49 GMT

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 Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

"water brake"

Miss-Amber-Jane — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:42:22 GMT

This might be a funny post but I am planning and learning. I have a life void of pregnancy and birth. So I get to create my own wonderful idea about it. In the past 3 years many of my friends have had babies, but still, I feel there are little things I have no idea about.
So today I am curious about when and how your water brakes. Do you know it is going to happen? Are you in the shower, washing dishes, out around town, in the garden, driving a car...and it just happens? Or is this the stage in when you are preparing for delivery and so you are expecting certain things to come about? I usually am aware of my bodies functions, like knowing the moment when my period is going to start, would this give me insight?
Oh, and what is it like? I am sure everyone is different but a general telling or a story of your own would be great.

P.S. I am only interested in positive, positive, positive, gental, happy, easy birth stories. I have a few friends who have had hard and difficult long and painful labors. All the movies with births in them are 99% negative and fearful so I do not what to taint my subconcious with anymore such visualisations. No matter if you think it is for my own good of not. Thank you

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 11 replies

dancing out baby

jerushah — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:04:46 GMT

hello lovelies,
i am in the process of developing a dancing out the baby class which will be a part of my childbirth educator certification process. i am doing some independent research on birth dances, and would love to hear your stories if you are interested in sharing. specifically any stories involving dancing as you relate to it. please message me directly, and let me know if i could use examples of your story in the future. thank you so much.
jerushah

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 1 reply

free and easy way to help homeless children

beckeyla — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:52:10 GMT

www.railwaychildren-friends.com/email.asp

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

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

you tube birth videos

sproutspregnancyjournal — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 22:56:36 GMT

i created a you tube group for people to share their birth videos. check it our please and feel free to post yours :)
http://www.youtube.com/group/pregnancyandbirth

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

10 steps to be a mother friendly provider

Gamo — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:21:30 GMT

go to http://www.ingentac onnect.com/ content/lamaze/ jpe and download the booklet...give it to your midwife, ob doulas nurse etc...

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

CIMS forum march 07

Gamo — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 13:46:51 GMT

CIMS proudly invites the national and international community to participate in this dynamic event.

The 2007 CIMS Mother-Friendly Childbirth Forum will feature the debut of Coalition for Improving Maternity Services: Evidence Basis for the Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care. The result of a precedent-setting research project, the review and guidelines summarize the findings of 15 years of international evidence on all aspects of Mother-Friendly care and provides professionals, advocacy groups, policy makers, and families alike with a powerful, new resource for improving the care of mothers and babies.

The CIMS Forum brings together research experts, professionals, advocates, and consumers of maternity care from the U.S. and abroad to learn and work side by side for three energizing days of collaborative education, networking, problem solving and sharing. Attendees will benefit both from formal presentations by leaders in the field, and from participation in workgroups of their choice addressing issues facing childbearing women and their families today. Attendees will gather a wealth of information, to bring home to their own practices, workplaces and communities while gaining inspiration and making and renewing connections with those who share a common interest in the health and well-being of mothers and babies.

visit the site to register and know their work

http://www.motherfriendly.org/

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

how to prepare our first for coming of her sibling?

rengal — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:08:28 GMT

Hi, all! We just found out we are expecting our second child. Our first is now almost 16 months old, so she will be 2 years old when the next little one comes out. We had a home birth with our older daughter, and will be doing so again with the one growing inside right now.
Does any one have any experience preparing a little one the age of our daughter for her siblings birth and our pregnancy? Any resources to recommend? I've found a few things, but they are more to prepare slightly older children for their siblings, like 3yrs and older. (cross posted to a few tribes)

Many thanks!

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 1 reply

Birth Ecology Tribe

kara — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:22:12 GMT

Hi there!

You are invited to join the new Birth Ecology Tribe at http://tribes.tribe.net/birthecology - it's a satellite discussion tribe for the Birth Ecology Project at www.birthecology.org

Be well, Kara

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

GM-Soy linked to high fetal death rate in rats!

kara — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:55:51 GMT

In a study released in October 2006 by Russian scientists, pregnant and lactating rats fed GM-soy had over 50% of their babies die by 3 weeks old! The surviving offspring were 1/2 the size of the same-age rat babies from moms who ate normal soy.

http://birthecology.squarespace.com/journal/2007/1/19/organic-for-life.html

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 1 reply

My OBGYN just dosn't "get it". please help!

americannomad — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:05:36 GMT

Hullo every one, My name is sarah And I'm pregnet with my first child. unfortunitly where I live gov. medical asstistance dosn't cover midwives, so I've been seeing an OBGYN durring my pregnacy. He's a twit, and the nurses at this clinic seem to worship him. this would be fine and dandy because I've already made it abundinly clear how I want my pregnacy and birth handled. But there is always a snag in the plan. I've had a chronic UTI for about the past month and a half, I'm on my fourth round of drugs for it, and have been taking cranberry pills and juice bo boot. (the Dr. says this won't affect the meds). this last round of drugs he put me acctualy has a warrning to pregnent women to be carfull taking and only to use it under extream curcumstances.
the point is: I'm tired of listing to them, but I don't know anyone close who knows anything about alternives to thease drugs. Dose anyone here have any sugesstions on where I should look for anything that could help me? can you help me? please?

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 6 replies

any Doula in the area of San Francisco ?

micou — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:48:38 GMT

My wife is at her 30th something weeks... and we are getting ready ... we were willing to have the labor/delivery done at "sagefemme" in Sf, but they have not been very responsive and we have not heard from them after several attempt to contact them, so we looked around and found out the UCSF Birth Center prodives a nice environment... they have bed with bars... and allow squatting position etc...

Now we would like to find a Doula to guide us through this beautiful and painful event (due date is by the end of January)

Anyone know one ? Please contact us
+Michel

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

ACOG statement re out of hospital birth

Gamo — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 14:53:45 GMT

ACOG Statement of Policy
As issued by the ACOG Executive Board

OUT-OF-HOSPITAL BIRTHS IN THE UNITED STATES

Labor and delivery is a physiologic process that most women experience without complications. Ongoing surveillance of the mother and fetus is essential because serious intrapartum complications may arise with little or no warning, even in low risk pregnancies. In some of these instances, the availability of expertise and interventions on .an urgent or emergent basis may be life-saving for the mother, the fetus or the newborn and may reduce the likelihood of an adverse outcome. For these reasons, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) believes that the hospital, including a birthing center within a hospital complex, that conforms to the standards outlined by American Academy of Pediatrics and ACOG,1 is the safest setting for labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period. ACOG also strongly supports providing conditions that will improve the birthing experience for women and their families without compromising safety.

Studies comparing the safety and outcome of U.S. births in the hospital with those occurring in other settings are limited and have not been scientifically rigorous. The development of well-designed research studies of sufficient size, prepared in consultation with obstetric departments and approved by institutional review boards, might clarify the comparative safety of births in different settings. Until the results of such studies are convincing, ACOG strongly opposes out-of-hospital births. Although ACOG acknowledges a woman's right to make informed decisions regarding her delivery, ACOG does not support programs or individuals that advocate for or who provide out-of-hospital births.

1American Academy of Pediatrics and /American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Guidelines for Perinatal Care, 5th Edition. Elk Grove Village, IL, AAP/ACOG, 2002.

Approved by the Executive Board October 2006

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 409 12th Street, SW, PO Box 96920. Washington, DC 20090-6920 Telephone 202 6385577

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Birth Ecology

kara — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:03:35 GMT

Come and see how the site is maturing and expanding!

The Birth Ecology Project has an active online journal publishing articles, stories, and essays on all aspects of natural pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Book reviews, news, and more! Check it out, this is a wonderful resource for doulas, midwives, childbirth educators, parents, and birthing advocates!

www.birthecology.org

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

blessingway

aurorablue — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 18:12:01 GMT

wondering what you ladies have done or would like to do for blessingways?
aurora

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 9 replies

Listening to Mothers II Survey now available!

22252 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:13:52 GMT

Grassroots Network Message 610034

Listening to Mothers II Survey now available!

Dear Friends,

Carol Sakala of Childbirth Connection (www.childbirthconnection.org) wrote to us:

We are very excited to announce availability of the Listening to Mothers II report, with results of our national survey of women who gave birth in U.S. hospitals in 2005. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive, and carried out in partnership with Lamaze International.

On the website, you can find a press release and the Executive Summary available as pdf files. If you are interested in the entire report, you can purchase a survey report (PDF or paperbound version) at http://www.childbirthconnection.org/listeningtomothers/

Please note that your purchase of the Report helps to support Childbirth Connection and the very useful resources they make freely available on their website.

Carol also writes:

In 2007, Childbirth Connection will release:
1. a companion report, with results of a follow-up survey with Listening to Mothers II participants focusing on their postpartum experiences
2. Recommendations based on results of this rich combined database, and
3. initial quarterly Listening to Mothers II briefs with timely in-depth coverage of key survey topics.

You can register or log in to My Connection at http://www.childbirthconnection.org/login.asp to receive email notification when the postpartum survey and recommendations are available (newsletter option).

I have pasted the Press Release below, which gives highlights of the results of the study! These results of this survey provide documentation about the state of maternity care today and should prove useful in promoting the Midwives Model of Care and the need for normal birth and evidence-based birth practices!

Sincerely,

Susan Hodges, “gatekeeper”

CHILDBIRTH
CONNECTION

Since 1918

Helping women and health professionals

make informed maternity care decisions.

Contact: Eileen Masciale

631-665-2163

ejmpr@optonline.net

Technology-Intensive Childbirth is the Norm for

Great Majority of Primarily Healthy Women

-- Listening to Mothers II: Second National Survey of Women’s Childbearing Experiences, Shows that U.S. Maternity Care System Fails to Provide the Care that Mothers Want and that is in Best Interest of Themselves and their Babies --

NEW YORK, NY, October 24, 2006 – Although the great majority of pregnant women in the U.S. are healthy and have good reason to anticipate uncomplicated childbirth, Childbirth Connection’s new Listening to Mothers II survey shows that technology-intensive childbirth care is the norm. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for Childbirth Connection, in partnership with Lamaze International. The national survey polled 1,573 women who gave birth in 2005 and found that most mothers experienced numerous labor and birth interventions with various degrees of risk that may be of benefit for mothers with specific conditions, but are inappropriate as routine measures. Overall, survey mothers experienced the following interventions: electronic fetal monitoring (94%), intravenous drip (83%), epidural or spinal analgesia (76%), one or more vaginal exams (75%), urinary catheter (56%), membranes broken after labor began (47%), and synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) to speed up labor (47%).

Additionally, more than four out of ten mothers (41%) reported that their caregiver tried to induce their labor. When asked if the induction caused labor to begin, more than four out of five of those women (84%) indicated that it did, resulting in an overall provider induction rate of 34%. Among all survey mothers whose providers tried to start their labors, 79% cited one or more medical reasons for being induced, while 35% cited one or more non-medical reasons. Overall, 11% of mothers reported experiencing pressure from a health professional to have labor induction, and those reporting pressure were more likely to have had it.

Listening to Mothers II was conducted in January and February 2006. It provides health professionals, payors, policymakers, hospitals and women and families with an unprecedented look at experiences of childbearing women and their infants. It also gives all of these groups a basis for improving conditions for mothers and babies by comparing their actual experiences to their preferred experiences, to care to which they are legally entitled, to care supported by best evidence, and to optimal outcomes.

“The data show many mothers and babies experienced inappropriate care that does not reflect the best evidence, as well as other undesirable circumstances and adverse outcomes. This sounds alarm bells,” said Maureen Corry, executive director of Childbirth Connection. “Few healthy, low-risk mothers require technology-intensive care when given good support for physiologic labor. Yet, the survey shows that the typical childbirth experience has been transformed into a morass of wires, tubes, machines and medications that leave healthy women immobilized, vulnerable to high levels of surgery and burdened with physical and emotional health concerns while caring for their newborns.”

Survey Reveals Gaps Between Actual and More Optimal Experiences and Outcomes

Listening to Mothers II identified many gaps between their experiences, their desires and best medical practice. For example:

· Within this largely healthy population, four labors in ten were started artificially and one mother in three had a cesarean.

· A great majority (85%) felt that a woman who wants a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) should be able to make that decision, but most women who were interested in a VBAC were denied this option by their caregiver (45%) or hospital (23%).

· Virtually all of the mothers asked felt that they should be informed about all (78% and 81%) or most (19% and 17%) of the complications related to labor induction and cesarean, respectively, before deciding to have these interventions, yet the majority of mothers were poorly informed about several complications of labor induction and cesarean section and most had incorrect knowledge or were not sure.

· Among the vaginal birth mothers who experienced episiotomies (25%), only 18% stated that they had been given a choice about it.

Safe and Effective Care Practices Were Under Used

In addition to overuse of interventions, the survey showed a striking under use of several care practices known to be safe and effective, and especially appropriate for healthy, low-risk women. Only a small proportion of women experienced these beneficial practices, including use of highly rated drug-free methods of pain relief (e.g., immersion in a tub, shower, use of large "birth ball"), monitoring the baby with handheld devices instead of electronic fetal monitoring, drinking fluids or eating during labor, moving about during labor, giving birth in non-supine positions, and pushing guided only by their own reflexes rather than caregiver-directed pushing.

“These findings are of particular concern,” notes Judith Lothian, PhD, of Lamaze International. “The care practices that promote, protect and support normal birth appear to be unavailable to the vast majority of childbearing women in the United States.”

Cesarean Section: Making the Decision and the Implications

Despite considerable media attention to the concept of “maternal request cesarean,” this systematic national sample of mothers found that the phenomenon barely existed in 2005. Less than one-half of 1% (1 woman out of 252) of mothers in the survey who had a first-time cesarean reported that they had requested it themselves. Another contention – that vaginal birth is a threat to a mother’s pelvic floor – also had not been embraced by the mothers in the survey, with far less than 1% of mothers who had either a first or repeat cesarean citing this as the reason for their cesarean.

Study director Eugene Declercq, PhD, of the Boston University School of Public Health, explained, “The survey found scant evidence of maternal request cesareans. Rather, mothers indicated that the primary decision-maker concerning their cesarean was their care provider, either during or before labor. In contrast to an image of doctors pressured by mothers to perform a cesarean, one-fourth (25%) of those mothers who had a cesarean indicated that they felt pressure from a health professional to undergo their cesarean. This hardly supports the theory that the rapidly rising cesarean rate is based on maternal request. Research is needed into the complex interplay between mothers and their doctors regarding cesarean decision-making to better understand why the U.S. cesarean rate has escalated 41% in the past decade.”

Pain and Its Impact on Postpartum Health

Mothers with cesareans described how abdominal surgery had a big impact on their postpartum health. More than three-quarters (79%) reported pain at the site of the incision in the two months after birth, with 33% citing it as a major problem, and18% of those with a cesarean had ongoing pain at the site of the cesarean scar at least 6 months after giving birth.

Mothers with a cesarean were also twice as likely to report that postpartum pain interfered with their daily life than did mothers with vaginal deliveries with 22% describing that pain interfered "quite a bit" or “extremely” with routine activities compared to 10% of mothers with a vaginal birth.

Missed Opportunities

Given the increased recognition of the importance of the period before and between pregnancies, and the conditions under which women enter pregnancy, the data shows that there are deficiencies in care that could potentially lead to less optimal outcomes for mothers and babies.

Alarmingly, about half of the mothers surveyed had a body mass index considered to be “overweight” (25%) or “obese” (24%) and most mothers did not visit a healthcare provider to plan for a healthy pregnancy.

Less than half (47%) of mothers reported being asked during pregnancy about feelings of depression and only one-third (35%) were asked about physical or verbal abuse. However, more than three-quarters of providers (76%) did discuss signs of premature labor with the women and mothers reported being confident in their ability to recognize them.

Despite the importance of early contact for attachment and breastfeeding, most babies were not in their mothers’ arms during the first hour after birth, with a troubling proportion with staff for routine, non-urgent care (39%). Although 61% of the mothers wanted to breastfeed exclusively as they neared the end of their pregnancy, just 51% of all mothers were doing so one week after birth, a troubling missed opportunity.

On the positive side, most mothers learned of their pregnancies in the early weeks of their pregnancy, started prenatal care well within the first trimester and saw the same provider throughout the pregnancy. Nearly all mothers (96%) reported having received supportive care (comfort, emotional support, information) while in labor from at least one person, most often husbands/partners or the nursing staff.

Information Seeking

During pregnancy, mothers sought information about pregnancy and birth through a variety of sources, with first-time mothers naming books (33%) as their primary information source, followed by friends and relatives (19%), their provider (18%) and the Internet (16%), while experienced mothers named as their leading information source their own past experience (48%), followed by their doctor or midwife (18%), the Internet (13%) and books (12%). Fully two-thirds (68%) had watched one or more of eight television shows specially created to depict childbirth, with more than half of the viewers regularly watching at least one of these shows. Far more mothers were exposed to childbirth through TV shows than through childbirth education classes. Only one-fourth (25%) of women reported taking childbirth education classes during their most recent pregnancy, with a majority (56%) of new mothers taking classes, while only one in eleven (9%) experienced mothers took classes. As women neared the end of pregnancy, most felt confident, but a majority also felt fearful about their upcoming birth.

Mothers and Employment

Listening to Mothers II also explored mothers’ experiences with paid work and childbirth and found mothers under considerable stress to balance employment and family obligations. More than half the mothers (58%) reported being employed during pregnancy, working on average until 10 days before the due date. Only half the mothers who were employed full-time received paid maternity leave. Most mothers (57%) who were employed during pregnancy returned to work by 12 weeks after the birth of their baby. Less than half the mothers (46%) indicated they were able to stay at home as long as they liked.

More than one-third (37%) of mothers reported having to pay for some of their maternity care costs out-of-pocket, with an average expenditure for this group of $1,000.

About the Survey

Harris Interactive® conducted Listening to Mothers II: The Second National U.S. Survey of Women’s Childbearing Experiences on behalf of Childbirth Connection. The survey consisted of 1,373 online and 200 telephone interviews with women who had given birth in a hospital to a single live baby in 2005, with weighting of data to reflect the target population. The weighting included propensity scores, to adjust for the propensity to be online, a methodology developed and validated by Harris Interactive. Interviews were conducted from January 20 through February 21, 2006, and the survey took approximately 30 minutes to complete. The Listening to Mothers II survey will also serve as the basis for quarterly issue briefs that will explore in greater detail the key issues described in the report.

About Childbirth Connection
Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Childbirth Connection has grown from a small group of influential community leaders that was successful in reducing maternal and infant deaths in New York City, to a nationally recognized advocacy organization working to promote high-quality maternity care. Childbirth Connection is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families. Our mission is to promote safe, effective and satisfying maternity care for all women and their families through research, education and advocacy. More information about Childbirth Connection may be obtained at www.childbirthconnection.org.

About Lamaze International

Since its founding in 1960, Lamaze International has worked to promote, support and protect normal birth through education and advocacy through the dedicated efforts of professional childbirth educators, providers and parents. An international organization with regional, state and area affiliates, its members and volunteer leaders include childbirth educators, nurses, nurse midwives, physicians, students and consumers. More information about Lamaze International may be obtained at www.lamaze.org.

# # #

Note to editors: For a complete copy of the report, including executive summary, mothers’ verbatim quotes, tables and charts, and comparison of Listening to Mothers II survey results and federal vital and health statistics, please contact Katie Hellmuth at hellmuth@childbirthconnection.org. The survey questionnaire can be found on the Childbirth Connection web site at www.childbirthconnection.org/listeningtomothers

=================================================================

SHARE WITH OTHERS IN YOUR AREA!

Feel free to forward the Grassroots Network messages to others who might be interested!

HOW TO JOIN THE GRASSROOTS NETWORK LIST

Visit the Citizens for Midwifery website at www.cfmidwifery.org .

Scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your e-mail address. It's that simple!

GET INVOLVED!

Are you interested in volunteering with some dynamic women in a supportive environment?

Help CfM promote the Midwives Model of Care!

We have many ways to get more involved ~ committees, state and regional representatives,

and smaller tasks that will help CfM grow stronger and become more effective.

Get in touch with us!

=================================================================

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

FREE introduction to Cornerstone Doula Trainings Wed Oct 18th!! Spread the word!!

Cornerstone Doula Trainings — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 21:19:48 GMT

We will be hosting a FREE introduction to Cornerstone Doula Trainings/ Doula information evening on Wed. Oct. 18th at 7pm in Oakland!! This evening is perfect for anyone interested in becoming a doula, wanting to learn more about what a doula is, or anyone who has already taken a doula training but would like further education!!

From our website:
"Support is the cornerstone of a fulfilling birth experience. Blending the old traditions and wisdom of childbirth with the most up to date and progressive information about the physiology and psychology of childbirth for mom, partner and baby; Cornerstone Doula Trainings will prepare you for the very significant commitment that all doulas make in helping families start their lives together in the most gentle and loving way. "

For more information about us, please visit www.cornerstonedoulatrainings.com or email us at: info@cornerstonedoulatrainings.com

To RSVP for our info eve and get address and directions, please email us at: info@cornerstonedoulatrainings.com or call us at: (510) 452-3860.

Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you!
New classes are scheduled for November and are open for registration now!!

Sincerely,
Nickie Tilsner, CD, CE
Co-founder - Co-trainer of Cornerstone Doula Trainings

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

National Advocates for Pregnant Women - NATIONAL SUMMIT

22252 — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 01:06:02 GMT

August 20, 2006
General Summit Information:

NATIONAL SUMMIT TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND HUMANITY OF PREGNANT AND BIRTHING WOMEN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17 – SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2007
- ATLANTA GA

Full Information about registering for and getting to the summit is now available at

http://AdvocatesForPregnantWomen.org/

Traducción de Inglese a Español. Por favor ponerse en contacto con nosotros via email:
regitration@advocatesforpregnantwomen.org para indice si usted nececita un intérprete durante la conferencia o necesita la información de la conferencia en Español.

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Blacl midwife conference

Gamo — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:30:25 GMT

5TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BLACK MIDWIVES AND HEALERS CONFERENCE

Contact:
Sarahn Henderson
Conference Coordinator
770-997-7088
iyasarahn@yahoo. com

Shafia M. Monroe
President/CEO
503-460-9324
ICTC@blackmidwives. org
www.blackmidwives. org

Sierra Leone Midwives Delegation to Present at the 5th Annual International Black Midwives and Healers Conference

The International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) will host its 5th Annual International Black Midwives and Healers Conference, â€œRising from the Ashes; The Resurrection of a Community: Listener, Healer, Nurturerâ€, will take place in beautiful Phoenix, AZ, October 13-15, 2006. We will be at the elegant Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel, in the heart of Phoenix. The conference is being co-sponsored by the Phoenix Birthing Project and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. â€œWe are very excited about this historic collaboration, and the opportunity to focus national attention on the devastating affects of infant mortality in our communitiesâ€, said Shafia M. Monroe, President, ICTC.

African Americans babies still have the highest death rate of any race in this country; the national average for white America is 5 infant deaths per 1000 babies and 14 infant deaths per 1000 for African American babies. The Black midwife has a legacy of combating this problem, historically, she provided culturally based prenatal care, taught sound nutrition, built self-esteem, supported breastfeeding and welcomed and loved the father, keeping him connected to his growing unborn baby. The services of Black midwives are still needed and ICTC through this educational conference seeks to support and foster the resurgence of Black midwives who are once again filling the void.

The International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) is an African centered infant mortality prevention, pregnancy support and midwife training organization, established in 1991. Our mission is to improve birth outcomes in the black community, promote breastfeeding and increase the number of Black midwives to enhance family health.

The 5th Annual International Black Midwives and Healers Conference will draw healthcare practitioners from around the world including Haiti, Africa, Canada and the Caribbean. This yearâ€™s participants will benefit not just from the varied workshops on prenatal care and infant mortality prevention, but also from the more interactive sessions like the Doula, Doula, Doula-Workshop where attendees learn how to help clients feel their best while pregnant and in labor; the panel discussion from the Sierra Leone Midwives Delegation; grant writing to fund vital community programs and services; the youth may want to attend Sistah Care, a teen tract for girls aspiring to be midwives; share your birth stories by the pool; join the Barber Shop for Dads; bring cloth for the head wrapping and baby tying session; claim your intuition, and view the famous Bringin in Da Spirit Documentary, with producer, Rhonda L. Haynes, and commentary by Phylisha Rashad, and so much more.

One again the conference showcases some of the most renowned practitioners in the health field including, Makeda Kamara, MPH, Midwife, Jewel Crawford, M.D, Barbara Freeman, MPH, Kimberley Traylor, MA, Lactation Specialist, Roberta Eaglehorse, Doula, and Shafia M. Monroe, President/CEO of ICTC and many other dynamic presenters.

In addition to workshops on Friday and Saturday, this yearâ€™s keynote speakers will be Dr. Kathryn Hall, Founder of Birthing Project USA, and Ina May Gaskin, CPM, and best seller author of Spiritual Midwifery, and Saturday will culminate with a celebration and Gala Banquet.

To register for this conference visit www.blackmidwives. org or call 503/460-9324.

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

birth the play

Gamo — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 14:39:05 GMT

Please post this on your lists, groups, tell your friends in the city and send to your email buddies.
Midwives and doulas can buy tickets this week for only $10.
This is supporting a great cause - The Red Tent Women's Center in Brooklyn AND bringing awareness to BIRTH.
Come on down-up-over - just come!!

Blessings,
Barbara Harper
Director/Founder
Waterbirth International

PS: I need someone (a doula?) to hold my hand before the performance (and a bottle of rescue remedy!!) Any volunteers?

Birth On Labor Day presents: a theatrical evening with Henci Goer, Barbara Harper & Dr. Christiane Northrup on Labor Day evening in New York City. For more information on this performance and all 3 BOLD events in NYC see announcement below and go to www.birthonlaborday.com.

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

videotape yourself telling your inspiring story. Earn $50 and share your positivity!

Dose of Inspiration — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 01:41:50 GMT

Have you had something in your life that has profoundly affected you? An act of kindness, grandparent's wisdom, music, art, escaping dependancy on a drug, the truth told my a child, finding the love of your life... We want to hear your stories!

We're looking for people to videotape themselves telling their stories. 5 minutes and under.

We will compensate you $50 for each submission that is accepted to be part of our DVD compilation!

Please visit our website where you can get all the details on how to submit.

go to: doseofinspiration.com

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Hello all!

Cornerstone Doula Trainings — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 06:10:19 GMT

I would love to introduce myself to all of you!!
My name is Nickie Tilsner and I am a certified doula with six years' practice, Harm reduction practitioner/HIV test counselor for homeless youth, midwifery student, daughter of a homebirth midwife, and a first time expecting mama!! My newest venture is a very unique and comprehensive doula training that my mother and I are writing and teaching in San Francisco. Our trainings are dedicated to the principles of the midwifery model of care and prenatal, perinatal, and birth psychology. Please check out my website and pass it along to anyone who would be interested!!!

www.cornerstonedoulatrainings.com

I would love any feedback or comments.
Thanks again, and I look forward to networking with all of you amazing ladies!!

--NIckie Tilsner, CD

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Book Recommendations-let's start a discussion

SunshineBirth — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 17:41:49 GMT

What books have had an impact on your pregancy, labor, delivery and parenting? Join in the thread and lets get this group off of the ground now that it is starting to have some members!

2 of my favorites
Mother's Intention-How beliefs shape birth By Kim Wilder

and of course Birthining From Within by Pam Enland

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 11 replies

Honor Yourself Mama's !

mysticmama — Tue, 09 May 2006 16:32:31 GMT

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced saying, "It's all right honey, Mommy's here." Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse. For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes. And for the mothers who lost their baby in that precious 9 months that they will never get to watch grow on earth but one day will be reunited with in Heaven!

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors. And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.
This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat. For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.
This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home-or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love... sometimes totally unappreciated!

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation... and mature mothers learning to let go... for working mothers and stay-at-home mothers...single mothers and married mothers... mothers with money, mothers without... this is for you all, for all of us... hang in there... in the end we can only do the best we can. tell them every day that we love them.... and pray! please pass along to all the Moms in your life. "Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall"

Honor yourself MAMA's we are the change we wish to see in the world!!

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Midwives now legal in WI

Grandma — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 19:59:28 GMT

Doyle signs bills on midwives

Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. - Midwives who aren't nurses must obtain a state license under a bill
Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law Monday.

Under the law, Applicants must hold a valid professional midwife credential from the
North American Registry of Midwives or the American College of Nurse Midwives. The
state Department of Regulation and Licensing must develop rules spelling out
medications midwives can administer, such as oxygen, postpartum anti-bleeding agents
and intravenous fluids.

A licensed midwife also must disclose to clients his or her training and experience,
whether the midwife has malpractice insurance and procedures for handling medical
emergencies.

Nobody will be allowed to act as a midwife without a license or a temporary permit from
the state.

The legislation gained momentum after criminal charges were filed in the death of a child
during delivery.

*********************************************************************************************

NOTE from Grandma Midwife:

No fault was ever implied on the part of the midwife, but the prosecutor personally went after the midwife for no license, even though she was fully nationally certified and Wisconsin had no license available. We deluged Wisconsin with letters demanding that they start licensing midwives immediately to prevent bureaucratic abuses like this from happening again, and apparently they saw reason. Once in a while you win one.

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

the quality of memory

jerushah — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 01:08:24 GMT

until i gave birth, i had difficulty responding to comparisons of childbirth without anestetic to having a tooth pulled without novicaine. i knew this was an incorrect analogy, but i didn't know why. i now realize it is the quality of the remembrance. when i reflect on the birth of my daughter, i feel the residual pleasure of remembering a picnic or the perfect summer day. it makes me smile. i doubt the experience of having a tooth pulled, with or without the novicaine, would have the same effect. have you shared this experience?

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

waterbabies unite!

queenoflight2 — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 23:16:17 GMT

I started a new tribe about the wonders of the waters! If you love water, welcome!
This is a family site so keep it clean!

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Local moms....

~ashaya~ — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 02:02:12 GMT

Anyone in the Winston Salem NC area?????

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Sacred Birthing Curriculum for Midwives and Doulas

healingbirth — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 03:48:11 GMT

Open Invitation to join: SacredBirthing.tribe.net

I am pleased to invite you to:

Empowering Your Sacred Vision

Sacred Birthing Curriculum for Midwives and Doulas

October 5-10, 2005.

MAUI, HAWAII

Price: US $400. Plus Food & Lodging

From the flyer,

"This 5-day ‘birthshop’ is a profound renewal of The Sacred Vision, and the steps to make it a reality for your practice. How do we step fully into this ancient wisdom, that on some level we know so well? To best support The Great Mystery, we will open to the partnership of birth’s unseen helpers. Tools of sacred midwifery will be taught, to reseed our trust and belief in the supreme nature of birth, and to retain the innate and vast consciousness of the newborn. Tools for inner balance will also be taught since our own clearing is fundamental to our work in birth. When we are clear, we can allow birth its uniqueness, without any interference.

This birthshop for doulas and midwives reminds you to awaken your own sacred paradigm of birth. To reawaken your original vision, and restore birth to its absolute integrity in your practice, please join the amazing women of this growing international group."

Soft Mother Maui will welcome you to the Hawaiian island of healing and new paradigms. Maui holds the space for weaving new paradigms that then travel around the world to take seed. Be with international women to take part in our own metamorphosis, so that together we can act as One to re-inspire an ancient mode of birth.

Our home for 5 days will be a beautiful remote Bed and Breakfast with lush grounds, and a panoramic view from Haleakala’s mountain peak down the green jungle gulches all the way to the sea. Organic locally grown food from an exceptional cook awaits.

Celebrating the nature of birth and our spirit of wholeness, we will delve into the feminine ways to guard birth, allowing its perfection, no matter how it manifests or where it occurs.

For a full description and pictures, go to :

www.sacredbirthing.com/Curriculum05.pdf. See also "Midwives"

In the event you have difficulty with the link, see www.sacredbirthing.com and go to “2005 Workshops” . Please feel free to pass this on to others who may be interested.

To register, go to "2005 Workshops" then Paypal. For those with international currencies, you may pay using your credit card and it will be converted to US currency online with Paypal. For any problems, please email me. By return email we will send you questions to assure your comfort and choice of diet.

Please join us!

Sunni Karll

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 1 reply

weed wanderings

aurorablue — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 04:05:45 GMT

so worth the read, much on spiritual midwifery and woman craft

http://www.wise-woman-herbal.com/herbal_ezine/June05/

blessed be
aurora blue

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

belly casting

birthingspirit — Fri, 27 May 2005 18:16:00 GMT

hi all,
I make belly casts and am wondering if anyone knows the trick for the mama's belly buttons and nipples to show up better. Is the trick just making the casting thinner in that area? What do you do to make them smoother? tips would be greatly appreciated.

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 1 reply

New

Jessica — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 02:05:12 GMT

Hello everyone. I'm new here. :D

I have two children, Orion who is 4 years old and Kieriana who was born in March. :D Orion was born via c/s and Kieriana was born at home via UBAC. :D

I believe that women are powerful and that birth is something totally natural and whole.

*hugs to all*
Jessie

P.S. I would write more but it's hard to nurse and type. lol

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies

Beginnings

SunshineBirth — Sun, 27 Feb 2005 17:59:11 GMT

I hope that this tribe works as a format for sharing positive experieces with birth, "birthing from within", doulas, midwives, parents who have attended my or other mentor's classes and other members of the birth community. Please keep your postings clean and positive. Please post photos if you have some to share. I have a website up now that should be complete in the next week-
Solbeginnings .com. I hope that everyone is well!
Sunshine

posted in Birth As a Rite Of Passage - 0 replies