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PS From Penny Simkin
| September 20, 2012
Volume 4, Number 2
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Greetings!
 This is only my second newsletter this year, I believe. Time flies when you're busy. And I'd like to tell you about some of the things I've been busy with. There's a lot to tell, so grab a cup of tea, relax and read on. Love, Penny |
Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth
Many of you know about my interest in making birth better in every way, but I'm putting a large amount of energy into reducing traumatic births through the formation of PATTCh - Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth. We're a fledgling organization at the moment, with a board of directors consisting of researchers, maternity and mental health professionals, teachers, speakers, writers, and others, but the interest and support have been very gratifying. We share a deep concern over the statistics from numerous studies indicating that high numbers of women (as many as 1 in 4 or even 1 in 3) describe their children's births as traumatic, either physically, mentally or both.
The Post-traumatic Stress that too often follows traumatic births is often serious and long-lasting. Visit our website, meet our stellar Board of Directors, and download the wonderful resource Guide, a series of brief informative articles that were featured in the "Lamaze Blog, Giving Birth with Confidence." Please stay in touch with PATTCh as we expand in numbers and services. See our post card in the box below.
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Thanks For Your Help With UW CNM Program!
You have probably heard that the University of Washington Department of Nurse-Midwifery will remain open, due in no small part to your outpouring of support for continuing this most important program. I'm so thrilled that one of the most effective deterrents to high intervention birth - the midwife-will not be thrust out at a time when we need thousands more midwives, not fewer! Thanks to all who responded to the call!
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Miles For Midwives 2012
 Speaking of midwives, visit www.milesformidwives.org to learn more about the annual Miles For Midwives Run/Walk to be held on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. This very enjoyable event brings midwives, clients, children, and friends together to run, walk, socialize, and raise funds for a lofty purpose.
Unfortunately, I'll be out of town and will have to miss it this year, but I have decided to be a sponsor of the event. If you'd also like to be a sponsor or a "friend" and provide a higher level of support for our beloved midwives' cause, click here. Let's show our support in a big way.
For those who live in places far from Seattle, there are other Miles for Midwives in New York City and Boston, and possibly other areas. Search the Internet for Miles for Midwives and see what comes up.
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15% DISCOUNT TILL OCTOBER 21ST!
 Enjoy a 15% discount on Penny's popular Comfort Measures for Childbirth DVD and all of Penny's products when purchased directly from Penny.
Shop online by clicking here. Or for fax or phone orders visit Penny's product page by clicking here.
ENTER COUPON CODE Fall2012 to receive your discount.
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My YouTube Video on Delayed Cord Clamping
I'd like to tell you about some of my newer ventures in the media. But first, I'm excited to report on my YouTube video, Delaying Umbilical Cord Clamping. We have over 36,000 hits in one year! Not exactly Justin Bieber-like results, but at least 36,000 people are more aware of the harms of early cord clamping.
Please recommend it to expectant parents and others who need to know this information
Please share this video!
 | | Penny Simkin On Delayed Cord Clamping |
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Upcoming Workshops with Penny
My fall travel schedule is the busiest ever, including a tour of 5 cities in Australia! Check it out at on my web site, and wish me happy travels. Come and see me, if I'm in your area.
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More on YouTube - Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Dona Nobis Pacem at DONA
Another new venture on YouTube is a brief description of the impact of a history of childhood sexual abuse on the childbearing woman. If you need to introduce this topic to colleagues or abuse survivors, this might be helpful to you. Check it out.
One last YouTube link that may interest you. At the recent Annual Convention of DONA International in Cancun, a FLASH MOB materialized in the lobby of the lush resort where the convention took place. At 7:30 pm on July 21, the salsa band went silent and, softly at first, then louder and louder as doulas joined in, the strains of "DONA NOBIS PACEM" in canon, filled the lobby. Guests stopped, listened, smiled and moved on. We doulas felt our spirits soaring in this marble-walled lobby, as our song echoed loudly. You can watch this heartwarming interlude on YouTube by clicking here.
Be forewarned, it takes about 1 minute, 15 seconds before we actually begin singing. It's a lovely memory for me! |
 | | "There's a Baby" Trailer |
New DVD From Penny: There's A Baby
I'm excited to give you a glimpse of a new video that I'm producing, which is for siblings to be. Featuring Maia, an active and fetching big sister, we follow her through late pregnancy, the home birth of her baby sister, and life in their household after the birth.
I made this with the expert production skills of Walter Zamojski and Lynn Hughes, midwife. My goal in producing this video is to show realistic, educational and healthy images of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding and some of the emotional realities of being a big sister to a newborn baby. We expect to have this 12-minute DVD ready for distribution by the end of the year or sooner, at an introductory price of $19.00.
Click here to watch a trailer on YouTube.
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Popular Products from Penny
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For my new readers and those who joined my list from the start, I invite you to visit my website. Many of my presentations and handouts are posted there for you to download, and my presentation schedule is also posted there. If I come to your area to speak, please come and see me, and let me know you're on my newsletter list. I hope to keep in touch with you informally on maternity care topics that mean the most to me.
I'd love your feedback.
All the best, dear friends,
Penny
PS Click here to visit us on Facebook
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