Mark your calendars and save the date. This is your chance to learn from teachers such as Lisa Goldstein, Elizabeth Davis, Sharon Evans, Cornelia Enning, Gail Hart and Carol Gautschi. You can choose from a wide variety of classes, including Essentials of Midwifery, Second Stage of Labor, Techniques from Mexico and Waterbirth. LEARN MORE…

“Biological nurturing (BN) is a new neurobehavioral approach to breastfeeding initiation that aims to reduce latching problems and early unintended breastfeeding cessation. In biological nurturing, mothers lean back and place the baby on top so that every part of the baby’s body is facing, touching and closely applied to one of the mother’s curves or to part of the surrounding environment” READ MORE…

“When people find out I do pregnancy massage they are usually surprised a woman can get a massage while pregnant. I even get this reaction from pregnant women. … By using side-lying, semi-reclined and side-tilt positions, a full body massage is possible [for a pregnant woman]. The mother is supported in these special positions with the use of pillows and cushions. Most of my clients can’t believe they can feel so comfortable, and often mimic the massage positions while sleeping at home.” READ MORE…

“Although the modern world has been able to speed many things up, it hasn’t been able to speed up vaginal births. … On average, US moms today are different. They are older, heavier and their newborns are bigger. Katherine Laughon, lead researcher at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, says that even taking these factors into consideration, labor is taking longer than it used to, and doctors may need to rethink the definition of ‘normal’ labor.” Read the rest of this news item as well as an article excerpt and more on the theme, “The Umbilical Cord” Read a tip for Preventing Prolonged Labor in The Art of Midwifery. [ SIGN UP FOR FREE NEWSLETTER ] READ MORE…

“The once natural event of female-centered birth has effectively been medicalized. Power and control have been removed from midwives and women and shifted to science and the surgical specialization within medicine, today known as obstetrics” READ MORE…

Review by Kelly Moyer. “A nice addition to the library of any midwife or doula working with clients who have had c-sections, Cesarean: Beyond the Wound, a trilingual (Spanish, Catalan and English) book of photography and stories, captures the emotions and physical scars that accompany cesareans.” READ MORE…

Why don’t cats have breastfeeding problems? If we answer this we might have an answer to human breastfeeding problems. When Momma Cat had her babies—see last issue’s editorial—they began breastfeeding even before the other babies were born. One would come out, Momma Cat would lick it all over, the kitty would begin nursing and another sibling would be born. I suppose the extra oxytocin helped the next ones be born. This must be how the process works hormonally. The process worked well, and like Momma Cat, other mammals do not seem to have breastfeeding difficulties. READ MORE…

"She’s been in this box stall (when not out to pasture) for weeks, because she must be in a familiar environment to birth smoothly. There is her usual water and hay in the stall—never restrict their food in labor!" READ MORE…

When you order this CD set you’ll be able to listen to Gail Hart, Mary Cooper and Ina May Gaskin as they discuss a variety of important topics. Material covered includes how to identify true vs. false shoulder dystocia, how nutrition can be one of the best methods of prevention and how to assist shoulder dystocia when it does happen during birth. Also included is information about malpresentations such as twin, breech and asynclitic births and brow, face and periatel presentations. VIEW PRODUCT…

Check out our Spring into Savings page to find out how. This book is just what any aspiring midwife needs! It includes articles on the various midwifery philosophies, information on becoming an apprentice, dozens of updated articles, and a directory of more than 150 schools, programs and other resources. . LEARN MORE…

Are you an aspiring midwife who’s looking for the right school? Are you a practicing midwife who would like to learn more? Visit our Education Opportunities page to discover ways to start or continue your education. LEARN MORE…

In addition to standard methods for dealing with vaginal yeast, I also recommend that women use vinegar in the final rinse water for their own briefs—cotton of course—and in their babies' nappy rinse water, and add a 'slosh' in baby's bath water. It works for wiping over mum's nipples, too.

Obstetrics should be both art and science. The science lies in what we know to be true, the art lies in how that information is used for greatest benefit to mothers and babies.