Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
August 11, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just launched a new campaign called HEAR Her. The mission of this new effort is to reduce the number of people who die during pregnancy or the first year after giving birth, currently estimated at over 700 individuals annually in the United States. Research indicates that over 60 percent of those deaths are preventable. Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) disproportionately die at higher rates than their white peers. Often, Black and Indigenous parents’ concerns are disregarded, minimized or ignored and situations that could be addressed are left untreated until it becomes a matter of life and death.
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August 04, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
A childbirth educator is responsible for providing families with evidence based information on lactation and infant feeding. Many people assume that this information is collated in the “last class” of a series, or the last topic of an abbreviated learning session. The reality is that teaching expectant families about the importance of human milk for their newborns and how to meet any challenges that may arise is not a topic for the end of the learning experience. It is something that should be woven through the entire learning experience from the first moments that a family begins to participate in a perinatal learning opportunity.
July 30, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
There is something that all of us can do that can support Black doulas and midwives as they train to serve families. It is called the Doula Book Project. The concept is simple, easy to participate in and supports Black perinatal professionals. Black doulas and midwives make a “wish list” on Amazon of the books they need in order to continue their training. Once they have created their list, they can be added to the Doula Book Project website. Individuals who would like to support the program simply choose a doula or midwife, peruse their public Amazon wish list and purchase the book(s) that are need, which get shipped to the individual promptly. Simple, easy and effective.
July 23, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The RESPCCT study, from the well-respected Birth Place Lab in Vancouver, BC is recruiting participants from across Canada to answer questions about their pregnancy and birth experiences in the past 10 years. What makes this research unique is that a multistakeholder team that included service users from diverse backgrounds, identities, and circumstances spent two years to develop this survey that is person-centered and was designed through a lens that is person-centered and elevates the perspectives and voices of those most marginalized.
July 21, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
First reported from physicians in Ireland and Denmark, with an upwelling of more anecdotal reports from other countries, it appears that the number of babies who are born prematurely, (and most noticeably, very prematurely) has been significantly reduced. In the study that has yet to be peer-reviewed and is still in preprint, “Changes in premature birth rates during the Danish nationwide COVID-19 lockdown: a nationwide register-based prevalence proportion study” found that there were significantly less babies born prematurely during the COVID-19 lockdown than in the previous five years.
July 17, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
While there is no consensus amongst Maternal Mortality Review committees in operation in almost all 50 states about what actually constitutes a maternal death, there is one thing that everyone can agree on. More than two thirds of the deaths that do occur during or within a year of pregnancy are preventable!
July 13, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Being able to read and understand research papers is a skill that will serve perinatal professionals well time and time again. It can be intimidating but once you dive in, you may find it is not as difficult as you once thought. The more frequently you give it a go, the easier it becomes. We have covered this topic before in several blog posts and an amazing series here on Connecting the Dots. Today I highlight those resources along with some new ones that have been useful to me.
June 25, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
There is a unique, free opportunity to listen to and learn from Ibram X. Kendi, one of America’s remarkable and leading historians and a strong Black voice helping to guide America toward becoming antiracist. Kendi is the author of many books that have topped The New York Times bestseller list, as well as the Founding Director of The Antiracist Research & Policy Center formerly at American University in Washington, DC., and relocated to the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research in early 2020.
June 23, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Your choice of language is always important, particularly if you are an ally and anti-racist. As a perinatal professional, the words you use; written, spoken, in videos and more, can further support racism or work towards dismantling it. Here are five critical changes that you can make to your language that really matter as you do the work necessary to be an anti-racist. I am working hard to make sure my language is respectful and accurate. I continue to learn how to be a better anti-racist every day. It is critical that you do the same.
June 17, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) has created an online resource page for LGBTQIA+ families and the perinatal professionals that support them. The USBC page includes valuable information and links to resources available through other organizations such as Le Leche League International, Kellymom.com and more. Feeding babies human milk is just as important to LGBTQIA+ families as it is for heterosexual, cisnormative families and perinatal professionals should be sure to have resources at hand to assist families in their breast/chestfeeding journeys.
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