Midwifery Today Issue 128 The heart and science of birth

Winter 2018

Theme: Labor Complications

Make sure you receive the next edition of Midwifery Today magazine, which hits newsstands, mailboxes, and Midwifery Today online this December. Our Winter 2018 issue is dedicated to the topic “Labor Complications” and is filled with clinical articles, vital information, midwifery tricks of the trade, gorgeous birth photos, and delightful homebirth stories from around the world.

“Labor Complications” can occur at anytime, expected or not, and midwives need to be knowledgeable about and prepared for them. This Winter 2018 issue offers a refresher for some of those complications—including umbilical cord prolapse and learning to handle the unexpected. In addition, it includes the usual birth stories and practical advice for midwives and doulas, along with birth practices, customs, and rituals in three different countries, and enjoyable writings by Sister MorningStar, Michel Odent, Jane Beal, the continuing series “The Portable Midwife” by Regina Willette, and much more!

Cover photo by Rebecca Walsh. She is a devoted mother and birth photographer in Denver, Colorado. In 2017 she partnered with the talented Monet Nicole (monetnicole.com/meet-rebecca) and together the two have beautifully documented hundreds of births across the Denver Metro area. Rebecca’s passion to document the human experience derives from personal tragedy, as well as years of clinical experience in a pediatric hospital. She has found that documenting the rawness of life helps give people perspective and helps them process their experiences. She feels it’s a blessing and a true honor to provide that.

Pictured: Gabrielle Palmer, moments after birth, embracing a beautiful daughter she quickly and fiercely birthed into the world. This birth was supported by the Denver Center for Birth and Wellness, and the family was intensely loved and cared for by Dr. Shari Long Romero.

Columns

Features

Umbilical Cord Prolapse—Fernando Molina
Obstetrician/midwife Fernando Molino discusses.
Is Labor a Complication of Socialized Birth?—Michel Odent
Newborn First Breaths: The Primal Movements of Lifelong Bonding, Imprinting, and Well-being—Sister MorningStar
Varicose Veins in Pregnancy—Judy Slome Cohain
Expect the Unexpected—Vicki Penwell
Destined for Breech Babies—Jessica Gray
I Can Do This Work! My Journey into Midwifery—Karen Ehrlich
Jane Hawkins: A Colonial American Midwife and a Complicated Birth—Jane Beal
Being a midwife in the early days of the US was a risky proposition—if you were considered to be on the wrong side of the church and had the bad luck to help deliver a baby with birth defects.
The Portable Office: The Initial Phone Screen—Regina Willette
This article in the homebirth midwife series focuses on the initial interview.
Navigating a Broken System: Addressing Racial Disparities in Birth Outcomes—Mary Ann Lieser
The maternal/child health system is broken, but doulas around the country are developing programs to change that. Learn about some of them in this timely article.
Postmaturity—Margie Dacko
Using stories from her practice, Margie Dacko reflects on the conundrum of truly knowing a due date.
Preparing for the Unknown—Kate Bavister
A philosophical piece on the innate ability to give birth.
Babies Put Their Foot Down—Marlene Waechter
This frequent contributor shares the variety of breech births that she has been a part of.
Celebrating Newborns in Egypt—Hanaā Kassem
Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals in Iran—Narjes Shiraghaei
Nigerian Birth Traditions and Rituals—Amaka R. Elochukwu
Learn about birth practices and rituals in different parts of the world. Our country contacts share these celebrations with us.
“What Do We Do with the Specimen?”: A Reflection of Miscarriages in the Emergency Department—Brooke Rawls
This article focuses on compassionately dealing with women who are seen in the emergency department for a pregnancy loss.
“Can I Have a Natural Placental Birth after Induction?”—Sara Wickham
Women who are giving birth need to be aware of all the effects that induction may have on them and their babies. This article addresses the question: Can I have a natural placental birth after induction?”
When Vacations Are Not Enough—Madeline Murray

= Membership Article.