Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
August 09, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Lamaze International is hosting an exciting learning event – The Virtual Education Symposium, on October 4, 2023. This event provides an opportunity to hear from experts in childbirth education on how you can enhance your childbirth education program activities to increase learner retention, improve perinatal outcomes and reduce inequities facing birthing people of the Global Majority. Over the next weeks leading up to the event, Connecting the Dots will present short interviews with the speakers, so that you can learn more about them, their upcoming presentation and some of their favorite resources.. Today, meet Mallory Emerson and Sharon Muza who will be presenting "Power Up PowerPoint - Utilizing Slide Decks for Interactive, Engaging Learning Opportunities."
Read More
August 03, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE FACCE, CLE
Annually, August 1 - 7 is World Breastfeeding Week. In the United States, the month of August is recognized as National Breastfeeding Month. Each week of August in the USA recognizes the unique lactation journeys of different communities. The worldwide theme in 2023 – ENABLING BREASTFEEDING: Making a difference for working parents is a critical one to address. World Breastfeeding Week 2023 brings into focus the crucial link between lactation and the challenges faced by new parents as they return to work.
July 28, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
It is summertime in the Northern Hemisphere and I thought it would be fun to share some “Summertime Sorting” ideas. If you are like me, you are always looking for new activities to try in your childbirth classes in order to keep it fresh for the families and for the educator as well. July’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators offers some suggestions for using a variety of sorting activities to help families prepare to birth and parent with confidence. They can also have fun at the same time. To review all of the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators posts, follow this link.
July 24, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
It is no longer enough that childbirth educators know all the information about the childbearing year, and continually stay up to date on new information relevant to the topics they teach. It is also critical that educators understand adult learning and deliver the information in engaging and memorable formats targeted for their adult learners. The Lamaze 2023 Virtual Education Symposium, scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 10 AM to 4:15 PM EDT has got you covered! This event provides educators with the opportunity to learn leading adult education models, polish up their skills and improve their classes, both virtual and in-person.
July 15, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
It may be the lazy days of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but Lamaze International has some exciting events and opportunities coming up that offer all sorts of benefits to perinatal professionals. Read today's post to discover opportunities for you to join that support professional development and benefit families.
July 05, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
One of the valuable benefits for Lamaze International members is a subscription to Lamaze International's official journal - The Journal of Perinatal Childbirth Education, whose mission is to promote, support, and protect natural, safe, and healthy birth through education and advocacy. The journal publishes peer-reviewed articles and evidence-based, practical resources that childbirth educators and other health care professionals can use to enhance the quality and effectiveness of their care or teaching to prepare expectant parents for birth. This quarter's publication is, as usual, chock full of useful information. Here are the abstracts for your review.
June 22, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
June is PRIDE Month, a time to commemorate and center LGBTQIA+ individuals and recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, nonbinary, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. The desire to have a family is universal amongst all people. As childbirth educators, our role goes beyond simply imparting knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth and recognizes our responsibility to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all families, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+. By acknowledging and celebrating the diversity within our classes, childbirth educators can ensure that every individual and every family is seen, respected, and welcomed during this transformative journey. This is a great time to check in with class content and curriculum to confirm that your childbirth classes are welcoming to LGBTQIA+ families in your community. Here are five practical ways to create an inclusive space. To find all the posts in the "Welcoming All Families" series, click here.
June 14, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Childbirth education plays a vital role in preparing expectant parents for the transformative experience of birth and early parenting. While pregnant people may often take center stage in your childbirth class, it's crucial not to overlook the importance of involving the class members who self-identify as expectant fathers in the process as well. When you engage fathers in childbirth education, you help them to become active participants, able to provide valuable support to their pregnant partners and fostering a strong bond with their new child. Here are some ideas to consider adding to your classes that focus on expectant fathers and ensure their meaningful involvement in the childbirth and early parenting journey.
June 07, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Save the date! Lamaze International is excited to announce their LamazeLIVE! 2024 event scheduled for March 7-8, 2024 in Cleveland, OH at the beautiful Tinkham Veale University Center on the grounds of Case Western Reserve University. This is the first in-person Lamaze event to be held in several years due to the pandemic. We could not be more excited about this opportunity for childbirth educators, midwives, doulas, nurses, doctors and other perinatal professionals to come together and learn about the latest research and best practices in childbirth education and maternal-infant health. Consider submitting a speaker proposal for this in-person event.
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.
Subscribe by Email
RSS Feed
