Hospital does not = safety!
"On September 4, 2009, Philips issued an Important Device Safety Alert. Inaccurate output readings, if not properly addressed, may lead to unnecessary interventions, failure to identify the need for interventions, and failure to identify fetal distress." What is not mentioned on this FDA warning is that this warning was prompted by 2 cases of stillborn babies who had "normal" tracings throughout labor.
"The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) is a coalition of individuals and national organizations with concern for the care and well-being of mothers, babies, and families. Our mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs. This evidence-based mother-, baby-, and family-friendly model focuses on prevention and wellness as the alternatives to high-cost screening, diagnosis, and treatment programs."
"The Big Push for Midwives Campaign represents thousands of grassroots advocates in the United States who support expanding access to Certified Professional Midwives and out-of-hospital maternity care. The mission of The Big Push includes educating the public and policymakers about the reduced costs and improved outcomes associated with out-of-hospital maternity care and Certified Professional Midwives, the maternity care providers trained to provide that service."
"This partnership is now at work to gain federal recognition of Certified Professional Midwives so that women and families will have increased access to quality, affordable maternity care in the settings of their choice."
"MANA's goal is to unify and strengthen the profession of midwifery, thereby improving the quality of health care for women, babies, and communities. MANA also welcomes student and midwifery advocate members as another valuable part of the organization."
"NARM affirms that skilled and responsible midwives should be readily available to all families in North America. NARM affirms the autonomy of the independent midwife, the critical importance of her role as guardian of normal birth, and the value of her compassionate, skilled, and woman-centered care. NARM affirms a woman's right to choose her birth attendants and place of birth and to involve those she identifies as her family in the bonding of the birth experience. NARM affirms the safety and viability of planned, midwife-attended birth at home, in hospitals, and in freestanding birth centers."
"ACNM is the professional association that represents Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives in the United States. ACNM provides research, administers and promotes continuing education programs, establishes clinical practice standards, creates liaisons with state and federal agencies and members of Congress. "
"Interpretation: Planned home birth attended by a registered midwife was associated with very low and comparable rates of perinatal death and reduced rates of obstetric interventions and other adverse perinatal outcomes compared with planned hospital birth attended by a midwife or physician."
The Unnecesarean
This is a blog containing various information on c-sections and how to avoid them. There is also a listing of birth stories and a multitude of interesting links.
Peace Tree Village
"The Peace Tree Village is a "tree of life" comprised of many "branches" of holistic, natural, and alternative health modalities and practitioners that serve women in their childbearing years, as well as fathers and families as a whole." Peace Tree Village is owned and operated in North Carolina by Cher Durham. Even if you live too far away to receive services there, you may find good resources through the website.
Ina May Gaskin
This is the blog of Ina May, with many useful links and tidbits of information. It ranges from childbirth to cursive handwriting!