Midwifery & Doula News from SMS
|
|
Greetings!
 Things are abuzz at SMS right now, as we gear up for the SMS 31st Anniversary Auction. The theme of this year's auction is "Connect." I hope you'll take this opportunity to connect in a very special and unique way with Seattle Midwifery School in this year of great change and growth.
Support this year's auction...
By purchasing a ticket and joining us for this exquisite evening of tasty treats and exciting auction items.
With a sponsorship - click here for sponsorship levels and benefits
Procure or donate an auction item (you or your donor can even fill out the donation form online this year!)
Volunteer to be part of our awesome auction team
Please write to our Auction Coordinator today for more information on supporting us to make this the best auction ever!
Sincerely,
Mary Yglesia
Director
|
April Birth Doula Training
There's still time to enroll!
 Did you know that the Simkin School Doula Trainers have inspired nearly 3500 birth doulas since 1988 and are leaders in shaping the doula movement and women's care in birth?
Join us and see why students say the Labor Support Course is a life-changing experience. Four full days Apr 18-19 & April 25-26, 2009. Nine spaces left! Register now, or for more information, click here.
|
|
|
| Contact Us |
|
|
info@seattlemidwifery.org
4000 NE 41st Street
Building D, Suite 3
Seattle, Washington 98105
206.322.8834 / 800.747.9433
|
|
|
|
The Midwives Association of Washington State Needs Your Help NOW
Washington midwives are once again seeking a budget proviso that would cap the midwifery licensing fee at the current $450 level for the upcoming 2009-2011 biennium. Without this budget proviso, the midwifery licensing fee will increase to $1,500 - $2,000/year beginning in July, putting numerous midwifery practices out of business.
Please contact your legislators now. Click here to visit the MAWS web site for what you need to tell your legislators.
|
|
|
|
Midwifery Program Graduate, Audrey Levine, LM, CPM, Presented with Award by Washington State Department of Health
 Audrey Levine, LM, CPM, current president of the Midwives' Association of Washington State, and Dr. Jane Dimer, Group Health OB, were jointly presented with the "2009 Wind Beneath My Wings Award" for "Outstanding Commitment to the Perinatal Advisory Committee and Exceptional Contributions to the Health of Pregnant Women and Infants in Washington State."
The award was given in recognition of the work Audrey Levine and Jane Dimer have done on the MD-LM workgroup and the C-section/VBAC workgroup. The award, from the Washington State Department of Health, Community and Family Health Program, was presented at the Perinatal Advisory Committee meeting on February 12th by Dr. Maxine Hayes, the State Health Officer.
|
|
BORN: New Radio from Thin Air Media, the makers of BIRTHThin Air Media's BORN ( web site) "
is non-narrated, consisting of a multiplicity of voices woven together
with sound...BORN
examines the current cultural context under which American babies are
born. From an emotional, physical, and evolutionary perspective, BORN
delves into the postpartum experience in today's society." BORN is available to public radio stations nationwide, and Thin Air Media asks that you please call or email your public radio station to request that it air in your community. You can find your station's contact information here. "Congratulations on another exceptional show.
Your piece beautifully reveals the multi-dimensionality of life after
giving birth, including its unanticipated intensity, considerable challenges
and distinctive break from life from birth ... the show seamlessly
provides so much insight into the biological, psychological, social
and historical context for the postpartum experience in the United States
today..." - Carol
Sakala, PhD, MSPH, Director of Programs, Childbirth Connection
|
|
Volunteer Spotlight: Mandy Ainslie
Mandy Ainslie devotes up to 5 hours per week helping SMS advance it's mission in the community. No one is greeted with more enthusiasm than Mandy when she comes through the door. Mandy is a student of the philosophy of feminism in Women's Studies at the UW, with less than a year to graduation.
Mandy has completed the SMS Labor Support Course and is a doula. She thoroughly enjoyed the Professional Education in Breastfeeding and Lactation course, and aspires to becoming a lactation consultant. Mandy is also a massage therapist specializing in pregnancy massage. Thank you Mandy for your dedication and fabulous skill!
|
|
News BitsCongressional Leaders Join with White Ribbon AllianceCoverage on Newsweek Blog Women Congressional Leaders launch the first US campaign with the White Ribbon Alliance and CARE to draw attention to the high rate of women dying in childbirth. Watch the video>
US Breastfeeding Committee Asking for Public Response to Magazine and Television Reports "Misrepresenting Medical Research"Tell The Atlantic to Support Mothers AND Breastfeeding: Write a Letter to the Editor! Click here to read an important alert from the United States Breastfeeding Committee.
|
|
|
"With a staggering 31.8 percent of US births occurring by cesarean
section, improved transparency in maternity care has never been more
urgent"
The Coalition for the Improvement of Maternity Services (CIMS) recently issued a press release in response to the 2007 birth statistics released by the CDC. "The safety of birthing women is in serious jeopardy
according to the recently released 2007 US birth statistics. Birth by
cesarean section has increased by 50 percent since 1996 and now
accounts for 31.8 percent of all US births."
Visit the CIMS web site for other suggestions on how you can help.
|
|
Midwifery Program Graduate Highlighted in Great Falls, MT Article
2002 Midwifery Program graduate, Traci Palagi, LM, CPM, was featured recently in a Great Falls Tribune article.  Traci moved to Montana, where she practices in Great Falls and Helena. Before relocating to Montana, Traci worked with Puget Sound Midwives and Birth Center and was active in the Quality Management Program with the Midwives' Association of Washington State. While at SMS, Traci was active on the Board of Directors. |
|
|
|
|
|
Read an excerpt from The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir
 "A flower child who found her calling after coaching a friend through a
home birth, nurse-midwife Harman works with her ob-gyn husband at a
West Virginia clinic. In her sweetly perceptive memoir, she reveals how
her exam room becomes a confessional. Coaxing women in thin blue gowns
to share secrets-about abusive boyfriends, OxyContin habits, unplanned
pregnancies-she reminds them that they're not alone." -People magazine
|
Upcoming Conferences
REACHE Conference: Why Are We All So Afraid? Perspectives on How Fear and Risk Impact Birth (Featuring Jennifer Block, author of Pushed)
Friday, April 17, 2009 at UW Center for Urban Horticulture. Read more and register>
The Miracle of Birth: Uniting Ancient Wisdom & Modern Science
Association for Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health (APPPAH) Congress
April 24-27, Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, CA More information and to register>
Midwives Association of Washington State Spring Conference
Friday, May 15, 2009 at Bastyr University. Save the date - conference details coming soon.
ACNM Annual Meeting & Expo in Seattle
May 21-27, 2009, Sheraton Hotel & Washington Convention Center. More information and to register>
|
Pregnant in Seattle? - Panelists Needed
The Simkin School is seeking pregnant women in their third trimester to be
panelists for our popular Birth Doula Labor Support Course.
It's a lot of fun and a great chance to help aspiring doulas learn
about the emotions of pregnancy. We need panelists for May 8, 2009 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Honorarium offered. Contact us by email or call Annie Kennedy at 206.322.8834 x115 for more information.
|
|
We've truly appreciated the feedback you've given us on the SMS eNews. Please keep it 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
