Significant physiological stress and disrupted sleep patterns were recorded in 2-day-old newborns who were physically separated from their mothers but remained within close proximity in the same room, according to a study in Biological Psychiatry.

Research has shown that close contact between mothers and newborns in the first few hours of life significantly improves breastfeeding rates. Sleeping in the same bed, however, is strongly discouraged inWestern countries.

Heart-rate monitors recorded the physiological responses of 16 South African newborns, 10 boys and six girls, during one hour of skin-on-skin contact with their mothers and one hour facing her from a  bassinet. Mothers were 17 to 40 years of age and had no post-natal complications.

Compared with close maternal contact, separation triggered a nearly three-fold increase in autonomic nervous system activity, including heart-rate and respiration changes, and an 86% decrease in quiet or non-rapid eye movement sleep, the study found.

A drop in body temperature could explain the sleep changes but infants aren’t well evolved to cope with maternal separation, researchers said. Disrupting important early maternal-neonatal interactions may affect later development, they said.

Caveat: The newborns’ body temperature, cortisol levels and other acute-stress markers weren’t measured. The study was small.

It has become widely known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’ and there are now 145 Laureates from 61 countries.

Presented annually in Stockholm at a ceremony in the Swedish Parliament, the Right Livelihood Award is usually shared by four Recipients, but not all Laureates receive a cash award. Often an Honorary Award is given to a person or group whose work the Jury wishes to recognise but who is not primarily in need of monetary support. The prize money in 2011 was 150,000 €. The prize money is for ongoing successful work, never for personal use.

2011 Laureate Ina May Gaskin has been called “the most famous midwife in the world”. A pioneer in a millennium-old profession on the brink of extinction in her country, she combines scientific evidence and analysis with her own broad experience in exercising natural medicine. Ina May Gaskin is a role model for midwives who still dare to think in different paths, trying to implement more humane obstetrics in their countries, and providing women with the chance to choose the way of giving birth that seems right for them.

<http://www.rightlivelihood.org/inamay_gaskin.html>

September 29, 11

Immanuel United Methodist Church
2551 Dixie Highway
Lakeside Park, KY 41017-3076
7pm-8:30pm

“Meet the Doulas” is an opportunity for expectant mothers and their partners to meet local area doulas. There is plenty of time for questions and networking.   Please join us!

There is so much included in this wonderful training -

You will learn how to assist women in labor, receive resources and information about birth options and choices, all the necessary information to complete your toLabor certification and begin your career as a doula!

Please contact me for a detailed brochure outlining the organization and the training.

Register by April 12th for an early registration discount.  Remember that payment plans and scholarships are available!! (Also a discount for doulas who have previously trained with another organization!)

Please feel free to forward this to other groups/list and women who may be interested!

For further questions please contact Messa at 859-441-4220 or mamamessa@yahoo.com

“The baby’s getting too big.”

“I’m going out of town.”

“You have an old placenta.”

…

Many mom’s have heard them. There seem to be a hundred different reasons why your doctor may suggest an induction.

However, a lot of these reasons are given simply because they fit the doctor’s own standard of care, which may not agree with actual evidence based standards of care.

Desirre Andrews CLD, CCCE, LCCE, CLE has compiled a short list of the most common evidence based reasons why an induction may be medically necessary:

• Uterine infection
• Pre-eclampsia
• Prolonged rupture of membranes (longer than 48-72 hours)
• Labor dystocia
• Post dates past 42 weeks (partially mitigated by family history and menstruation cycle)

Some nervous mothers may inadvertently encourage their health care providers to find a reason for induction, and some providers have no problem finding a reason. So, be clear with your provider about your wishes. If your health care provider is suggesting an induction for other reasons, and an induction does not fit your birth plan, then it’s time to ask some serious questions.

Read Desirre’s full article “Labor Induction Myths” to view a long list of often cited induction reasons that are not medically proven.

Eileen Ryan, who appeared in the film, was a special guest in the audience. Also present was the editor and two of the producers.

Some audience members asked why the film didn’t define what a doula was. Defining a “doula” was not the goal of the film. The film was created as an educational piece for the birth community. The target audience would most likely already know what a doula is, but would be seeking more information about the role of a doula during birth or would be considering doula as a career.

For those still wondering, doula is a Greek word that means “a woman who serves”. Doulas are trained, experienced, and often certified, professionals who provide continuous support for birth mothers.

The film’s producers are considering another film that might help answer the question “What is a Doula?”

You can view the shorter web version of the “Do You Doula?” documentary below:

If you would like a DVD copy of the complete thirteen minute film for educational purposes, please contact Julie Clevidence at myDoula.

“Nicely shot, simple and elegant, makes just enough points, well-structured too.” –Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

“I loved the start, it really captured me and all the interviews were excellent. Thank you!” –Dr. Sarah Buckley

“Love the Q & A format!” “I really like how Eileen talks about how women need support even if they aren’t planning to ‘go natural’.”–the Birth Matters Virginia Judging Panel

"Do You Doula?"

The short documentary film “Do You Doula?” debuts at this summer’s Underneath Cincinnati Film Festival, which will be screening as part of the larger Oxford International Film Festival.

The thirteen minute documentary film, which explores the role of doulas in childbirth, was produced this spring by Rachel DesRochers, Jamison Bornemann, and Julie Clevidence, three Cincinnati area doulas.  It was a finalist in the Birth Matters Virginia Film Contest.

“Do You Doula?” will be projected onto the big screen at the prestigious Esquire Theatre, a well known art theater in Clifton, near the University of Cincinnati.

Please support the local birth community by attending. We look forward to meeting you there.

Showtime:

Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Location: Esquire Theatre, Cincinnati, OH

Time: 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM EST

Cost: $10 per ticket