Patty’s Blog: “” posts

Doulas are an under-utilized resource, according to ACOG!

A recent joint statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) set forth new guidelines designed to prevent primary cesareans. Here are a few highlights:

  • “Increasing women’s access to non-medical interventions during labor, such as continuous labor and delivery support, has been shown to reduce cesarean birth rates.”
  • “Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula.”
  • “… the presence of continuous one-on-one support during labor and delivery was associated with improved patient satisfaction and a statistically significant reduction in the rate of cesarean delivery.”

This is a very promising development for the future sustainability of the doula profession.

Posted by Patty Brennan on March 13, 2014 • Filed under
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New research establishes safety of homebirth in the U.S. (again!)

Did you know that hospitals have never been proven to be the safest place to have a baby? Indeed, in many cultures, where midwifery care is the norm, infant mortality rates are lower than in the U.S. A new study confirms that among low-risk women, midwife-attended homebirths result in low rates of interventions without an increase in adverse outcomes for moms and babies. One particularly remarkable outcome was a cesarean rate of 5.2% (compared to a national average of 31%). Read Geradine Simkins’ blog (Executive Director of Midwives Alliance of North America) and the research article published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health.

Our bi-weekly Birth & Parenting News Blog highlights the latest news items, research results, consumer alerts, and legislative action alerts of interest to expectant and new parents and the professionals who work them.

Posted by Patty Brennan on March 11, 2014 • Filed under
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