Maternal to Child Transmission (MTCT) is the primary mode of transmission of HIV to children. A pregnant woman needs to learn about MTCT and how to prevent it. If we care for HIV-positive pregnant women, we must commit to keep current in order to offer them and their babies the very best information and care.

 Read more…. HIV & Pregnancy: What More Can We Do for HIV-Positive Women?

The nesting instinct takes a labouring woman into a quiet, unstimulating space so she can progress without interruption; it makes her cross when she is being hindered from doing the work she must do; and it will also allow her to change her plan, to move her nest, if she believes that is needed.

 Read more…. The Nesting Instinct

“Evidence Supports Vaginal Birth.” I read the headline over and over. Do we need “evidenced-based” research to prove that vaginal birth is how we were designed to reproduce? What is wrong with this picture? What can we do to reverse this nightmare?

 Read more…. Evidence Supports the Obvious

Stress hormones inhibit the release and action of the hormone necessary to induce and maintain effective uterine contractions during labor and delivery. A good understanding of physiological processes leads the midwife to ensure that nobody is under the effect of adrenaline in the environment of a laboring woman.

 Read more…. Knitting Midwives for Drugless Childbirth?

In every culture and religion throughout the world water is synonymous with the female aspect of life. Where there is no water, there can be no life.
Water is considered the symbol of fertility and also of eternal life. Human beings consist mainly of water, and before birth we develop inside the womb, swimming in amniotic fluid. We can therefore say that we are “children of water.”

 Read more…. Giving Birth and Being Born in Water

As access to modern maternity care increases around the world, women and their birth practitioners face the challenge of balancing modern birthing practices with traditional childbirth customs.

 Read more…. Is There A Balance? Traditional Customs and Modern Birthing in Somaliland

Socialized medicine provides free and easily accessible prenatal and intrapartum care in Israel. The emphasis on the value of life in Israel is reflected in its birth practices, such as free, easily accessible prenatal care, low infant mortality rates and excellent infertility treatment.

 Read more…. Midwifery in Israel

I know that c-sections are over-prescribed and poorly handled throughout, and I do not want to invalidate the horrible experiences of women who have suffered from them. But I do want to share my own story to demonstrate that the experience, while far from ideal, does not have to be a nightmare.

 Read more…. Compassionate C-section

Midwives, our sisters are in danger. The medical industry has co-opted them, commodified them and is now not-so-gradually eliminating them. Our allies in women’s health and the healing of birth are disappearing so quickly as to pose the terrible possibility that our daughters won’t have access to the help they provide.

 Read more…. Saving Our Endangered Midwifery Allies

MT is an enormously spirited woman. Her spiritedness has gotten her into trouble—big trouble. And it has also fueled her determination to deal with her troubles head on. I met MT during her initial prenatal visit with her fifth child. She told me unabashedly that she was HIV-positive and had a history of crack cocaine abuse and supporting her habit by selling sex for drugs. But with pride she went on to tell how she had kicked the cocaine habit and gotten her life together after finding out she was HIV-infected. She had gone to support groups, even learning how to tell her kids about her HIV status and support them in their reactions. Now she leads support groups.

 Read more…. A Determined Life

Debra opened the session by presenting her work on a film project, the aim of which was to look at birth models around the world, not just traditional midwifery. She then described how, at the International Confederation of Midwives conference in 2002, many of the traditional midwives had felt the ICM was not addressing their interests. The ICM seemed to be primarily concerned with trained professionals, so traditional midwives and those interested in working with them (30-35 midwives and advocates) held two informal meetings. They created their own subcommittee, the Committee to Promote Inclusiveness, and wrote a letter to request formal recognition from the ICM. The ICM responded that they could not recognize the group but advised that it continue to meet informally.

 Read more…. Preserving Traditional Midwifery Around the World