Book Review: Into These Hands

Into These Hands: Wisdom from Midwives
Geradine Simkins
Paperback, 300 pages
Published by Spirituality & Health Publisher, 2011
ISBN: 9780981870854
Wisdom from Midwives

Reviewed by Molly Remer, Talk Birth

Into These Hands is an amazing anthology of midwives’ retrospectives about their careers and midwifery journey. You won’t find birth stories here–this is book about women’s lives and journeys to midwifery. A book of midwife stories–how women are birthed as midwives, rather than about births they attended–Into These Hands is great reading for aspiring midwives or for currently practicing midwives who wish to feel a sense of solidarity with their sisters. There are many paths, many lessons, many voices and each midwife clearly loves women and has a passion for birth.

From the press release:

We are eager for you to meet some modern-day wise women, healers, revolutionaries, and reformers. Into These Hands, Wisdom from Midwives© is a comprehensive anthology of the life stories of 25 remarkable women who have dedicated their lives and careers to the path of social change through midwifery. These exemplary midwives are all over 50 years of age with 25-40 years in the field. Collectively, they have over 800 years of experience and have assisted in over 35,000 births.

The midwives whose voices are included in the anthology come from diverse backgrounds, training, experiences, and range of practice settings. Quite a few of the stories are from “bridge club” members–women who began as direct entry midwives and later became CNMs. These midwives have a foot in both worlds and insight into the politics of the profession. In general, Into These Hands is a good look at the politics of midwifery both past and present. Almost all of the midwives in the book have homebirth roots or orientation.

Since there are lots of voices represented, the tone or style of some stories is more compelling than others. Some within-story chronology jumps were a little confusing and there were a couple of stories in which I had to do some re-reading for clarity.

Into These Hands is likely to be of particular interest to midwifery activists, aspiring midwives, or current/retired midwives and may hold less appeal for general birth enthusiasts, doulas, or childbirth educators. The stories are rich, insightful, thought-provoking, and diverse and they brought tears to my eyes several times. This book is a treasury of women’s wisdom and a powerful legacy for the generations of women to follow.

(An indicator of how much I like a book is how many page corners I turn down in order to come back to re-read those sections and write blog posts based on them/share quotes/etc. This is Into These Hands last night as I was finishing it...;-D)

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Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes.

Happy Father's Day!

For in the child lies the future of the world. Mother must hold the baby close so that he knows that it is his world. Father must take him to the highest hill to see what his world is like.

This quote came from the end of the touching Father's Day Flashmob in Denver video organized by Dads Adventure. Make sure to check out the associated article The Dignity of Being a Dad and read about the new brotherhood of dads initiative.

Here are some previous father-specific posts from the CfM blog:

• Book Review: Breastfeeding Facts for Father
• Book Review: Fathers-To-Be Handbook
• Book Review: The Father's Home Birth Handbook
• Happy Father's Day!
• Film Review: Homebirth Dads
• More about Fathers at Birth
• Fathers at Birth
• Father's Day post from 2008
• Review of Pregnant in America DVD.
  

Fatherhood challenges us, but it also enlarges us and reshapes our perception of what is important in the world around us. As we take stock of this new world, we find that doing our job as a dad is inherently honorable and respectful, and brings to us the dignity that goes with the territory. Far from being emasculating, being a dad makes us men in the finest sense of the term. --Dads Adventure

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Molly
CfM Blogger

Being BOLD and Birthsmart...

Recently, the website/resource My Mommy Manual interviewed Karen Brody, founder of the BOLD movement and playwright of the play, Birth. The topic of the interview was "how to empower birthing mothers" and it was quite good. Brody placed great emphasis on the importance of having a "circle of women" and the importance of community and connection in increasing the odds of a positive birth experience. As part of this, she discussed the value of mother blessing ceremonies and I share her opinion of the importance of these ceremony. She also makes the point that body-centered preparation (such as yoga) helps you connect with the resources within you as well as surrounding you. I saw Birth in St. Louis last year and I'm looking forward to making another trek to see this powerful play again in St. Louis this year! (Sunday, August 29th at Schafly Bottleworks at 5:00!)

Related to empowering birthing women, birth activism, and raising awareness of the flaws within our current birth culture, check out this BirthsMart video by Heather Cushman-Dowdee (Hathor the Cowgoddess and compiler of a really wonderful book, Simply Give Birth).



I am looking forward to being at the CAPPA conference through the end of the week and will not be making my usual Friday post!

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Molly
CfM Blogger

Resources from Other Organizations

I have connections with a lot of wonderful organizations. While I've thought recently that perhaps I need to "throw my hat in" with one organization only (i.e. focus my efforts/energy), I also enjoy being a part of, and supporting, multiple organizations. I feel like each has something unique and valuable to offer and I have no problems networking with and being a member of--for example--almost all of the major childbirth education organizations, as well as multiple doula organizations, and others as well. I don't think it makes sense to be "exclusive" or competitive with each other--all of them wish to improve maternity care and birth choices for women and I like to help as much as I can! I also just love collecting information and resources and so it is delightful to be on all these e-newsletter mailing lists and so forth. Among many, here are a couple of resources that caught my eye this week:

1. Choices in Childbirth has a new service--a provider network (free for consumers to search and use, fee for professionals to list services). "Choices in Childbirth is an excellent tool for both mothers and mother-friendly care providers. We have hundreds of listings of midwives, doulas, acupuncturists, and more--everything a mother could need to create a mother-friendly birth experience that's right for her. For providers, it's a great way to advertise their services and promote the many options available to expectant parents." Speaking of Choices in Childbirth, one of my most favorite resources in the world to share with with parents in my birth classes is the Guide to a Healthy Birth.

2. The Family Violence Prevention Fund is hosting a free webinar called Building Health Care Leadership: A Systems Advocacy Approach to Addressing Domestic Violence in the Health Care System, July 29, 2010, 11am-12pm PDT. Considering that many women experience domestic violence for the first time during pregnancy and that pregnancy is the most common reason for women to be in the medical care system, this is a quite relevant webinar topic for maternity care activists!

3. One of my very favorite "basic" pregnancy and childbirth books, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin is coming out in a new edition this month. I'm so excited! New with this edition is a really helpful looking companion website.

Enjoy!
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Molly
CfM Blogger

Continuing Education Resources for Birth Professionals

I love how the internet brings such a wide variety of wonderful educational resources right to our fingertips! Earlier this week I posted a link on the CfM Facebook page to some great presentation downloads from the 2010 CIMS Forum. Then, check out all these free podcasts from MIDIRS (Midwives Information Resource Services). Site registration is required to listen to the podcasts.

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Molly
CfM Blogger

Maternal and Infant Mortality

Last month, I wrote a brief post about the Preconception Educators program sponsored by the US office of Minority Health. Since then, several other things have come to my attention that are related to either maternal or infant mortality. The Unnecesarean blog pointed out that there is an excellent video about infant mortality in the African-American population available from the Minority Health office. In fact, The Unnecesarean is also hosting a blog carnival about this video! (to run July 4th.)

The video is called Crisis in the Crib and emphasizes this fact: "The rate of death for black babies before their first birthday is twice the rate of white babies and greatly outpaces the national average."

Then, a friend sent me a link to an article about childbirth deaths focusing on the "350,000 women lose their lives each year giving birth or through complications of childbearing."

And, in the summer issue of Midwifery Today I read about the new report from Amnesty International called "Deadly Delivery" about the maternal health crisis in the US: "Mothers die not because the United States can't provide good care, but because it lacks the political will to make sure good care is available to all women." Bringing it full circle back to the Crisis in the Crib, I think we could amend that sentence to read, "mothers and babies die...because it lacks the political will to make sure good care is available to all women and their children."

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Molly

CfM Blogger

Book Review: Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers

Since Father's Day is this weekend, I thought this was a perfect book review to share!

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, CCCE
http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

Since partner support of a breastfeeding mother is one of the most important factors in breastfeeding success, the short book Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers is a valuable book indeed. Written in a clear, straightforward format, brief one-page sections address topics like, “why you want your baby breastfed,” “is formula really so bad,” “a happier, healthier mom,” “sex and the breastfeeding woman,” and “when breastfeeding is not advised.” There is also a brief segment about safe co-sleeping. These sections are followed by a brief FAQ addressing topics such as how often mom should breastfeed, how to know baby is getting enough milk, how long to breastfeed, nipple piercing, breast implants, alcohol, and breastfeeding in public.

As a quote in the book states, “Having a father is critical to the healthy development of a child. Being a father is critical to the healthy development of a man.” Providing breastfeeding information specific to fathers, Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers supports this healthy development of father, mother, and baby.

A Spanish edition, a low-literacy (abridged) version, an ebook edition, and a hospital edition (co-sleeping information omitted) of Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers are all available at various affordable prices from Platypus Media.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Book Review: Brought to Earth by Birth

Book Review: Brought to Earth by Birth
By Harriette Hartigan
Motherbaby Press, 2008
ISBN 978-1-890-44642-0
93 pages, softcover, $25.95
www.motherbabypress.com

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, CCCE
http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

Written by well-known birth photographer Harriette Hartigan, Brought to Earth by Birth is a lyrical ode to the power of birth and babies. The book feels like an extended “poem” expressed in both word and image. The emphasis of the book is the black and white photos of pregnant women, families, and newborns that grace the pages. There are several photos of women in labor and a couple of breastfeeding images. Surrounding the photos are carefully chosen quotes and gentle words.

Brought to Earth by Birth is separated into six “chapters” and contains several birth photos, but no crowning photos or any other photos that some may consider “graphic.” The book is short—under 100 pages—and some photos were familiar to me (cover images in birth publications). The concluding emphasis is on the newborn, the one who is, after all, “brought to earth by birth.”

The book would make a nice gift for a midwife, doula, or childbirth educator and is a nice “waiting room” book to browse through. It would also make an inspirational mother blessing gift. As the author states, “The experience of birth is vast. It is a diverse tapestry woven by cultural customs, shaped in personal choices, affected by biological factors, marked by political circumstances. Yet the nature of birth itself prevails in elegant design of simple complexity.” Brought to Earth by Birth is a lovely glimpse of some strands of that elegant tapestry.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Film Review: Natural Born Babies

Film Review: Natural Born Babies
South Coast Midwifery, 2009
DVD, 24 minutes, $24.95
www.naturalbornbabies.com

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, CCCE
http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

This lovely short film produced by a midwifery service in California, is a great “ad” for the benefits of homebirth and of midwifery care. Natural Born Babies has a very clean, fresh, and contemporary feel and features a multicultural collection of homebirth families talking about their experiences in front of a white screen. Something that is particularly striking is that some of the people speaking with love and enthusiasm about their midwives and their birth experiences include a cardiologist, an anesthesiologist, and an ER physician!

The first part of the film is titled Interventions and features both men and women speaking about birth, referencing how pregnancy and birth are treated like medical conditions and including a lot of discussion about the prevalence of cesareans. The point is made that, “no epidural can replace human touch.” The second part is titled The Birth Specialists and points out that OB/GYNS are pathology specialists, whereas midwives are trained in normalcy—“we take low-risk women, and keep them low-risk.” Midwives are specialists in normal pregnancy and birth. Because of the film’s emphasis is wholly on out-of-hospital birth and hospitals are critiqued very soundly, hospital-bound couples viewing the film may find that it causes their defenses to rise.

Several of the parents are holding their babies as they speak and a CNM speaks briefly as well (citing both ACNM and MANA). The CNM manages Orange County’s only accredited birth center. I enjoyed the presence of a bio-physicist dad originally from Holland saying, “everyone I know was born at home” and noting that “you give birth the same way you live.” Several of the couples speaking do refer to the father as “delivering” the baby, which is a long-term pet peeve of mine.

Special features include a 10 minute version of the film, an outtakes section, and a look inside the South Coast Birth Center. At the end of the film we see that one of the couples is the director/producer of the film.

Natural Born Babies is a fast-paced film and though it is filmed in a “talking heads” format, it cuts quickly from person to person, thus keeping the viewer engaged. If you are looking for an informative video that is homebirth and midwifery friendly, but that does not include any birth footage, this would be a good addition to your library.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the film for review purposes.

Book Review: She Births

Book Review: She Births: A Modern Woman’s Guidebook for an Ancient Rite of Passage
By Marcie Macari
Infinity Publishing, 2006
ISBN 0-7414-3390-7

255 pages, softcover, $23.95
http://www.shebirths.com

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE

http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

She Births is a book that “goes beyond” the average birth book. It is a particularly good read for mothers having subsequent children—perhaps for a woman who is well read in the physiology and stages of labor and who wants to dig deeper into the emotional and spiritual meaning of giving birth. It is also helpful for first-time mothers, though I felt that there was a lot of content that seemed to assume the reader had already given birth (and was perhaps reading this book to reflect, process, and prepare for future births).

The emphasis of She Births is on childbirth as a rite of passage and as an opportunity for spiritual growth and personal transformation. There is a lot of content that has a very “New Age” flavor. While I personally do not mind—and actually enjoy—this framework, other readers may consider some of the sections to be offputting.

Each chapter ends with a short chapter-topic meditation and several pages of related journaling exercises.

The book contains a higher than average number of minor typographical errors, as well as odd mid-sentence capitalizations, and too-short dashes between ideas. Persistent capitalization of words such as Birth and Spirit were a bit distracting. The book contains a variety of empowering birth stories, but none of them have attribution, making it difficult to identify who was giving birth. (The author? The woman in the previous story?) It was hard to grasp who was the “I” reflecting and sharing in each story.

She Births has several particularly wonderful passages that are well worth quoting and it also has a lovely cover. It is a passionately written book that is very dynamic and “alive” to read. The book is strongly written—the author does not mince words nor attempt to “balance” her perspective and this can be a refreshing approach. She Births also raises thought-provoking questions such as, “The way a society views a pregnant and birthing woman, reflects how that society views women as a whole. If women are considered weak in their most powerful moments, what does that mean?”

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

New Birth Films

Via one of my favorite email lists (Independent Childbirth), I just learned about two new documentaries about birth.

From Australia, a documentary in the making called The Face of Birth:



And then a documentary about doulas called, Doula: The Ultimate Birth Companion:



Both look like very interesting contributions and I look forward to seeing the complete versions!

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Molly
CfM Blogger

Book Review: Get Me Out

Book Review: Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth From the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank
By Randi Hutter Epstein, MD
W.W. Norton & Company, 2010
ISBN 978-0-393-06458-2
302 pages, hardback, $24.95
http://www.randihutterepstein.com/

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE
http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

Since it shares a subtitle about the history of childbirth, I expected the new book Get Me Out to be very similar in content to the recent book Birth Day by Mark Sloan or to the book Birth by Tina Cassidy. I wondered how much more could possibly be reported about the history of childbirth. It turns out there is plenty more and I was delighted to discover that Get Me Out stands alone as a unique and interesting contribution to books of this genre.

Written by a physician and mother of four, Get Me Out focuses on some very recent elements of birth history including assisted reproductive technologies (ART), ultrasound, and freebirth, subjects not addressed in the books referenced above. Aside from familiar content about things like the Chamberlen brothers and the Twilight Sleep movement, the remainder of the text was fresh and engaging. Part one included an interesting and disturbing chapter about Marion Sims and his research and experiments with fistula repair on enslaved women. A later chapter explores Sims’ research with artificial insemination (this time with middle class white women). In fact, the latter half of the book contains an extensive historical look at artificial insemination, moving into present day history including an exploration of sperm banking and cryo-preservation of eggs.

Unique among birth history books is Epstein’s chapter on freebirth (more commonly known as “unassisted childbirth”) followed with a chapter about ultrasound including content about 4D and “novelty” ultrasounds. There is also a chapter exploring DES and its effects on reproduction.

Also different than Birth Day and Birth, is the total absence of memoir or personal reflective content. Epstein is a medical journalist and Get Me Out is written in that voice. There is a light, personal tone to the text, but nothing personal aside from occasional descriptions, observations, or quotes from interviews with sperm bank mangers (for example). I found myself feeling a little curious about her personal history of childbirth, an element freely interspersed throughout the texts of other recent birth history books.

As the author says, “…the way we give birth is a story about our deepest desires and our fundamental concerns about life, death, and sex.” Get Me Out is a fascinating tale focusing on our collective, cultural story about birth in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as well as dip into the story that continues being written today.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Grassroots Network: Numbers of Out-of-Hospital Births Have Increased

Dear friends,

Exciting news about out-of-hospital birth! A just-released report from the Centers for Disease Control (the CDC) showed that the number of out-of-hospital births increased by 5% from 2004 to 2005 and stayed up in 2006 (the numbers had been gradually decreasing over the previous 14 years). In fact, in nine states, out-of-hospital births rose by 15% or more!

This report confirms what has been sensed in the out-of-hospital birthing community for awhile: the amount of demand, interest and births in out-of-hospital settings and the midwives who assist in them are on the rise, and the increase has to do with families wanting births that feel safe, private, affordable and in keeping with their cultural and religious practices. The report goes on to show that out-of-hospital births have better outcomes: fewer pre-term and low-birth weight babies. One theory about these outcomes is that they can be attributed in part to the high-quality, personalized, preventative prenatal care offered by out-of-hospital midwives (including CPMs, Certified Professional Midwives).

On a side note, this report also shows that women have been increasingly seeking out-of-hospital births several years before the release of Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake's popular film The Business of Being Born (2008), proving that this film and other media interest in out-of-hospital birth reflect, not lead, the desires and actions of American families.

To download the full CDC report, go to http://www.cdc. gov/nchs/ data/nvsr/ nvsr58/nvsr58_ 11.pdf.

Sincerely,
Arielle Greenberg Bywater
"sidekick"

Maternity Care Allegory

Have I mentioned recently that I love Childbirth Connection? Well, I do! What a wonderful organization offering so many helpful maternity care resources.

I recently wrote a long post on my other blog about "choices," listening to other women's stories, and thinking about how we tell stories of our own. As synchronicity would have it, one of my Facebook birth advocate friends shared a link this week from the current CIMS Childbirth Forum going on in Texas. The link was to a maternity care allegory by Childbirth Connection illustrating differences between current and envisioned maternity care systems. I thought the allegory was a very good illustration of an effective use of story--the stories spoke for themselves, no need to identify some choices as "better" or "worse," right or wrong.

Then, in another synchronous moment, I saw this Superbowl ad clip for the movie The Back-Up Plan. I do not have TV, so I am mercifully spared most advertising, but I conicidentally came across the clip AS I was writing this post--what a dramatic example of another kind of story and message about birth :(

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Molly
CfM Blogger

New Blog: First the Egg

I've mentioned here before that one of the birth blogs I really enjoy is the Feminist Childbirth Studies blog. The author (another Molly, so she must be great ;-D) let me know recently that she has a brand new website and will be continuing her blog there. Called First the Egg, her tagline is "a feminist resource on pregnancy, birth, and parenting." Her explanation of "why feminist?" is great.

I recognize that women are drawn to birthwork for a wide variety of reasons and many birthworkers do not self-identify as "feminist" (though I think that many of them would actually fall into the category of "cutural feminists"--a branch of feminism that celebrates the female essence and the natural, complementary differences between women and men). For me personally, I was a feminist first, and my interest in birth is a natural outgrowth of my overarching interest in "women's issues." I love learning about what originally drew other women to work with birth. When I trace the thread back in my own life, I see that it extends all the way back to about age 12.

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Molly
CfM Blogger

Book Review: 25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power

25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power
By Danette Watson and Stephanie Corkhill Hyles
Watson & Corkhill Hyles, 2004
Hardcover, Book & CD Set, $24.95.
ISBN: 0-646-44337-2
www.awakenyourbirthpower.com

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE
http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

“If you have heard enough birth ‘war stories,’ advice, and medical information… If you are beginning to doubt yourself and to feel confused and worried about giving birth… It is time to focus on something simple, positive and inspirational. It is time to come back to center and listen to your own inner wisdom. It is time to Awaken your Birth Power.”

I was experiencing my third pregnancy when I received the book and CD set 25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power and was able to read and listen as both a consumer and a reviewer. I found both the book and CD very nurturing, enriching, and affirming. The book is a collection of 25 short breathing meditations each accompanied by a beautiful (and whimsical) drawing. The final section of the book contains brief sections exploring the body-mind connection, “what actually happens when you awaken your birth power,” a chart of characteristics awakening power and those that block power, and specific suggestions for how to use each of the 25 meditations in the book.

The enclosed CD has 3 tracks–the first is called “awaken your birth power for pregnancy” and consists of the relevant meditations from the book read aloud. The woman reading has a pleasant, soothing voice with a slight Australian accent. The second track on the CD is “awaken your birth power for labour and birth” and consists of 48 minutes of the relevant meditations from the book read aloud. The third track is an abbreviated almost 8-minute guided meditation. The CD would be perfect to listen to while in labor.

With its gentle illustrations and relaxing words, 25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power is a nurturing, confidence-inspiring, birth-power-enhancing, reflective, time-out for use during pregnancy or birth.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Book Review: Dance of the Womb

Book Review: Dance of the Womb: The Essential Guide to Belly Dance for Pregnancy and Birth

By Maha Al Musa, 2008
ISBN 978-0-646-48705-2
260 page hardcover book, $49.95 (AUS)
http://www.bellydanceforbirth.com

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE, http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

Some books simply feel good to hold in your hands. Dance of the Womb is one such book: it is beautiful, both in content and appearance. While priced a little higher than some birth books, I cannot emphasize enough what a high quality book it is—-it is not a traditional trade paperback, it is of textbook quality and size. Hardbound with a lovely cover and endpapers, Dance of the Womb is packed with full color, detailed, step-by-step instructional photographs leading the reader through a “belly dance for birth” journey.

Dance of the Womb is divided into several segments. The first section summarizes the benefits of belly dance and explores the physiology of birth. The next section walks the reader through a series of gentle warm-up exercises while the following sections progress through a variety of different specific belly dance movements. Nearing the conclusion of the text is a segment about labor movements with positions. Each section of the book is lavishly illustrated with very clear, easy to follow, step-by-step photographs.

The author’s own journey through pregnancy, birth, and mothering is skillfully interwoven throughout the text as well as her own feminine passage into understanding herself as a complete woman. Interspersed with the photographs and belly dance instructions, is the exploration of the author’s pregnancy and birth experiences, her relationship with her own mother and her parents’ culture. The book contains her personal birth stories as well as perspectives on belly dance for birth from three midwives.

The author, Maha Al Musa lives in Australia. Her interest in Middle Eastern Dance was sparked by her Palestinian/Lebanese roots and birthplace as well as her pilgrimage to explore her heritage and reconnect with her long-separated mother. Maha has also developed a Dance of the Womb step-by-step instructional belly dancing DVD (sold separately, review to follow) that includes a video of her own homebirth journey with her third child. She is also developing a one day foundation course in “bellydancebirth” for birth professionals with a plan to go international in 2011.

Dance of the Womb is a great introduction to not just the basic physical elements of prenatal belly dance, but also to the spiritual aspects of giving birth and life as a woman. It is written with an intimate tone that makes the reader feel as if the author has reached out across the miles to form a direct, personal connection. This book feels like a rich treasure to hold and is a gentle, nurturing, encouraging, and enriching voyage for pregnant women or the people who serve them.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Book Review: Lady Hands, Lion's Heart

I cannot believe that I have never posted my review of this book--it was published in CfM News, but I never re-posted here. For shame, since it is one of my all-time favorite midwifery memoirs!

The author has a new book too called The Beauty Girls. I'll bet it is a treat as well!

Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart ~ A Midwife's Saga
by Carol Leonard, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-615-19550-6
Bad Beaver Publishing, $15.00, 363 pages, soft cover
www.badbeaverfarm.com

Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE, http://talkbirth.wordpress.com

This new book by experienced New Hampshire midwife, Carol Leonard, is a wonderful read. It is funny, compelling, exciting, and sad. I think it is the best midwife’s memoir I’ve ever read.

Spanning 13 years (1975-1987), the book represents not just her personal experiences and birth stories, but also chronicles the development of independent midwifery in New Hampshire and the birth of MANA and its emergence as an international presence.

Leonard is an engaging writer with a flair for the dramatic. The style of the book is present tense, so you get a sense of actually “being there” and the book reads with the pace of a novel.

The many birth stories in the book are riveting. She has her share of close calls and complications, as well as tons of strong, inspirational births. Her love of the work and of the women she serves shines throughout and I got a strong sense of the author as a deeply passionate and committed woman.

The book opens with her own birth story in a hospital in 1975, her only child, and chronicles her development into a midwife (a fascinating sub-story in the book is of the changes her local hospital goes through to make their maternity unit more mother-friendly). Be prepared for a sad ending.

The birth stories shared each represent an event or lesson learned. Leonard is a busy midwife (you get a sense in the book that she doesn’t have much time to take care of herself!) and she attends many births in her years of service. The births detailed here are carefully chosen for impact and purpose. (Side note: as an LLL Leader, I was saddened that her one experience with LLL [in the book] is a bad one).

More than a collection of birth stories or midwifery musings, Lady’s Hands, Lion’s Heart, is a personal journey, as well as a spirited account of a larger journey occurring in the midwifery profession.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes.

Laboring Under an Illusion update

In October, I posted my review of the film Laboring Under an Illusion by filmmaker and anthropologist Vicki Elson. I really enjoyed this film and my birth class students love it too--it is one of the most frequently checked out videos from my lending library and they all say the same things after watching it, "it was funny" and "it really brought home some good points." Humor should not be underestimated as an important teaching tool. It can really help important messages sink in and "stick" in a way that other mediums may not. I'm a fan!

Anyway, I wanted to post that I'd received an update from the filmmaker and to increase access she's lowered the price. So now, $39.95 is for ANY use (except broadcast): personal, public screening, classroom, etc. And, an order of 5 or more DVD's is $19.95 each.

Check it out here!

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Molly
CfM Blogger

Grassroots Network: Childbirth Connection “2020 Vision” reports released!

Dear Friends,

This is just in from Childbirth Connection! I have not had time to read the reports yet, but I expect they will prove to be extremely valuable resources and powerful support for maternity care reforms that include evidence-based care and midwives!!

Sincerely,
Susan Hodges, “gatekeeper”

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RELEASE: Landmark Maternity Care Reports Issued; Consumers, Providers Hammer Out Recommendations

Please read below about two new reports developed over the past two years through a multi-stakeholder collaborative process: “2020 Vision for a High-Quality, High-Value Maternity Care System” and “Blueprint for Action.” These reports incorporate the thinking of over 100 maternity care leaders representing every industry stakeholder – from hospitals and health plans to consumers and providers. The recommendations in these reports are expected to have major impact on health care reform and on the future of birth in the US. They include specific proposals to overhaul the payment system, improve the liability system, and steps to reduce harm, improve quality and women’s experiences of care.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2010
Contact: Kat Song - katsong@childbirthconnection.org

Childbirth Connection Releases Landmark Reports For Revamping U.S. Maternity Care System
That Point To Rapid Gains in Quality and Value

Consumers, Providers and Other Groups Hammer Out System-Wide Recommendations and Action Steps

Washington DC - Childbirth Connection today released two landmark reports that create a framework for revamping maternity care in the US and advancing health care reform: “2020 Vision for a High Quality, High Value Maternity Care System” and “Blueprint for Action.” The reports were developed through an extensive multi-year collaboration with more than 100 maternity care leaders representing industry stakeholders – from hospitals and health plans to consumers and providers. These reports and related papers have just been published in a special supplement of Women’s Health Issues.

"Recognizing that rapid gains in the quality, value and outcomes of maternity care are well within reach, Childbirth Connection launched its Transforming Maternity Care project several years ago,” said Maureen Corry, executive director, Childbirth Connection. Although a wealth of high-quality evidence and experiences of high-performing segments of the maternity care system were readily available to improve maternity care, these resources were not impacting most women and newborns. “It was time to act and we called upon key leaders across the health care system to develop a long-term vision for the future of maternity care in the United States. This vision served as a starting point for a collaborative process to develop action steps for broad-based maternity care system improvement,” said Corry.

Maternity care is the runaway leader in hospital charges and is the number one reason for hospitalization in the country. Maternal and newborn hospital charges alone exceeded $86 billion in 2007, with employers and private insurers paying for 50% of all births and Medicaid paying for 42%. While most childbearing women and their babies are healthy and at low risk, the current style of maternity care is technology-intensive. Costly childbirth procedures that entail risk are overused and wasteful, while proven ones that are generally safer and less expensive are underutilized. Marked disparities in access, quality and outcomes persist, with many maternal and newborn health indicators moving in the wrong direction. The return on investment for our significant expenditure in this important sector is poor.

"The good news is that every challenge is an opportunity for improvement that can benefit millions of mothers and babies annually. The ‘2020 Vision’ developed by a multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder team, puts forth the values, principles and attributes of an optimal maternity care system and describes fundamental goals for a system meeting those criteria,” said Rima Jolivet, Transforming Maternity Care Project Director, Childbirth Connection. “With the ‘2020 Vision’ in hand, five stakeholder workgroups collaborated to develop reports with recommendations and action steps for moving toward the vision,” said Jolivet.

Stakeholder workgroup chairs presented their reports and recommendations at an invitational policy symposium commemorating Childbirth Connection’s 90th anniversary. Transforming Maternity Care: A High Value Proposition was held at Georgetown University, Washington DC, in April 2009. Invited discussants, moderators and the audience provided comments to strengthen the reports and recommendations. The Transforming Maternity Care Steering Committee then synthesized the workgroup reports and additional feedback into the direction-setting report, “Blueprint for Action: Steps Toward a High-Quality, High-Value Maternity Care System.” The Blueprint answers the question “Who needs to do what, to, with and for whom to improve the quality of maternity care over the next five years?” Actionable strategies to improve maternity care quality and value are centered on eleven critical focus areas for change:

- Performance measurement and leveraging of results
- Payment reform to align incentives with quality
- Disparities in access and outcomes of maternity care
- Improved functioning of the liability system
- Scope of covered maternity care services
- Coordination of care across time, settings and disciplines
- Clinical controversies
- Decision-making and consumer choice
- Scope, content and availability of health professions education
- Workforce composition and distribution
- Development and use of health information technology

"A great achievement of the project is the remarkable level of consensus that was reached by the workgroups through an in-depth, collaborative process to arrive at negotiated agreements and sound proposals for tackling complex issues,” said Ned Calonge, Chief Medical Officer, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment who served as Chair of the workgroup for Maternity Care Clinicians and Health Professions Educators.

The Blueprint for Action is the first step in a long-term initiative to undertake collaborative national, regional, and local endeavors to improve maternity care quality and value. At the briefing, Corry announced the establishment of a public-private Transforming Maternity Care Partnership to carry out the next phase of the project and implement Blueprint steps to accelerate health system change.

"We welcome all maternity care stakeholders to identify relevant Blueprint steps and join this effort to attain rapid achievable gains in maternity care quality and value on behalf of childbearing women and newborns,” said Donna Lynne, President of Kaiser Permanente Health Plan of Colorado and Transforming Maternity Care Steering Committee member.

The "2020 Vision" and "Blueprint for Action" reports are freely available on the Women's Health Issues website at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/issue/5192-2010-999799998.8998-1591119

To learn more about the Transforming Maternity Care project, please visit:
http://www.childbirthconnection.org/tmc/

For a fact sheet on maternity care in the United States, go to:
http://www.childbirth connection.org/article.asp?ck=10621

About Childbirth Connection
Founded in 1918, Childbirth Connection ( www.ChildbirthConnection.org) is a not-for-profit organization working to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. As a voice for the needs and interests of over 4.3 million women who give birth annually, Childbirth Connection uses best research evidence and the results of its periodic national Listening to Mothers surveys to inform policy, practice, education and research.

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Kat Song
Director of Public Affairs
www. ChildbirthConnection .org

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