November 2011
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Greetings!
This fall has been full of amazing momentum in the world of midwifery in our country, on this continent and indeed, globally! Starting with the landmark Summit The Future of Homebirth in the United States: Addressing Shared Responsibility in October outside Washington, DC, that brought together stakeholders from all sectors of the "system" in a facilitated process of finding "common ground", followed by a first-ever collaborative conference North American Midwifery: Beyond Boundaries, organized by the Canadian Association of Midwives and the Midwives Alliance in collaboration with American College of Nurse-Midwives, November 9-12 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, it is clear that a new era of collaboration, cooperation and commitment to a shared vision is opening up. It's a very exciting time to be an advocate for transforming maternity care.
Simkin Center workshops prepared and inspired a record number of childbirth professionals in 2011, thanks to the efforts of many at Bastyr. Next month in the enews, look for a report of our successes and initiatives. Here at Bastyr University our students are hard at work, coming in to the fall quarter home stretch. As the holiday season approaches we hope you will think of the Myers Midwifery Scholarship Fund and the Simkin Center Leadership Fund and make a gift that will contribute to supporting a worthy student's education.
Suzy Myers, Department of Midwifery
Annie Kennedy, Simkin Center
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| Contact Us | | midwifery@bastyr.edu
simkincenter@bastyr.edu
14500 Juanita Drive NE
Kenmore, WA 98028
telephone: 425.602.3000
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An Historic Event for Women and Families Choosing Homebirth
 | | SMS at Homebirth Summit |
An historic event for women and families choosing homebirth took place on October 20-22 outside of Washington, D.C.: The Future of Homebirth in the United States: Addressing Shared Responsibility. Midwives, obstetricians, consumers and consumer advocates, family physicians, nurses, health policy experts, legislators, legal and medical ethics experts, nurses, pediatricians, and payors and liability experts met together to discover our common agenda towards safe care and improved integration of services for all childbearing women and families in the United States.
Download the full article (PDF)
and visit the website: www.homebirthsummit.org
Thank you to Debbie Jessup, we are pleased to advise that Representative Roybal-Allard read the consensus statements into Congressional record this morning and released a press statement. You can view the YouTube video of her statement HERE.
And read more on Rep Roybal-Allard's
Facebook page
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Applying to the Midwifery Program
in 2012? Although our applications are not ready yet for 2012, this is a great time to meet with an admissions advisor about applying in the future. Advising appointments are available in person on the Bastyr campus or by phone. Call 425-602-3332 or e-mail mwadvise@bastyr.edu to set up your advising appointment!
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From a recent Birth Doula Skills Workshop student "Oh, Simkin Center. I attended a VERY difficult Operation Special Delivery birth at Elmendorf Air Force base here in Anchorage yesterday that had many unforeseen complications and scary moments for both mama AND baby. I just wanted to let you know I felt confident and prepared for every curve ball that was thrown and I credit a lot of that confidence to my training at Simkin at the Birth Doula workshop this summer. Thank you, Penny and Jenna for being such amazing instructors and giving me paths to the knowledge I needed and called upon yesterday." - Brenna Reynolds
 | | June 2011 Workshop Group |
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Midwives and Mothers in Action (MAMA) is hard at work to gain federal recognition for midwives and they need our help now more than ever.
Click here to learn more. |
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Symposium 2012 Website
Goes Live
The upcoming symposium "CPM's and Midwifery Educators: Contributing to
a New Era in Maternity Care" has launched its beautiful new website.
Visit www.cpmsymposium.com. While you are taking a tour consider registering to attend.This has the makings of an historical event and members of AME and NACPM receive discounts (and so do early birds!)
Symposium organizers are including a CPM history walk.Do you have something to share? Click here to learn more and see how you can contribute to the project. Or contact Dolly Browder at debrowder@gmail.com for more information or to send your photos, documents, memoirs and other historical material.
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Can you  believe it? MEAC is 20 years old!
Quality and accountability in education is demonstrated through accreditation. Bastyr's midwifery program is accredited by MEAC (the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council) whose mission is to promote excellence in midwifery education. It creates standards and criteria for the education of midwives and is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accrediting agency.
Join us in celebrating 20 years of accredited midwifery education with your
tax-deductible donation to MEAC BONUS: your donation will be generously matched by Birthingway College of Midwifery. Through this challenge, they hope to encourage gifts to MEAC in celebration of their tremendous achievements -- we're at our most powerful when we work together!
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Evening at Bastyr
Clear cool November evening to be warmly inside, talking with folks interested in birth vocations! Thanks to Postpartum Doula Skills Workshop Instructor Melinda Ferguson for sharing herself with students last week.
Attend an "Evening with Bastyr" in a city
near you
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Simkin Center Leadership Fund award recipient Katherine Steen Gillette-Cockerill
Katherine converted her passion for learning and teaching about the natural world at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo to the dramatic transition to parenthood as a childbirth educator after the birth of her daughter. She completed the Childbirth Educator Training in October. We are honored to support her efforts to provide evidence-based group childbirth classes in an accessible location in North King County and South Snohomish County.
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Thanks to everyone joining us for the screening of "Crisis in the Crib - Saving our Nation's Babies." A groundbreaking documentary on US maternal and infant mortality rates. Co-sponsored by Bastyr University, Department of Midwifery.
Visit Diversity Committee at Bastyr FB page for information about January 25, 2012 film.
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Simkin Center Instructor Kim James invited speaker at Inland Northwest Doula Conference in the Spokane Valley.
Topics were:
- Helping Our Clients Create Realistic Expectations
- Supporting the TOLAC/VBAC Woman in Your Community
- Marketing Your Doula Business When No One Knows What a Doula Is
Congratulations Kim!
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Are you or someone you know planning an out of hospital birth and are at risk for postpartum mood disorder?
Simkin Center Instructors Carrie Kenner and Melinda Ferguson are conducting a pilot study assessing the impact of placentaphagia on postpartum mood disorders, specifically the incidence or severity of postpartum mood disorders in women who take encapsulated placenta compared to those who don't. Interested?Carrie and Melinda hope to present results of the study next summer, and that this "first of its kind" study will spur further research.
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Red Tent for Doulas with Jenna Noelke : A monthly gathering to nuture, nourish and support doulas
 1st Friday of every monthCost: $15
Location:
Big Belly Services
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Upcoming Conferences & Workshops
Open Arms Short and Sweet Auction November 29, 2011 - Seattle, WA. More information> 2012 REACH Conference March 9, 2012 - Mountlake Terrace, WA. More information> CPMs and Midwifery Educators: Contributing to a New Era in Maternity Care
March 16-19, 2012 - Airlee Center, Warrenton VA. More information> |
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We truly appreciate the feedback you continue to give us on the 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, Department of Midwifery and Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations, Bastyr University
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Are you a Simkin Center Alumna? Did you like your workshop at Simkin Center? 
