Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
February 02, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza
It is unfortunate that in the case of birth in the United States and many other parts of the world, expectant families are destined to receive “Groundhog Day” level care despite significant and compounding evidence that doing the same non-evidence based practices over and over is not improving outcomes or increasing birth satisfaction. It is also not being respectful of what best practice perinatal care should be.
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October 28, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators idea suggests an effective and fun way to help pregnant families learn about the baby’s position in utero, and consider ways that their actions and movements can influence those positions. It incorporates an ingenious tool created by Andrea Lythgoe, longtime Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and easily can be applied to both virtual and in-person classes. For free access to all the Brilliant Activities for Birth educator posts, please follow this link.
April 20, 2021 | by: Mindy Cockeram, LCCE
How many parents have you met that experienced the following birth scenario: Labor began with an induced labor using Pitocin (UK-Syntocinon), an epidural for pain relief and a long pushing stage or even an unplanned cesarean? The parents felt overwhelmed with joy when the baby was born and relief that the labor was over. As the new emotions settled in, the next stage of parenting began - breast/chestfeeding a baby on cue around the clock. Discharged home, the sleepy baby suddenly became more wakeful and eager to cluster feed. Day three became a challenge: jaundice set in and the pediatrician recommended supplementation due to excessive weight loss. The scenario ends with an emotionally drained parent worrying about their milk supply, supplementing with bottles of formula daily and potentially giving up on breast/chestfeeding before the mature milk even has a chance to arrive! Did their body really let them down? Did they really not have enough milk?
October 22, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Hospital-Based Deliveries With Water Immersion was a retrospective study that was primarily seeking to compare NICU admissions for newborns born in water versus NICU admissions for those born on land. Additionally, the researchers looked at some secondary outcomes such adverse neonatal diagnoses, maternal infections and perineal lacerations.
July 17, 2018 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The findings in a new Cochrane review continue to confirm laboring and birthing in water is a safe and acceptable option for those who choose it. It is important to examine this issue as new information becomes available. Waterbirth continues to a safe and healthy option for families.
July 10, 2018 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Causal inference is the process of determining that a cause led to an effect. Causal inference is multi-disciplinary and is shaped by philosophy, statistics, epidemiology, economics, and computer science. Is causal inference a better way to study pregnancy and birth than current methods?
May 01, 2018 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
May is International Doula Month. A doula is a professional who provides emotional, physical and informational support to families during the childbearing year.
January 23, 2018 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Hospitals across the United States have been feeling the impact of a shortage of IV bags since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September 2017. Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, has been a major manufacturer and supplier of IV bags to US hospitals until Hurricane Maria.
November 02, 2017 | by: Henci Goer, BA
Making the rounds on the internet is a report of a new study that supposedly shows that epidurals dont slow labor or increase instrumental vaginal or cesarean delivery. Henci Goer reviews the research.
September 19, 2017 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
A study published in May 2017 examined the impact of a childbirth education course based on mindfulness principles on the pain experienced during childbirth and the ability to handle that pain on a physiological level as well as adjust to the postpartum period.
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