Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
September 07, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
September is Baby Safety Month. Many childbirth educators are not experts in infant safety, but there are some key safety points that should be included in any comprehensive childbirth education class. Topics such as car seat safety, safe sleep, and general household safety are good items to touch on. It is important to also cover general guidelines on safe babywearing and where parents can stay informed on product recalls for infant and child consumer products.
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August 31, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators’ idea is something that childbirth educators can do outside of class time, but offers benefits for families and requires little investment or effort on the part of the educator. I think I first learned of having a “Movie Night” from Kim James, an LCCE in the Seattle area of Washington state who would do this activity with her Lamaze classes. You can find all the B Read More
August 24, 2022 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
As previously reported in Connecting the Dots, in April 2022, the Biden Administration announced an initiative to create a Birthing-Friendly Hospital designation framework to help improve U.S. maternal health outcomes. Administered by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Biden Administration will provide this designation to help consumers make informed decisions when selecting a hospital for labor and delivery. CMS will make its Birthing-Friendly Hospital designation information publically available on its website, beginning in the fall of 2023.
August 17, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
In the USA, it is National Breastfeeding (Bodyfeeding) Month and every week in August is dedicated to World Breastfeeding Week, Indigenous Milk Medicine Week, Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Week, Black Breastfeeding Week.
Since the beginning of time, people have been feeding their babies from their bodies. Here are some collections of breast/chest/bodyfeeding images, some artwork and others actual images, through the ages.
August 10, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
It is important that all families feel welcome in your childbirth classes. Here are ten things you should be doing to confirm that you and your classroom are welcoming and safe for LGTBQIA+ families. It is imperative that you do not make any assumptions about the people who are attending childbirth classes with you. This post is one in an occasional series, "Welcoming All Families," you can find the entire series here.
August 03, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
The first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week - a time for all the world to acknowledge the importance of giving babies human milk, and an opportunity for individuals, organizations and systems to examine their roles and responsibilities in promoting and supporting bodyfeeding and the parent/baby dyad. Breastfeeding provides food security and reduces inequalities. Additionally, August 8-14 is Indigenous Milk Medicine Week and August 25-31 is the 10th annual Black Breastfeeding Week.
The focus for 2022 World Breastfe
July 27, 2022 | by: Crystal Sada, LCCE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators idea comes from Cystal Sada, LCCE, a childbirth educator and doula trainer in New Jersey, USA. Using humor and a familiar but creative teaching aid, Crystal helps the families in her virtual classes practice labor positions and comfort techniques. You can find all the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators ideas for free at this link. - Sharon Muza, Connecting the Dots Community Manager.
July 20, 2022 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
In June 2022, the Biden Administration issued its Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis to help address maternal mortality and morbidity rates, reduce maternal-health disparities, and improve the overall pregnancy experience for all individuals across the United States. President Biden’s Blueprint iterates the President’s call to policymakers to extend Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum in all states and to adopt funding provisions within the President’s 2023 budget request to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality rates.
July 13, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza
Lamaze International recently named Silvia (Sil) Quevedo, M.S., CCC-SLP, CAE to the position of Executive Director. Last month, Sil assumed this leadership role with the 62 year old organization, and I was so delighted that she made herself available to answer some questions and share a bit about herself and her vision and thoughts as she becomes familiar with Lamaze and begins to work to further the goals of our organization.
July 06, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Being pregnant can at times be pretty uncomfortable. Additional weight gain, crowded organs, body aches, swelling, joint pain, exhaustion and more can range from simply annoying to downright horrible depending on the person and the pregnancy. Often these discomforts are magnified when someone is pregnant in the hot summer months. Childbirth educators and other perinatal professionals working with families who are pregnant in the heat of the summer can share some of these tips and tricks for staying cool, hydrated and comfortable when it is baking hot on the outside and a small human is cooking on the inside.
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