Preparing For Birth

Many times over I have heard something similar to “If only my insurance would cover the childbirth class, doula, that provider or birth location. Then I could have the birth I really want for me and my baby.” That statement sadly says to me that women are settling for a provider, birth location, type of [...]

While “teaching” childbirth class the topic of being a consumer is addressed often in a variety of ways.  I have a firm belief that a woman has the ability to understand, be well educated, and make her own decisions. It is in no way in my job description to tell someone else how she must [...]

Joy Szabo has been in the news lately for desiring a second VBAC for her fourth baby (vaginal birth, emergency cesarean, and vaginal birth).  She has been denied locally in her area of Page, AZ to have a vaginal birth. Due to this situation, the International Cesarean Awareness Network has been assisting her in fighting [...]

Below is a reprinting of an open letter written to ACNM after a special alert notice.  Women and families no matter what insurance or lack thereof should be able to have access to any and all midwifery care.  Consumers CAN make appropriate choices for their own care. As a consumer the idea of shutting out [...]

There are many reasons why a woman chooses to birth in the hospital. Women have the right to choose where and with whom she will birth regardless of what another would choose. Women need the tools to navigate the hospital setting. She and her baby ARE unique. They are human beings. Laboring women are often [...]

This is taken from http://yourbirthmatters.blogspot.com/ written by a fellow ICAN Board member and all around amazing woman, Gretchen H. Please read, think and get involved. The VBAC ban project is finally up and running! What is this you ask? Well, simply put, we are going to call every hospital in the U.S. and find out [...]

So the idea that women just aren’t the same these days and no longer able to spontaneously go into labor or birth in our society has been bounding around in my head for weeks spurned by re-reading an inspiring story written by a local doula. I have read this story many times and each time [...]

CHOOSING YOUR MIDWIFE: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS · What is your birth philosophy? · What is your training? Are you certified? If yes, with whom and why? If no, why not?· Are you licensed in the state of _____?· What is your scope of practice? · When would you find it necessary to go outside your scope [...]