Midwifery & Doula News from SMS
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Greetings!
Every month brings another opportunity to reflect on the work going on at Seattle Midwifery School, and I am reminded of just how much is going on in this school and the greater childbirth community. It is an understatement to say that I am in awe of the extraordinary work that is happening, of the voices that carry the message far and wide about a woman's right to choose her maternity care providers and her place of birth.
Below you can read the latest and greatest news on the M.A.M.A. campaign and most importantly how you can be a part of it. You can also get an update about the SMS and Bastyr University merger, learn about classes offered, upcoming conferences and much more.
Thank you for your continued support and, as always, let us hear from you!
Sincerely,
Mary Yglesia
Director
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 Support MAMA!
The MAMA Campaign continues the work of influencing key congressional committee members about the benefits of including Certified Professional Midwives in federal Medicaid law.
Last month twenty midwives, mothers and fathers, including SMS founder Suzy Myers, SMS graduate and faculty member Wendy Gordon, and Midwives' Association of Washington State lobbyist and home birth mom, Amber Ulvenes, flew to Washington, D.C. for a two-day lobbying blitz that targeted key Congressional staff, Senators and Representatives. Two weeks later another contingent of activists did the same. Last week, campaign steering committee members attended a key meeting with
officials at the Center for Medicaid Services (CMS), where they were
well received. There will be many more targeted visits like these
throughout the summer.
With the help of our lobbyist and our incredible network of activists across the country, we were able to identify constituents in more than thirty districts and states represented by someone in a position to help us achieve our goal.
Congress is expected to make their decisions on health care reform legislation in the next two to four months, so the timeline is very short. We hope you will visit the MAMA Campaign web site, endorse the campaign and give a gift that could change the lives of millions of American women and their families. No gift is too small - or too large.
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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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Job Opening! SMS is Seeking an Office Assistant
 The
Office Assistant provides first line customer service to all SMS
constituencies and administrative assistance to all departments with an
emphasis on supporting the Simkin School program needs.
The Office
Assistant inspires, educates and empowers all those who contact the
school by phone, email or in person.
Read the job description>
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August 19-22, 2009Four 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. Click here for more information and to register.
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SMS and Bastyr University Merger Update
June was momentous! On June 23rd the Bastyr Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a merger with SMS and on June 24th the SMS Board of Directors met and also approved the merger by a unanimous vote. September 3, 2009 is our official signing ceremony on the Bastyr campus.
Like most great events, this merger carries a great deal of mixed emotions. We are elated to join Bastyr as the Department of Midwifery and the Simkin Center-both living within the School of Natural Health Arts and Sciences, but we are sad to say goodbye to the dynamic and powerful organization that housed these two great programs for so very long. There will no doubt be celebrations and commemorations as we both embrace our future and lovingly let go of our past. Please watch your mail for an invite.
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Time Magazine Releases Distressing Article on Postpartum Depression (PPD)Time has released an article that appears to sensationalize and feed stereotypes regarding PPD. In an article called "The Melancholy of Motherhood" (renamed "Postpartum Depression: Do All Moms Need Screening?") journalist Catherine Elton not only sheds a negative light on PPD, but also weighs in on her views of the
MOTHERS ACT that is currently being pushed through Congress. These views have the potential to feed into the opposition's arguments and may impact the passage of this bill intended to provide assistance and awareness to families suffering with PPD. To read a letter signed by mothers and an extensive list of postpartum professionals to Time Magazine, click here. From the "Speak up When You're Down" Campaign
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A Letter from Karen Hayes in SW Uganda
 SMS Midwifery Program graduate and former faculty member, Karen Hays, CNM is held in high esteem by those who know her. She is especially admired for her work as a midwife and midwifery educator around the world from Afghanistan to Nepal, to Guatamala and Vietnam, to name just a few of the countries where Karen has shared her knowledge and skills.
 Karen is currently serving in SW Uganda with Medical Teams International in a refugee camp. Click here to read Karen's letter about her experience this month.
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Study Examines Modifying the Labor EnvironmentLast month's "Blog of the Month," Science and Sensibility from Lamaze recently posted a discussion by Henci Goer of an interesting study published in June in the journal, Birth. The study, "Re-conceptualizing the hospital labor room: The PLACE (Pregnant and Laboring in an Ambient Clinical Environment) pilot trial," set out to gauge "the effects of modifying the labor room to encourage mobility, reduce stress and anxiety, and discourage routine medical intervention.
Investigators randomly allocated 62 healthy women in spontaneous labor
to either a modified room or the standard labor room. Women attended by
midwives or doulas were excluded from participating, effectively
creating a study population not predisposed to be mobile in labor." Click here to read the discussion by Henci Goer>
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Blog of the Month: RH Reality Check
We've linked to this blog before, as Maternal Health and Midwifery issues are regularly covered by their writers. Click here to bookmark the site.
Today, RH Reality Check features an article by Ximena Andión Ibañez, International Advocacy Director at the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, "Human Rights Resolution Spotlights Disparities in Maternal Health Care in the US," where Ibanez writes:
"The vast majority of women who die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth - 95% of the more than 500,000 who lose their lives every year - live in the Global South..." and "reflect widespread indifference to the rights of the world's poorest
women. But this great global injustice is also evident, on a smaller
scale, within high-income countries, such as the United States. In fact, the U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios among western developed nations. In 2005, there were a total of 623 maternal deaths in the United States.
More often than not, such high rates of death during pregnancy and
childbirth are inextricably linked to disparities and inequalities in
women's access to health care services." Click here to read the article>
Other recent maternal/child-related articles at RH Reality Check include Improving Maternity Care: A Mother and Child Reunion by By Amy Romano, Lamaze International and Not In Our Name: Midwifery Turf Battle? by Amie Newman.
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Legislation on Stillbirth and SUIDThe Stillbirth and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) Prevention, Education and Awareness Act was introduced on July 14th in the US Senate. This bill would improve the collection of critical data to determine the causes of stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and SUID, increase education and awareness about how to prevent these tragedies in the future and expand support services for families who have experienced a stillbirth, SIDS or SUID loss. Every year there are more than 25,000 stillbirths in the United States and more than 4,600 otherwise healthy babies die suddenly and unexpectedly. First Candle, a nonprofit dedicated to safe pregnancies and the survival of all babies during the first years of life, has launched a letter writing campaign in support of this legislation. Click here for more information on the legislation and to participate in the letter writing campaign.
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Upcoming Conferences & Workshops
DONA International Conference
August 6-9, 2009 - Atlanta, GA. More information>
Promoting Infant Mental Health: Intervention Focused on the Parent-Child Relationship
September 14 & 15, 2009 - Bellevue Hyatt Regency, Bellevue, WA. More information>
Promoting Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy
September 16th & 17th - Bellevue Hyatt Regency, Bellevue, WA. 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 at SMS' Talaris campus and September 23, 2009 at Bastyr 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 truly appreciate the feedback you continue to give 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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