Birth Works embodies the philosophy of developing a woman's self confidence,
trust and faith in her ability to give birth. It is our goal to promote safe and
loving birth experiences through education, introspection and confident
action.
To Join the Birth Works® Educator Certification Program and/or
register for the Educator Training Workshop click here.
...for the mind
New Online Birth Statistics Tool Offered by The National Center for Health Statistics
Birth Statistics Available
The National Center for Health Statistics has recently launched an online data access and analysis tool for Vital Statistics. Called VitalStats, this site gives users access to a collection of interactive pre-built tables, and the ability to build their own interactive tables choosing from over 100 public use birth variables. Interactive charting and mapping tools are a key part of the system, and provide various options for visualizing and manipulating tabulated data. The data available includes maternal characteristics (including age, race, level of education and marital status), risk factors, length of gestation, birth weight and trends in fertility and birth rates.
Currently VitalStats includes birth data for 2000 to 2004. More information is being added to the site and in the coming year it is expected that perinatal and mortality data will be added.
Visit the CDC’s website http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/VitalStats.htm to access the VitalStats information.
This information can be of value to us in many ways as we provide education and care to birthing women.
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...for the body
Preserving the Integrity of the Natural Process
Despite the alarming rise in childbirth interventions such as labor inductions and cesarean sections, recently published articles have brought the controversies associated with these procedures to the public eye.
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times discussed the rethinking of elective labor induction, a procedure that has been increasing rapidly in recent years, despite evidence that elective induction does not improve outcomes for mothers and babies, and despite organizations such as ACOG issuing statements that are not in favor of non-medically indicated induction. Here is the link to this informative and thought-provoking article:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-induction13aug13,1,5179922.story?ctrack=7&cset=true
Another recent article by CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen talks about ways of avoiding unnecessary cesarean sections, including avoiding labor induction, selecting your caregiver and birthplace with care, staying at home until active labor, asking questions to be well informed, and using a doula.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/08/23/ep.csection/
We hope that you will make these articles available to the expectant parents that you work with. There are many ways that concerned parents can avoid unneeded labor interventions. Homebirth is one of these options. We hope that you will share the recent newsletter that we published on the subject of homebirth with expectant parents, to inspire those who might be interested in pursuing the option of birthing at home.
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... for the spirit
Birth is for Babies
When we talk about preparing for birth and the choices that are made, our focus is usually on the experience of the birthing mother. And why wouldn’t it be? It is she who experiences the sensations of labor, the emotions of labor, the baby is emerging into the world from her efforts and her body. However, it is key to remember that the baby is experiencing the birth as well.
It is Birth Works® International’s philosophy that a woman will labor best wherever she feels the safest and most secure. For some, that will be in the hospital, and for others that will be at home or in a birthing center. For those who feel safest at home, there is good news. Daviss and Johnson published one of the largest international prospective studies of home birth on February 17, 2007 and concluded that home birth is safe for low-risk pregnant women and less costly. The majority of studies on the safety of home versus hospital birth agree with their findings. Homebirth provides a wonderful welcome for babies in many ways. In the home environment, the baby is less likely to be exposed to drugs (which may affect his or her neurological and respiratory systems, and cause distress), less likely to contract infections, and less likely to suffer from risks of such instruments as forceps or surgical scissors.
The homebirth environment is also special. Routine care in hospitals often results in separation of the mother and baby right after birth, whereas at home, a baby can easily stay in his mother’s arms or her parent’s bed. The home also provides an intimacy and warmth which is hard to duplicate in a hospital setting. If a baby at a hospital birth has an iatrogenic (hospital induced) complication such as fever from the mother having an epidural, he or she may be subjected to medical procedures and isolation.
The way that a baby experiences birth can make a profound impact on this tiny, new life. Giving birth to a baby should be just that – giving the birth over to the baby, and making him or her the most important person of the day and of the experience. It is a birth day gift of incomparable value.
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Birth Works E News has been written to provide information on Birth Works® International programs and general information about pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The information provided is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a childbirth educator, lactation consultant, doula, midwife, or physician.
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