Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
May 31, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators focuses on the year after a person has given birth, a time period that is not often recognized as a potentially dangerous time for new parents, especially those who are most vulnerable. This activity offers childbirth educators a simple but effective method to highlight risks and share when parents should seek out support from their health care provider after giving birth. You can find all the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators’ ideas here at this link.
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December 07, 2022 | by: Ken McGee, PT, DPT
Emptying the bladder after giving birth can be difficult. Despite having a full bladder, a person might sit down and just release drops, if that. Sometimes there is a feeling that urine is left over inside the bladder. Some studies suggest that about 10% of vaginal births are affected by bladder voiding dysfunction (Perú Biurrun et al., 2020). Here are some of my top tips as a pelvic floor physical therapist to support voiding after giving birth.
November 04, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
The State of New Jersey and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced New Jersey’s commitment to provide Medicaid coverage one year after a pregnancy to beneficiaries. This coverage will apply to close to 8,700 New Jerseyans and will help address maternal-health disparities that New Jersey—and all states—see among their underserved populations.
August 05, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
August is all about lactation! August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding* Week, August 8th - 14th is Native Breastfeeding Week, August 25th - 31st is Black Breastfeeding Week and in the USA, the entire month recognized as National Breastfeeding Month. Today’s research review summarizes a study that examined nursing and the passage of COVID-19 antibodies from parents who received a COVI-19 vaccination after birth and during bodyfeeding.
June 29, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
As PRIDE month, which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ population worldwide, draws to a close, I wanted to end this month with an interview with Simon Adriane Ellis, MSN, CNM, ARNP, FACNM, the 2021 recipient of the Excellence in Leadership & Innovation Award (formerly named the Kitty Ernst award) given by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. This award honors an exceptional, relatively new CNM/CM who has demonstrated innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery and/or women's health clinical practice, education, administration, or research.
June 03, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The New Yorker and the Retro Report created a new short film, “Bearing the Burden: Black Mothers in America,” that discusses how health care providers are returning to the midwife to meet the maternity care needs of Black people who are growing their families. A century ago, Granny Midwives were responsible for the majority of births of Black families and poor white families. Doctors created unwarranted concerns about the safety practices and skill levels of the Black midwives and forced them to stop practicing. “Can Midwives Bridge the Gap?” Is the accompanying article that goes along with the documentary.
May 25, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Late last month, U.S. News & World Report announced that in the fall of 2021, they will be publishing the first of what will be a regular release of the “Best Hospitals for Maternity” in the United States. Pregnant consumers currently do not have easy access to information that can help them to make informed choices about which health care providers and facilities to choose to receive care from during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. Many expectant families make their decisions as a result of proximity to home or work, locations on a specific health insurance list, or a history of having received previous care from that person or hospital. Families are not easily able to find and use the information they need to select providers and hospitals based on the quality of care they and their baby(ies) are likely to receive.
May 20, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
May is 2021 Preeclampsia Awareness Month. May 22 is World Preeclampsia Day. Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure in pregnancy, affects approximately 5-8% of all pregnancies in the United States and is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. The 2021 campaign’s theme is Beyond Pregnancy. When a pregnant person experiences preeclampsia either during their pregnancy or after giving birth (which can happen even if preeclampsia was not present during the course of pregnancy) the impact of this serious disease lasts long after the birth and postpartum period are over
May 18, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Many important perinatal topics are recognized during the month of May. It is a busy month in that regard as some topics have a day designated for them, others take place over a week and still others continue for the entire month. We cover many of these recognition periods here on the blog, In regards to birth and postpartum doulas, the period of time that doulas are “recognized” can be a bit confusing. In fact, some individuals and organizations recognize and honor doulas on March 22. Alternately, a full week beginning March 22 is celebrated. The entire month of May has often been called “International Doula Month” and now, I have just become aware that in the United States, the Senate just passed a resolution recognizing the Week of May 9th as “National Doula Week.”
May 12, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
May is Maternal Mental Health Month. This is an excellent time to check in and reevaluate what information you are currently sharing in your classes, when you share it and what resources you provide to families who might be dealing with a mood disorder related to their pregnancy or postpartum period. Childbirth educators are in a unique position to normalize perinatal mood disorders (PMDs) which impact up to 20% of pregnant or postpartum people. Untreated perinatal mood disorders impact quality of life and parenting experiences for the entire family including the children.
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