Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
June 28, 2023 | by: Katja Holzhei
There are many benefits to physical activity during pregnancy. Childbirth educators can not only be a source of information about these benefits, but provide encouragement and opportunity for pregnant people to increase their level of activity to benefit themselves, their babies and their labors. This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators (BABE) comes from health and wellness professional Katja Holzhei, who shares some effective ideas for incorporating exercise into your childbirth classes. To access all the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators creative ideas,
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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.
May 25, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Human milk is the ideal food for newborns and infants. Many families face challenges in meeting their bodyfeeding goals. Interventions and events occurring at birth have a significant impact on lactation initiation. Subsequent barriers arise when lactating people return to work, and are separated from their baby for extended lengths of time. In the United States, in order to protect the bodyfeeding relationship, legislation such as the PUMP Act has been enacted and enhanced to support lactating people in the workplace.
May 20, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. The role of the childbirth educator extends beyond preparing families for the physical experiences of labor, birth and postpartum. Educators are also in a unique position to call attention to the emotional well-being and mental health of both pregnant and postpartum parents. By spiraling this important topic throughout their curriculum, educators can help parents receive the support they need during this transformative time. Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month provides childbirth educators with an opportunity to deepen our own understanding, debunk misconceptions, and equip ourselves with knowledge to advocate for maternal mental health.
May 13, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Raising the Bar for Maternal Health Equity and Excellence – Actionable Strategies for Healthcare Systems is a new initiative created by the National Partnership for Women & Families. The purpose of this new 2023 initiative is to improve health equity by supporting the whole person and applying an anti-racist lens to improve outcomes for Black parents. It is well documented that Black families consistently receive subpar care and limited access to appropriate support and as a result have outcomes that are significantly worse than the outcomes for white families. To put is simply, there is a maternal health care crisis and that crisis disproportionately impacts Black families and that needs to change
May 03, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension and HELLP syndrome are all classified as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs). Throughout the globe, up to 10% of pregnant people are impacted by HDPs. Preeclampsia often presents as a rapid rise in blood pressure. This can lead to complications that include strokes, seizures, organ failure and death for both the parent and/or the baby. Severe maternal morbidity events impact Black parents at twice the rate of their white peers. Preeclampsia can be a concern during pregnancy and also after delivery, during the postpartum period.
Childbirth educators and other perinatal professionals have a responsibility to inform pregnant people about the signs and symptoms to watch for, in the case of preeclampsia, and to encourage them to reach out to a health care provider if they have any concerns. It is important for people to be insistent, and express their concern to their doctor or midwife and request that their concerns be taken seriously. Oftentimes, especially for Black and brown people, concerns are dismissed and opportunities are missed to prevent a serious consequence.
April 29, 2023 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
April is Cesarean Awareness Month and it is appropriate for this month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators activity to be on the topic of cesareans and vaginal births after cesarean (VBACs) with a fun and simple idea that can be used both virtually and in person.
The current cesarean rate in the United States is hovering around 32% and this number has been fairly flat for the past years. Physician and midwifery professional organizations in the United States, Canada and beyond are in agreement that the current cesarean rate in many places is too high and can cause more harm than good, with a prolonged and more complicated recovery post surgery and additional impact for future fertility, pregnancies and births. Sharing some simple facts about cesarean birth and VBAC in an informal activity is appropriate for childbirth classes, so that expectant families can understand facts and how to advocate for appropriate and evidence based care.
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