Midwifery & Doula News from SMS
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Greetings!
"These are historic times" seems to be our mantra right now. With Seattle Midwifery School moving toward a merger with Bastyr University and offering a graduate degree in midwifery, the creation of the Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations and the M.A.M.A. campaign, it seems that the sky is the limit.
Great things are happening all around us, however the window for action is a small one. You've already heard from SMS about joining the M.A.M.A. campaign, but it is so important to the future of direct-entry midwives that we are bringing it to you again. We must all act now!
Read on, sign up and join in!
Sincerely,
Mary Yglesia
Director
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 Join the M.A.M.A. Campaign Today!
The goal of the Midwives and Mothers in Action (M.A.M.A.) Campaign is to increase women's access to midwives and to quality, affordable maternity care by securing federal recognition of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs). The M.A.M.A. campaign is a historic coalition of the key midwifery and consumer organizations in the U.S. unified behind the goal of achieving federal recognition of Certified Professional Midwives.
In addition to mobilizing grass roots support, right now funds are urgently needed to sustain this work through the next few months when legislation is being drafted. Please visit the M.A.M.A Campaign web site, sign up as an endorser, volunteer and donate now. And please forward this message to everyone you think supports increased access to midwifery care and ask them to join the M.A.M.A. campaign also.
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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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Simkin School - Register by June 30 and Pay Less!
Increases in Simkin School tuition rates go into effect on July 1st, 2009. Pay your tuition in full by Tuesday, June 30th at 3 PM - you'll save at least $20! Register online or by phone 800-747-9433. Pay by check through USPS using this form.
Childbirth Educator Training
Ten spaces left!
September 11-13 & October 16-18, 2009
Join us for six days of theoretical and hands-on preparation for your community-based practice as a prenatal educator. ICEA CEUs.
Postpartum Doula Training
Nine spaces available!
August 7-8 & 14-15, 2009
Four days of theory and practical learning with experienced faculty and lecturers. DONA-International approved curriculum.
Summertime's the Best time to take Birth Doula Training at Talaris!
Two dates this summer:
July 8-11, 2009 or August 19-22, 2009
Four days with the most experienced instructors available anywhere! Hone your skills for emotional and physical care during childbirth and enjoy our beautiful campus in the sunshine. DONA International approved curriculum.
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This Saturday - Celebrate Summer Solstice Eve with Midwife Ann Olsen
 Kitsap Birth Collective (KBC) will host Ann Olsen LM, CPM in her "Homeopathy in the Birth Year" Workshop. Saturday, 6/20/09, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Port Orchard Active Club, 1025 Tacoma Avenue, Port Orchard, WA 98366. A suggested $5 donation to cover expenses will be collected at the door.
This workshop coincides with "World Night of Henna." Local henna artist Kristina Kruzan will attend and create her beautiful designs for donations to benefit KBC.
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Webinar this Friday, 6/19
Informed Consent and Refusal in Maternity Care
From the Coalition for Improving Maternity Care (CIMS)
"It's time to put women back in the driver's seat when it comes to their
maternity care decisions. CIMS' experts have examined how current laws
and professional practice guidelines affect patient decision-making in
maternity care, and demonstrate in this FREE Webinar
how patient access to evidence-based research is particularly important
during a time when perinatal mortality and morbidity rates,
interventions, and disparities are on the rise in the U.S." 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (Eastern) / 10:00 am - 11:30 am (Pacific) Click here to register>.
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Hot off the press, June 17:
C-sections shouldn't be 'automatic' for breech births, Canadian doctors say
From CBC News:
Doctors should not automatically opt to do caesarean sections for
breech births, according to new guidelines released Wednesday by the
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
"Breech pregnancies are almost always delivered using a caesarean
section, to the point where the practice has become somewhat
automatic," Dr. Robert Gagnon, a principal author of the new guidelines
and chair of the society's maternal fetal medicine committee, said in a
release.
"What we've found is that, in some cases, vaginal breech birth is a
safe option, and obstetricians should be able to offer women the choice
to attempt a traditional delivery." Read the whole article>
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Neonatal Outcomes May Be Better With Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery - New Study Published in the June Issue of Obstetrics & GynecologyHmmm....where's all the press on this one? "Controversy remains on whether a trial of labor or an elective repeat
cesarean delivery is preferable for a woman with a history of cesarean
delivery," write the authors from U of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. "Historically,
concerns regarding the increased risk of uterine rupture and perinatal
asphyxia in trial of labor after cesarean compared with planned repeat
cesarean have swayed obstetricians away from recommending a trial of
labor after cesarean delivery; however, the absolute risk of perinatal
asphyxia remains small." Read the Medscape article here> (May require free registration.)
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Blog of the Month: Science & Sensibility, from Lamaze International
Breas t Pumps a "Double-Edged Sword"?
"Amid a rash of controversial pieces in the mass media about the intersection of breastfeeding, motherhood, and feminism, a new study in the Journal of Perinatal Education reveals
an uneasy relationship between professional lactation consultants (LCs)
and breast pumps. The piece gives us a fascinating look - from the
front-lines of lactation - at the cultural and economic forces that
have rendered the breast pump one of the indispensable accessories of
new motherhood." Read more>
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Birth by the Numbers Video
Eugene Declercq, PhD presents the sobering statistics of US births
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 SMS Midwifery Commencement
Saturday, June 13th was an exquisite day here in Seattle and provided a beautiful backdrop for our 2009 commencement celebration.
The community came out to honor our graduating class and celebrate the birth of more midwives to serve more families.
Congratulations to our graduates!
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Seattle Welcomes the ACNM
SMS Founders Speak, SMS & MAWS Host Reception
ACNM's Annual Meeting was held in Seattle May 21-27 and two SMS founders were speakers! Suzy Myers, CPM, LM, MPH was the speaker at one of the Education Sessions on May 25th. Her topic was 30 Years and Growing: The Seattle Midwifery School and its Role in Direct-Entry Midwifery Education in the US. Her presentation included hundreds of photos, and the presentation was well received by the audience. Comments from attendees, including midwifery pioneer Dorothea Lang, spoke to the significance of SMS in training direct-entry midwives.
Simkin School founder, faculty and mentor, Penny Simkin, presented twice at the conference. It was no surprise to us that she received a warm welcome and standing ovation from the nearly 1000 attendees at her premier session topic When Pain Becomes Suffering and at her lecture on The OP Fetus: How Little We Know. Congratulations Penny!
 But it wasn't all presentations and education. MAWS and SMS co-hosted a lovely reception on the SMS campus the evening of May 25th. Guests from all over the country came to visit the school and share their excitement for our mission and our history. Pictured here left to right: Jo Anne Myers-Ciecko, MEAC Executive Director and former SMS Executive Director with Geradine Simkins, CNM, MANA President; Catherine Carr, CNM, University of WA, Peggy Garland, CNM, former SMS faculty member, and Colleen Donovan-Batson, CNM, MANA NW Regional Rep. |
Call for Papers - A Symposium on Birth Practices and Reproductive Rights
Wednesday 7th October 2009 (tentative)
at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
Forty years ago, the feminist movement advocated for reproductive rights. Over the years, childbirth was dropped from the agenda. Why? What has this meant for women? How are women organizing for change?
Jessica Clements at George Mason University is organizing this symposium and calling for abstracts.
Comparative and interdisciplinary work is encouraged, and feminist
inquiries are explicitly sought, although all submissions will be
considered. A variety of types of submissions are sought,
including academic papers, workshops, performances, storytelling,
visual arts and other alternative formats. If interested in being a
presenter, please send, as an attachment (PDF or Word), a 250-500 word
abstract and a 50 word bio to Jessica Clements. Include your name, institutional affiliation, address, phone, and email address. Deadline for abstracts: July 13, 2009. Late abstracts will be considered and accepted if possible.
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Upcoming Conferences & Workshops
Basics of Breastfeeding for Doulas
Two dates available. Thursday, July 16, from 1-4pm at Birth and Beyond. More information and to register>
International Lactation Consultant Association Conference
July 22-26, 2009 - Orlando, FL. More information>
DONA International Conference
August 6-9, 2009 - Atlanta, GA. More information>
Celebrating the Magic of Normal Birth - Lamaze International 2009 Annual Conference
October 1-4, 2009 - Lake Buena Vista, FL. More information>
International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) International Convention
October 15-17, 2009 - Oklahoma City, OK. More information>
Midwives Alliance of North America 2009 Conference - Rising Tide: women, midwives and the future
October 22-25, 2009 - Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds near Monterey, CA. More information>
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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 August 19 and September 23, 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.
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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
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Debra Pascali-Bonaro has made this great "extra" from her 
