Midwifery Today Issue 122

Issue 122

Summer 2017

Theme: Homebirth

Homebirth is a topic that our readers can never get enough of, so we made it the theme of this issue. The offerings range from four unique birth stories, two articles that advise what to take to a homebirth, midwives’ thoughts on homebirth in the past and present, and a number of other articles dealing with related subjects, such as complications and prolonged second stage.


Cover photo by Katie Mathis (katiemathisphoto.com). Katie spends her days living on call for her birth clients while living life to the fullest for her own family. She was first introduced to the birth world while exploring her own childbirth options. Katie is an award-winning photographer and doula who uses her passion and expertise to help families in and around the Phoenix, Arizona, area.

Pictured: This duo was not intending to have a homebirth but when the brand new birth center was not ready for labor day the CNMs and CPMs teamed up and created a beautiful homebirth experience for the parents. The room was filled to the brim with oxytocin as Dad supported his wife through delivering their 9 lb 10 oz baby boy in the comfort of their own home.


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Departments

  • Poetry
  • From the Editor
    Jan discusses the microbiome and how home is the best place for a baby to be born. She shares her own birth story and the various reasons that homebirth is the ideal kind of birth.
  • Tricks of the Trade
  • Marion’s Message: Learning from Each Other with Midwifery Today
    In this column, Marion reflects on what she learned from Elizabeth Davis’s presentation on brainwaves and what they reflect in unborn babies, birthing babies and mothers in labor.
  • Media Reviews
  • Wisdom of the Midwives
    In this column, midwives discuss what the term “traditional midwife” means to them.
  • Midwifery & Childbirth News
  • Photo Album
  • Classified Advertising

Features

  • Why Choose HomebirthMaryl Smith
    Midwife Maryl Smith interviews a hospital L&D nurse who gives her perspective on why she chose homebirth for her babies.
  • Choosing Freedom Means Taking ResponsibilityIna May Gaskin
    Well-loved midwife Ina May Gaskin discusses the state of homebirth in the Netherlands.
  • Birth at Home vs. Birth “Elsewhere”Michel Odent
    A thought-provoking article discussing the placenta, the microbiome and why homebirth is the ideal.
  • Three Cases of Prolonged Second Stage Labor: Lasting 14, 17 and 24 HoursJudy Slome Cohain
    The author challenges the status quo of time limits in labor. With illustrative photos, she shares her personal experiences with long second stage labors with moulding—noting the lack of documented causation between the status quo and adverse outcomes.
  • My Journey into Homebirth: A Midwife’s Perspective—Debra Fiore
    A midwife shares the winding path through her journey to becoming and being a midwife.
  • Homebirth—The Power of OneSister MorningStar
    shares some of her inspirational stories from around the world, through which she advocates for undisturbed homebirth.
  • Homebirth Herbal First Aid KitSusun Weed
    Learn about the herbs to have on hand when attending a homebirth or giving birth at home.
  • “The Sainted Ann Hutchinson”: Midwife of Grace (1591–1643)—Jane Beal
    Another of Jane Beal’s series of stories about midwives in history. This story features Anne Hutchinson—who figured prominently in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.
  • Homebirth Stories
  • Sweet Surrender—Cherrie Lynn Fors-Newman
    Drawing from the power of her descendents and her desire to birth at home, the author surrenders herself to powerful birth.
  • Amish BirthIreena Keesler
    Like all of her stories of midwifing to the Amish community, this one is a joy to read. Keeslar has a gift of painting a picture of the setting and how homebirth amazing yet mundane.
  • Rainbow Baby—Debbie Brown
    After her sixth delivery and loss of a baby, the author finally gets the homebirth she dreamed of.
  • It Takes a Team: A Sunrise HomebirthAmber Coleman
    The author shares her homebirth story, focusing not only on the powerful experience but on how her birth team was integral to it.
  • The Homebirth Midwife’s Portable Office: Her Car!Regina Willette
    This practical article covers important items that a homebirth midwife should keep in her to car so she is prepared for anything.
  • Homebirth: Now and ThenDiane Goslin
    Midwife Diane Goslin highlights how homebirth has not changed, but the culture of birth has.
  • A New Relief Technique for a Common Pregnancy ComplaintJoseph A. Kleman
    Did you know that pain in the hands can be a common symptom in late pregnancy? This massage therapist shares his solution for hand pain in pregnancy, avoiding the need for common medical or surgical intervention.
  • Managing GBSJane Beal
    This well-researched article provides midwives with up-to-date information on how to deal with group B strep in pregnancy..
  • Where are the Future Midwives?—Elise Larson
    Larson argues that midwives have the power to change the current culture that does not value their role in birth. She suggests that mentoring and spreading awareness of their role will help to accomplish this.
  • An Itch That Can Kill—Hilary Boyer
    Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a liver disorder that can lead to adverse outcomes for the baby—including stillbirth. Learn about how to identify it early and ensure that the mother receives treatment to minimize risk.

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