Issue 134
Summer 2020
Theme: Covid-19 in Pregnancy and Birth
Midwives and other birthworkers around the world have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic that has been shaking the world this year. This issue is focused on what is happening both in the US and internationally in response to the threat, and how that impacts women who are pregnant and giving birth. Additionally, there are articles on cannabis in pregnancy, mental health of non birthing partners, and more.
Cover photo by Esther Edith (estheredith.com). Esther is a birth photographer and doula in Spokane, Washington. She is married to a philosophy professor and has three children. Esther is passionate about her Christian faith and sees every birth as a miraculous gift of life—each is an incredible honor to capture. Having grown up in India, she has always had a passion for women’s rights and organically stepped into the birth world to help women have a voice and know their options in childbirth.
Pictured: This beautiful, newborn baby is about to enjoy a relaxing herbal bath with her mama. Midwife holds baby as she prepares to hand her to her mum. View the emotional home birth story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLfXDX1g6pM.
Columns
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From the Editor: Honoring Birth Visionaries, by Jan Tritten
Editor Jan Tritten writes of several birth visionaries and their contributions. -
Marion’s Message: Healthy Childbirth Boundaries, by Marion Toepke McLean
Contributing author Marion Toepke McLean discusses the need for midwives to have healthy boundaries, and how she arrived at one that she considers important.
Features
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The Conflict Between Humanity and the Virosphere, by Michel Odent
Another fascinating article by our prescient regular contributor, Michel Odent. This article is excerpted from his 2014 book, Childbirth and the Evolution of Homo Sapien. -
Midwives and Covid-19, by Maryl Smith
As soon as the epidemic hit, Midwife Maryl Smith began a quest to stay current and provide the best care she could. This comprehensive article details how midwives and the women in their care can stay safe in light of the threat. -
“Call the Midwife”: Jennifer Worth, a Twentieth Century British Midwife, and the Birth of Conchita Warren’s 24th Baby on TV vs. in Real Life, by Jane Beal
Regular contributor Jane Beal discusses how some of the reality of the book Call the Midwife is lost in the transition to television. -
Letter to My Soon-to-be Parents, As We Negotiate These Unusual Times…, by Nancy Wainer
Midwife Nancy Wainer shares information provided to her clients as she modifies her care provision as a result of Covid-19. -
A Transition from Medical Model Maternity Care to Women-led Maternity Care, by Sharon Robinson
The author shares how she developed her model of women-led care, from stories of her birth, her early years in Tonga, time in the US and Cambodia, until her landing in New Zealand.. -
Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding with Covid-19, by Cheryl K. Smith
This article discusses recommendations from various agencies and how to keep midwives and moms safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as some recent cases that are relevant. -
Covid-19 in Nigeria, by Chinenye MaryRose Nneoma Okonkwo
Learn about how pregnant and birthing women in Nigeria are affected. -
Covid-19 in Iran, by Narjes Shiraghaei Kootenaei
This short article details the challenges and changes affecting midwives and their clients in Iran. -
Initiatives for Pregnant and Birthing Women in India during Covid-19 Pandemic, by Manju Chhugani
Learn how Covid-19 is affecting the maternity system in India. -
Maternity Care Amid Covid-19 Outbreak: Story of midwives from a remote rural area in Bangladesh, by Mushtaque Chowdhury, Selina Amin, Bilkis Ara, and ATM Nayeem
This article gives firsthand information regarding the situation in a part of Bangladesh, and how it affects midwives and childbearing women. -
Ecuador’s New Life Birthing Centers at the Time of Covid-19 by New Life Team Members
Life since the advent of Covid-19 has changed in Ecuador. Learn about the challenges and roadblocks faced by a team that runs New Life Birthing Centers. -
Country Contact Question: How has Covid-19, the disease from the novel coronavirus, affected your country? Have you done anything different with pregnant and birthing women during this time?”
Short responses from around the world. -
The Impacts of Covid-19 on Birth Practices in the United States, by Robbie Davis-Floyd, Kim Gutschow, and David A. Schwartz
This is a shorter version of a research paper to be published in Medical Anthropology, which details the responses to questions about how Covid-19 has affected birth practices. -
Family Stress and Perinatal Mental Health in Non Birthing Partners, by Stephanie Rayburn
Little has been written on the effect on the mental health of individual when their partner gives birth. This article shares some research, as well as tools for assessing the mental health of a partner during this stressful time. -
Keeping Waterbirth Safe During Covid-19, by Barbara Harper
Barbara shares current information on waterbirth and how it relates to waterbirth. -
Pregnancy on High: Is Cannabis Better or Worse than Pharmaceuticals during Pregnancy?, by Ken Magri
- Dealing with Postpartum Psychosis in Sierra Leone, by Kristine Lauria
The author shares her experience helping a mother in Sierra Leone. - The New Coronavirus and the Future of BCG, by Michel Odent
= Membership Article.
