Connie Livingston's insight on hospital vs. out of hospital childbirth classes

Connie Livingston at Perinatal Education Associates, explains the cost of prepared childbirth classes, and compares and contrasts hospital vs. out of hospital classes in this insightful post.Click the link below the adorable photo.

http://childbirthtoday.blogspot.com/2011/11/private-childbirth-classes-cost-what.html

Source : childbirthtoday.blogspot.com

 I am proud to be a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. I am passionate about helping families experience safe and healthy birth. It seems that some people today spend more time planning a wedding or party than they do planning their birth. As a result, some hospitals and birth facilities have cut corners when it comes to offering quality birth education. I believe parents should be encouraged by hospitals and birth centers to purposefully invest in preparation for the birth of their babies.

When an athlete trains for a marathon or big event that requires strength and skill, they study every physical and mental nuance and strategy for winning the game. This, to me, is what childbirth education is like. It should be focused on building skills and imprinting them on the brain, muscles and mind. 

Birth is instinctual, but many women today do not believe that they have everything they need to give birth. I liken it to what happens to wild animals when they are removed from their natural habitat. They forget how to survive in the wild. As such, modern maternity care takes women out of their natural birthing habitat and exposes them to unfamiliar surroundings, people, and things. This makes it very difficult for the hormonal cascade that facilitates normal birth to occur.


To have a safe and healthy birth, I believe that women should choose well trained midwives, who are guardians of normal birth, and quality childbirth education that integrates both the mind and body.


First time parents should receive at least 12 hours of education. 

Education Council: Standards of Practice for Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators and Lamaze Classes
Standards for Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators (LCCE educators)
The Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE educator) will:

 follow the Lamaze Code of Ethics for Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators,

 maintain certification through continuing education or re-examination as required by Lamaze International. Standards for Lamaze Childbirth Education Classes
Lamaze International encourages Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators (LCCE educators) to offer childbirth education in a variety of formats throughout the childbearing year. This may include a series of classes with one group of students, several independent classes, or one-to-one teaching. Classes may be in-person or online. First time parents should receive a minimum of 12 hours of instruction.
An educational offering may be identified as a “Lamaze” session, class, or class series if:

 it is presented by a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE),

 it is consistent with the mission, vision, and philosophy of Lamaze International,

 it promotes the Six Healthy Birth Practices identified by Lamaze International,

 it includes interaction between students and the educator,

 it promotes informed decision-making,

 it includes strategies to incorporate the cultural values and beliefs of the participants,

 the educator facilitates small groups of no more than 12 pregnant women and their support teams. Four to eight pregnant women with their support teams is considered an ideal class size.
Approved by the Lamaze Education Council Governing Body/2010
Source : http://www.lamaze.org/WhoWeAre/Policies/EducationCouncilStandardsofPractice/tabid/609/Default.aspx

FDA WARNING ON BENZOCAINE TEETHING PRODUCTS

FDA WARNING ON BENZOCAINE PRODUCTS
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a drug safety communication on oral benzocaine products used in infants for teething. Benzocaine is the main ingredient in these gels and liquids which are applied to the gums or mouth to reduce pain.
The FDA has received reports of a rare but potentially life threatening condition known as methemoglobinemia caused by use of these products. The condition results in a great reduction of the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream and, in most severe cases, can cause death. The FDA is recommending that benzocaine products should not be used on children less than two years of age, except under the advice and supervision of a health care professional. For more information, go to http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm250024.htm

One World Birth ` Film Trailer

Innovative Preemie Breastfeeding Program Goes Online

Innovative Preemie Breastfeeding Program Goes Online
A UC San Diego Health System breastfeeding program supporting preemie babies is now online. The Supporting Premature Infant Nutrition (SPIN) program, developed by the UCSD Health System to help mothers produce sufficient breast milk for their premature infants, recently expanded its reach to anyone with Internet access. With a new website, the online SPIN program offers educational videos and resources such as pumping log sheets, lactation research and publications, and recipes. These online tools will allow mothers nationwide to learn about the program and follow the steps at their own convenience - while also serving as a teaching model for other health institutions. The overarching goal: Improving the manner in which NICUs across the nation support optimal nutrition and growth for preemies.

“Your Guide to Breastfeeding”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published, “Your Guide to Breastfeeding” and easy-to-read publication designed to provide women the information and support they need to breastfeed successfully.

The Guide explains why breastfeeding is best and how loved ones can support a mother’s decision to breastfeed.

Illustrations and expert tips are designed to aid new mothers in learning how to breastfeed comfortably and personal stories provide reassurance and encouragement.  “Your Guide to Breastfeeding” is available in English, Spanish and Chinese and can be accessed online at http://www.womenshealth.gov/pub/bf.cfm.

New Australian Research Uncovers Clues to SIDS

Research Uncovers Clue to SIDS

A new Australian study finds that babies who sleep on their stomachs have lower levels of oxygen in their brains than those who sleep on their backs, suggesting that a lack of oxygen could explain why babies in this position are at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome while sleeping.

The research also backs current recommendations on the prevention of SIDS that suggest infants be put on their backs to sleep.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, the number of SIDs cases rose because parents were encouraged to put their babies to sleep on their stomachs. Around the world, most babies sleep on their backs and are even kept there in devices such as cradle boards."

In the new study, the Australian researchers sought to understand what happens when babies sleep on their stomachs and why they face a risk of not being able to rouse themselves when something goes wrong, such as when they stop breathing for a time.

The researchers tested 17 babies at different times during the first six months of life when they slept either on their backs or their stomachs. For safety, the babies were studied in a hospital and were fully monitored throughout the study with heart rate, breathing and oxygen saturation recorded continuously.

The researchers found that oxygen levels in the brain dipped when babies slept on their stomachs. Previous research has shown that these babies also have lower blood pressure, although specialists have differed about whether that's important.


The findings appear online Feb. 28 in the journal Pediatrics.