Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
June 11, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Connecting the Dots wants you to know about The Grand Challenge. The Grand Challenge was founded in 2012 by Jennie Joseph, the late Claudia Booker and Vicki Penwell. The goal of the program "is to connect Birth Workers who desire to work in maternity care fields in America with programs of education and individuals that can offer help." They are "matching scholars to scholarships to reduce birth disparities."
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June 09, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Global Health Media just announced a new smartphone app, Birth & Beyond. This app is currently available for download in the Apple App Store. An Android version is coming soon. In the app are 28 videos on topics such as birth, breast/chestfeeding and newborn caring, along with more specific videos on small baby care and complementary feeding.
June 05, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
As a follow up to Lamaze International's statement indicating our organization stands against inequality and injustice, I wanted to share a rich resource just brought to my attention that is designed for health care providers and perinatal professionals. The Birth Place Lab in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as an information page directed at actions that people can take now to fight racism against Black people. There are also added resources discussing the oppression on Indigenous people, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
May 28, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Moving birth and parenting classes online has been of critical importance since it no longer became safe to hold classes in person due to COVID-19. Just because classes are delivered through an online meeting platform does not mean that information should be shared only view a slide show presentation. There are many ways to deliver interactive and engaging activities that promote understanding and retention amongst participants in a virtual learning environment. One method that has been very well received by the families taking my classes virtually are quizzes and polls.
May 19, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
The Daybreak Star Doulas program in collaboration with Indigenous artist Wakeah Jhane created a free set of seven birth affirmation prints that are available in your choice of four different sizes. These powerful images and their messages are uplifting to Indigenous people across Turtle Island (Indigenous name for North America) as well as people from many other cultures. The affirmations are truly relevant to all the people who are bringing a baby earthside.
May 05, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Today is the International Day of the Midwife. Midwives practice around the world and are the perfect health care provider to provide care for healthy, low risk families during the childbearing year. In many circumstances, midwives also provide well-person care reproductive care such as contraception, screening and diagnostic testing, and with guidance through puberty and menopause as well.
April 29, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
April’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators serves two purposes! We honor and recognize Cesarean Awareness Month and also share an opportunity to support those educators who are teaching virtually during the COVID-19 global pandemic. When we are teaching virtually, as in person classes are not safe to hold currently, you can use a virtual background behind you that supplements the topic you are covering. In the case of cesareans, you can use an operating room with a baby warmer.
April 22, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the White Ribbon Alliance has created the Safer Together: Respectful Maternity Care in COVID-19 campaign and designed an advocacy and communications agenda that people everywhere can use to protect and support the experiences of birthing families worldwide. This material can easily be adapted to your local needs as necessary
April 17, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
April 11th-17th is Black Maternal Health Week. Due to both historical and ongoing racism, inequities and oppression, outcomes for Black parents and babies is significantly worse than for their non-Black peers. Black parents and their families should be centered and supported as they grow their families. They should be lifted up and receive respectful, culturally appropriate and evidence-based care. Perinatal professionals can be a resource for Black families, helping them to feel informed, supporting their decisions and offering information that can be used during their pregnancy, birth and early parenting time.
March 31, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
Families worldwide are facing new and unforeseen challenges as they prepare to birth during this world-wide epidemic. Circumstances are changing daily, if not hourly in locations around the world. Many childbirth and parenting programs are now being presented in a virtual format to families. Educators have been scrambling to convert activities to an online format that builds confidence and prepares families effectively for their labor, birth and early parenting time ahead.
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