Midwifery & Doula News from SMS
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September 2008
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Volume 6 No 9
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Greetings!
Thanks for the helpful feedback on our first new eNews. We hope you find our font and layout changes an improvement for ease of reading.
The new design is a sneak peak at some of the changes you'll see in our look when you visit the revised SMS web site that will be coming your way in the next week or two.
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 Aspiring Midwives ~ Announcing our Early Decision Admissions Process
Are you ready NOW to apply to our Midwifery Education Program? Do you want to save $500 on your tuition? We are looking for highly qualified students who are prepared and eager to make their commitment to attending Seattle Midwifery School. Read more>
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| Contact Us |
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info@seattlemidwifery.org
4000 NE 41st Street
Building D, Suite 3
Seattle, Washington 98105
206.322.8834 / 800.747.9433
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 Do You Have a Passion for Helping New Families? Become a Postpartum Doula
Many new families in our society lack the continuity of care they need following the birth of their baby. The postpartum doula helps meet this need by educating, nurturing, and
empowering mothers and families towards confidence in their new roles. The next 4-day Postpartum Doula Training will be held at SMS November 21-22 and December 12-13. Register now, or click here for more information.
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 FOUR MORE CHANCES TO BE BOLD THIS WEEK!Orgasmic Birth / Karen Brody at SMS - Birth in Tacoma and Olympia - Olympia Red TentEven if you've seen Birth before, see it again! Amazing cast....full production (not a staged reading). Friday night, 9/26 at Tacoma Community College. Saturday night, 9/27 at Evergreen State College Recital Hall.
Birth playwright / BOLD founder, Karen Brody, will be joining us for both performances this week AND for a screening of Orgasmic Birth at SMS on Thursday, 9/25 at 7:30 pm followed by a discussion with Karen about the challenges we face in promoting woman-centered birth in the current maternity care climate. This is a small gathering, so please buy your tickets today. If you're on call, check the BOLD web site or call SMS (206.322.8834) for space availability on Thursday. Click here for ticket and venue info. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales benefit SMS.
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Understanding Infant Adoption - Free Training For Healthcare Providers
Covers WA adoption law and practices; birthfather's rights and responsibilities; open, semi-open or closed adoption choices; non-directive counseling; cultural and social awareness. Shoreline Conference Center, co-sponsored by SMS. Offered twice - October 11, 2008 and January 26, 2009. CEU's available for nurses and social workers. Please register online by clicking here.
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Looking for an In-Depth Education in Breastfeeding and Lactation?
Make a difference in the health of mothers and infants and add to your
professional credentials as a lactation educator or consultant. There is still room in our comprehensive 6-day course, coming up 10/13-15 and 10/17-19 taught by
expert, board-certified lactation consultants. The course provides you with the
theoretical foundation for the
International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) certification exam (you are
responsible for obtaining the necessary clinical experience on your own).
Click here to register now!
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Submit an Abstract for the 2009 CIMS Forum in San Diego!
CIMS invites you to submit an abstract for the CIMS 2009 Mother-Friendly Childbirth Forum. The 2009 Forum will take place March 5-7, at the Handlery Hotel in San Diego, California, and will focus on strategies for promoting normal birth and evidence-based maternity care practices. The annual event addresses issues of interest to health professionals, birth advocates, and consumers.
The Forum highlights the most current evidence by national experts and includes workshops on applying that knowledge to everyday maternity care. CIMS has extended the original deadline and will continue to review abstract submissions received by Oct. 1, 2008. For more information, including the 2009 Abstract Submission Form, please visit the
CIMS Forum web site.
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CIMS' The Birth Survey gaining popularity among new moms
 Following a year-long pilot of the program in New York City, The Birth Survey launched nationally on Aug. 15, and women began to log-on at a rate of one per minute. Already, more than 8,500 women have taken part thanks to the incredible word-of-mouth exposure to the program initiated by CIMS' The Birth Survey volunteers. This online consumer resource will increase transparency in maternity care by providing women with a vehicle for sharing their consumer reviews of providers and facilities, and viewing data on hospital and birth center standard practices and intervention rates.
The ongoing survey results will be available beginning later this year. Learn more about The Birth Survey on the CIMS web site or at TheBirthSurvey.com. Help spread the word by downloading electronic promotional materials or by ordering pre-printed materials from the CIMS web site. If you've had a baby within the last three years, fill out the Survey, and tell your friends.
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Local coverage of the WA Department of Health study of the Cesarean Section rates in the state
The Seattle Times covered the recent report by the state Department of Health on the staggering increase in c-section rate from 1997 to 2005 (60% in that time period). The report also found the Puget Sound Region to have the highest rate in the state. The report notes "women living in the Puget Sound region had
275 (about 10 percent) more C-sections per year than would be expected when
compared to women living outside the region. These women were giving birth to a
single child and had no prior C-sections or noted risk factors."
While the Seattle Times article was fairly well balanced, a local physician quoted in the Everett Herald suggested that the increased c-section rate is due to the "fact" that
"patients are getting bigger and
babies are getting bigger . . .Those changes make it more
difficult" to deliver babies vaginally. The article barely touched on the risks as discussed with State Health officer, Dr. Maxine Hayes.
Read the DOH press release and download the full study at the DOH web site.
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Get Active and Support Washington Nurse Midwives!
The Inaugural Miles for Midwives Fun Run is an untimed fun run at Seward Park. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Washington State Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives.
10:00 a.m. Sunday, October 12, 2008 in Seattle.
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Fall Education & CEU Opportunities at the Simkin School
Professional Education in Breastfeeding and Lactation - Oct 13-15 and 17-19
Postpartum Doula Training - Nov 21-22 and Dec 12-13
Labor Support Course - Nov 1-2 and 8-9
Labor Support Course - Dec 3-6
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Pregnant in Seattle?
The
Simkin School is seeking pregnant women in their third trimester to be
panelists for our popular Labor Support Course - Training Birth Doulas.
It's a lot of fun and a great chance to help aspiring doulas learn
about the emotions of pregnancy. We need panelists for Saturday, November 1 and Wednesday,
December 3 from 1:00 to 1:45 pm. Honorarium offered. Contact us by email or call Annie Kennedy at 206.322.8834 x115 for more information.
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Online Nutrition
This one-quarter 3-credit introductory nutrition course is designed to provide you with a basic nutrition foundation. It also fulfills the prerequisite for the SMS Midwifery Education Program. The next section starts January 12. Click here for more information or call 800.747.9433.
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CPM / CNM Job Opening
Treasure Valley Midwives in Boise, Idaho is looking for a full-time CPM or CNM. The practice "provides well-woman care, antepartum, intrapartum & postpartum care." They attend 7-10 births per month at their "lovely freestanding Birth Center or at home."
Request a full job description by sending an email.
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Keep the feedback coming. We welcome your input and, certainly, any news that affects women, babies and families in the childbearing year. You can write to us by simply replying to this email. And please share this with your friends by using the "forward email" link, which will give them the benefit of the graphics and photos. They will not be automatically subscribed to the list, but they can sign up if they like!
Sincerely,
Seattle Midwifery School
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