The MAWS eBulletin
| Volume 3, Issue 3
July 2010 | |
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 Greetings!
Summer is finally here in WA state! Midwifery students and
apprentices will be taking their licensing exam soon while the rest of
us are probably angling for some vacation time while the good weather
is around. This newsletter is chock full of great resources and the
latest midwifery news that you want to know! Remember to print it out
(and put it near your toilet for later ;) if you don't have time to
read it right now.
Practicing midwives may be especially interested in the new law
requiring us to inform our clients about their cord blood banking
options. We have also provided you with links to resources that you
can print out for your clients or that you can read to inform your
shared decision making discussions.
Hoping that you and yours are well,
Kristin Effland, LM, CPM
Vice President
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The Bellingham Birth Center in the Sea To Ski Parade
 
Clients and midwives celebrate birthing options with a float in the Bellingham Ski to Sea Parade in May 2010.
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MILES FOR MIDWIVES - Save the Date!
 MAWS is excited to announce that we are partnering with the Washington State Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives for this years' "Miles for Midwives" Fun Run/Walk,
Saturday, October 9th at Seward Park in South Seattle from 10 am to
noon. Our family-friendly course consists of a flat, paved walking
trail around beautiful Seward Park. Come join us, bring the whole
family for a fun morning and Support Your Local Midwives!
Join us on Facebook for Miles for Midwives updates. Registration will be opening soon.
Write to Lynn if you are interested in volunteering to help with this event. Midwives, midwifery practices, doulas, and other birth-related businesses: Please consider being a sponsor of this event! Write to Lynn for details.
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Michael Klein's Listserv
 Those of you who attended the spring conference had a chance to become
familiar with some of the exciting work done by our speaker, Michael
Klein, MD. Michael is Professor Emeritus at the University of British
Columbia and researcher on home birth, attitudes of maternity care
providers, and his 1990's randomized controlled trial on episiotomies.
If you aren't already a member of Michael's listserv and would like to
be part of a vibrant multidisciplinary community of people who work in
the maternity care field (you may want to participate or just listen in
to the discussion), all you need to do is write to Michael. Send him an email telling him who you are and what you do, and he will add you to the
list.
Be prepared, however, as the many engaging discussions will
sometimes result in a lot of emails to your inbox. Consider making a
special folder to filter them in to. You won't regret it!
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Wax Article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
(From NACPM) "You may be aware of a recent article claiming to have found a 3-fold increase in neonatal mortality among home born infants when compared to hospital born babies. This meta-analysis by Wax et al has been widely publicized by ACOG with a timing that appears to be designed to have maximum political impact.
The press, including the New York Times, reached out to NACPM, as well as to MANA, ACNM and other organizations, seeking comment. NACPM connected with home birth researchers and prepared the following comments for release to the press, and has been in touch with the reporter from the New York Times."
Click here for the NACPM Press Release.
Click here to read the New York Times article that was published on July 19th.
MAWS is currently drafting a response that we will send out soon.
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Mount Vernon Birth Center Open House, A True Success
 Mount Vernon Birth Center and Skagit Natural Family Medicine celebrated completion and clinic expansion inviting community members to an open house event June 19, 2010. There was a great turnout! Individuals, families and childbirth professionals meandered through both the new and expanded facilities. People were genuinely enthused and intrigued.
The community has clearly demanded growth of complementary, alternative, and well balanced health care options. Skagit County itself has seen a >125% increase in licensed midwife attended birth since 2003.
Local interest is pouring in! Growth in midwifery attended birth and the new birth center were recently covered in local media outlets. There is no shortage of cheer to share!
Thank you to MAWS, area midwives and birth centers for letting us stand on your shoulders! We look forward to continuing to provide high quality maternity care to families in our pocket of Washington.
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Mother's Advocate
A new resource for your clients
This new service offered by Injoy Video includes free-to-watch videos based on the Lamaze Six Care Practices for a Safe & Healthy Birth.
"Mother's Advocate is dedicated to helping you have the healthiest,
safest, most satisfying birth possible. While every birth is unique
there is substantial evidence that points to ways you can improve your
chances of having the best birth experience. This website offers free
video clips and print materials that will educate and inform you on how
to have the birth you want
for you and your baby."
Click here to go to the Mother's Advocate website
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MAWS FORUM - Come on! Try it out!
If you haven't joined the forum yet, click here and register. Please use a login or email that is identifiable so we know you are a member and can approve you quickly. (The MAWS Discussion Forum is for Professional Members Only.)
Check out some of the studies in this e-news and post your thoughts to the forum. Go to the board, "Clinical News & Issues," and post under the category, "Clinical News and Issues."
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 A New Book from Our Own Nancy Spencer!
Click here to read about Washington midwife and MAWS member Nancy Spencer's new book, Heaven in My Hands--A Midwife's Stories of Birth and Life. In her book, Nancy shares stories from her decades of practice as a midwife.
Congratulations, Nancy!
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Requirements to Provide Information About Cord Blood BankingThere is a new law in the state of Washington that went into effect July 1.
RCW
70.54.220 has been amended effective July 1, 2010 to include a
requirement to provide information to all pregnant women before the
third trimester of pregnancy about the differences between, and the
potential benefits and risks of, public and private cord blood banking
so the woman can make an informed decision about whether to proceed
with this, as well as informing her of the opportunity to donate blood
and tissue from the placenta to a public cord blood bank after delivery.
RCW 70.54.222, also effective July 1, 2010, outlines the requirements
placed on cord blood banks. The statute includes requirements for
accreditation and licensing, public education, information disclosure,
and providing information about the blood collected to the donors. In
addition, the statute places cord blood banks under the scope of the
Consumer
Protection Act.
Click here to read the RCWs.
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Are You on Facebook? "Like" the Midwives' Association of Washington State!
We've decided to move from a Facebook "group" to a Facebook "page," so if you're on Facebook, visit us and "like" our page. We want to make better use of this tool to stay in touch with our members and supporters!
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Baby Safe Bottles and Formula
Click here for the Environmental Working Group's Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula
Molly Gray gave a presentation at the recent spring conference
discussing the importance of avoiding toxins in pregnancy and
breastfeeding. One of the critical issues she discussed is the adverse
health effects of BPA (bisphenol A ) in infant bottles and formulas. If
your clients will be using formula
make sure they know to use BPA free
infant formula!
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Are You Really Listening? Keys to Successful Communication
 Hope Renn, CNM, MSN and Cheri Van Hoover, CNM, MS provide a glowing review of the book, Are You Really Listening?: Keys to Successful Communication, in the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health
(March 2007). They write, "Although this book would be helpful to
anyone seeking better communication and deeper understanding in their
relationships, it should be required reading for all medical
professionals.
They conclude their review with, "This is one "self-help" book that
delivers on its promise. It is a concise, insightful, and instructive
tool.
It is the sort of book that you want to give to everyone you know."
Click here to buy through Powell's Books.
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Mankind's first natural stem cell transplant
Tolosa JN , Park DH, Klasko SK , Borlongan CV, Sanberg PR.
Department of Pediatrics, Division Neonatology, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
Abstract
 The timing of the
umbilical cord clamping at birth is still controversial. In the modern
era of medicine, the cord has been clamped early to facilitate
resuscitation and stabilization of infants. However, recently delayed
cord clamping has been supported by physicians because it allows for
the physiological transfer of blood from the placenta to the infant.
Many clinical studies have revealed that the delayed cord clamping
elevates blood volume and haemoglobin and prevents anaemia in infants.
Moreover, since it was known that umbilical cord blood contains various
valuable stem cells such as haematopoietic stem cells, endothelial cell
precursors, mesenchymal progenitors and multipotent/pluripotent lineage
stem cells, the merit of delayed cord clamping has been magnified.
In
this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of delayed
cord clamping at birth. We highlight the importance of delayed cord
clamping in realizing mankind's first stem cell transfer and propose
that it should be encouraged in normal births.
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Greetings from the QMP!
We have been hard at work since my last newsletter submission six months ago. I'm happy to take the time to update you and to inform you of all that we've accomplished since then. First of all, a very big thank you to everyone who participated in Karen Hayes's audit of the QMP. Karen conducted an audit of the QMP in February and March as a requirement of her Master's to PhD bridge program that she is currently enrolled in at the University of Washington School of Nursing. Her audit consisted of collecting and analyzing information gleaned from her confidential interviews with those midwives who chose to participate. Here are a few of the highlights from her audit: We have a lot to be proud of! Our Washington State MAWS/QMP program is unlike any other in the nation and overall it functions efficiently, we meet our purpose, and many midwives agree that we are doing our job well!
Some of you expressed a desire to know the findings of cases in which you participated as an Incident Review Panelist. It is understandable considering the time and effort you placed into participating that you'd like to know the outcome of the case you reviewed, however the QMP cannot disclose any findings to anyone other than the midwife being reviewed. All information regarding reviewed cases is strictly and permanently confidential and will not be disclosed. Please know that your participation on Incident Review Panels is very highly valued! We rely on your participation. In every case, we always review your feedback thoroughly. We base our findings on your thoughtful consideration and critique of each case that you review for us.
We revised our "Peer Review and Incident Review" document in response to the questions that many of you had about Peer Review and Incident Review and your responsibilities as MAWS members to participate in these happenings. This document will be distributed with each new and renewing MAWS membership packet.
Reminders:
*We all have a shared responsibility to participate in Incident Review Panels when called upon to do so. We very much need and appreciate your participation! *Midwives self-report out-of-hospital births with any of the following clinical indicators within 14 days: Click here for the MAWS Self Reporting Form
If you have any questions or concerns about QMP related matters, please do not I will happy to assist you or to place you into contact with the appropriate person.
Sincerely,
Erin Curtiss, L.M., MAWS/QMP Liaison
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Mother Health International
 Mother Health International (formerly Bumi Sehat Haiti), is a community based, non-profit women and children health clinic and birth center, in Jacmel, Haiti. The clinic operates as a registered health care center with the Ministry of Health in Haiti and as a registered NGO. We have been caring for pregnant women and babies since the earthquake in January 2010.
With the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the north western hemisphere, MHI is working not only to improve maternal and infant outcomes but to promote safe, natural, gentle birth and successful breastfeeding.
The clinic operates with local Haitian staff and volunteer maternal health care providers and midwives from around the world. We provide low cost or free prenatal, birth and postpartum care along with infant and child
health care. We are also committed to working with local community members through our educational programs that work to promote awareness around general nutrition, women's wellness, joyful parenting, breastfeeding and infant/child nutrition.
The clinic is set up in a dome and serves the city of Jacmel and its surrounding hillside communities.
Currently, 120-150 women are seen weekly for prenatal care and counseling, while 2-5 births occur at the clinic, daily.
We continue to offer a weekly pediatrics clinic for general health care and to assist with referrals.
We would like to invite you to apply to volunteer at this time. We are
seeking experienced midwives willing to commit 3 weeks of their time.
Please find our application and further information about the clinic in Jacmel, Haiti at www.motherhealthinternational.org and/or email us at info@motherhealthinternational.org
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CPM Eligibility Requirements Review
From the NARM newsletter
In 2009, an unprecedented campaign was undertaken to achieve the goal
of federal recognition of the CPM credential through inclusion in the
Health Care Reform legislation. The MAMA Campaign was incredibly
successful in drawing together advocates and organizations dedicated to
integrating the CPM into the maternal child health care system. This
heightened attention on the CPM credential has led to increased
scrutiny of all components and standards for certification.
Advocates
for CPMs have had to face public denigration of the quality of
education and training required for certification. Despite the fact
that there is significant evidence to show that CPMs are adequately
trained to provide safe and effective maternity care, NARM is being
asked again and again to raise it's standards in order to answer
concerns among the greater maternity care community about the quality
of care that CPMs provide.
NARM has determined that ongoing evaluation of general education
requirements for all applicants should be conducted in a format that is
in keeping with NCCA standards. Therefore we are seeking to develop a
process that includes all of the steps involved in setting criteria for
skills and knowledge. The first step in the process is an initial
focus group of stakeholders to provide a platform for review and
discussion of current GE requirements and identification of areas of
possible change. The focus group will meet prior to the MANA Conference
on October 13, 2010.
For more information, and if you are interested in being a
part of this landmark process, please submit your request by clicking here and filling out the form. You will receive a confirmation by e-mail
as well as follow up information on details about the agenda for the
meeting.
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New Membership Liaison - Emily Streich, LM, CPM
MAWS is pleased to announce a new service to their
members both new and existing. Emily Streich, LM, CPM will now take
the role of "Membership Liaison." She will be available to help answer
any questions MAWS members have about their membership, welcome any comments that members may have or review suggestions for improvement of member services.
Please contact her through email at memberliaison@washingtonmidwives.org or if you prefer to call, you
can reach her at (360) 888-8195
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UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
DONA International Conference
August 5 -8, 2010 Albuquerque, NM. More information>
Christian Midwives International Annual Conference
August 30-September 2, 2010 - Myrtle Beach, SC. More information>
2010 AWHONN Convention
September 25-29, 2010 The Venetian, Las Vegas. More information>
Midwifery Today Conference: Birth Is a Human Rights Issue
September 29 - October 3, 2010 Strasberg, France. More information>
50th Anniversary Mega Conference
Lamaze & ICEA Together! Uniting for the Future of Birth
September 30 - October 3, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. More information>
The Midwives Alliance of North American 2010 Conference
October 14-17, 2010 Nashville, TN. More information>
Indiana Newborn Developmental Care Conference
October 18, 2010 Ritz Charles, Carmel IN. More information>
Birthing The World Conference : Enfanter Le Monde Conference on best practices in perinatal care: an interdisciplinary reflection on the early stages of life.
November 25 - 26, 2010. Quebec City, Canada. More information>
See the MAWS web site for ongoing continuing education opportunities.
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 BUY PENNY SIMKIN'S NEW COMFORT MEASURES FOR CHILDBIRTH DVD & PENNY WILL DONATE 10% TO MAWS!
This 90-minute interactive DVD contains more than 40 techniques for reducing and managing the pain of labor contractions. Christiane Northrup, MD states, "Comfort Measures is wonderful. I suggest that it be required viewing for all pregnant couples and childbirth professionals." Use this link to buy it now or click here to read more about it.
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This is your newsletter. Please send any feedback or suggestions to Kristin Effland. We welcome suggestions for
future topics, popular articles or research to include.
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