Issue 77

Spring 2006

Theme: 20th Anniversary

This issue marks the 20th Anniversary of Midwifery Today. In addition to the usual interesting and educational articles on topics such as HIV, Business of Midwifery, birth stories, and international midwifery, this issue contains writings by readers on how Midwifery Today has helped them throughout the years. Special bonuses include the chapter on Prenatal Diagnosis from Sarah Buckley’s new book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, and a look back at the very first issue of Midwifery Today.

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Departments

• Poetry: The Hat the Midwife Gave You—Marnie Jackson Jones
  A short poem about birth.
• From the Editor: 20 Years of Carrying Out a Calling—Jan Tritten
  The founder of Midwifery Today reflects on the last 20 years of the organization.
• Networking
• Tricks of the Trade
• Midwifery Model of Care—Phase II: Midwife Lessons—Janice Marsh-Prelesnik
  In this second part of a series on midwifery in the twenty first century, the author talks about the caring hearts and the wisdom of midwifery. She recommends that all midwives share their stories with the world.
• Marion’s Message—Marion Toepke McLean 
  Associate Editor Marion McLean shares stories of the interconnectedness and complexities of dealing with birthing women and their mothers and mothers-in-law.
• Happy 20th Anniversary, Midwifery Today 
• Media Reviews
• News
• Classified Advertising
• Calendar
• Photo Album

Features

• Mothers: Birth Helpers, Bosses or Intruders?—Michele Klein 
  Another article on the positives and negatives that mothers and mother-in-law can bring to the birth experiences of their children, and how midwives might respond.
• Vaginal Births After C-section Are Not Necessarily Riskier in a Birth Center than in the Hospital—Judy Slome Cohain
  While recent research concluded that VBACs are riskier in birth centers than the hospitals, the author points out some of the other problems that the authors of the study failed to note, such as the fact that being in a hospital increases the risk of a cesarean and on future pregnancies.
• Prenatal Diagnosis—Technological Triumph or Pandora’s Box?—Sarah J. Buckley 
  This article was adapted from a chapter in Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, by Sarah Buckley, MD. It tells the whole story of prenatal testing and questions its routine use.
• A Road Home—Rebecca Holdsworth 
  Feeling a failure at not birthing normally in the past, Rebecca Holdsworth shares an inspiring story of her final birth. Also included is a cartoon that says it all about managed care, ACOG and hospital birth.
• Sexual Abuse and Pregnancy—A Homeopath’s Perspective—Piper Martin 
  Frequent Midwifery Today contributor, Piper Martin, discusses the effect of sexual abuse on pregnancy and birth and suggests some homeopathic treatments.
• Sage-femme—Kara Maria Ananda 
  A look back at a traditional midwife in Québec in the early 1900’s.
• Leaving a Legacy: Tom Brewer, Joan Donley and Jeannine Parvati Baker 
  Midwifery lost three shining stars at the end of 2005. This tribute discusses their contributions.
• The Anatomy of a Miracle—Sara Schley 
  Sara Schley shares the remarkable birth of her premature but healthy twins. After nearly giving up, she avoided the knife and was able to deliver them naturally.
• Elizabeth Davis – An Interview with Heather Long—Heather Long
  Learn about and be inspired by Elizabeth Davis, author of Heart and Hands, expert on women’s issues and midwifery teacher, in this compelling interview with graphic designer Heather Long.
• At Home in Birth—Jana Voelke Studelska 
  An essay by a homebirth doula and apprentice in Duluth, Minnesota, where the tradition runs deep.
• HIV and Breastfeeding: What We Do and Do Not Know in 2005—Nancy Miller 
  The final article in the five-part series on HIV and Pregnancy by Nancy Miller. This is essential information for anyone who is working with HIV-infected mothers.
• The Business of Midwifery: Documentation for Success III—Homebirth—Linda Lieberman
  In another installation in running a successful midwifery business, the author shares her method to success in documentation of homebirths.
• Miracle Birth—Marlene Waechter 
  This short story of a breech birth will have you on the edge of your seat.
• Happy 20th Anniversary, Midwifery Today: Fat, Friendly Midwifery Today!—Sara Wickham 
• Happy 20th Anniversary, Midwifery Today: A Safe Haven for Midwives—Risa Lynn Klein 
• Laughing Matters—Kiki Metzler 

International Midwife

• Cards & Letters
• A Mexican Adventure—Judi Plummer 
  The author takes a trip to Mexico to experience midwife-assisted birth in another culture.
• Red Internacional de Parteras Independientes (RIPI)—Cristina Alonso
  Cristina Alonso writes about a new organization formed to strengthen authentic non-medicalized midwifery.
• Guatemala: Has the Time Come for a National Midwifery Certification Program?—Kristen Marsh and Jennifer Houston 
  Midwives for Midwives trains community midwives in Guatemala, filling a need that was created when professional midwifery schools were eliminated there in the 1970’s. The authors share facets of the program, wondering whether it will succeed in the current political climate.
• Anciona Juarez Arrosco—Sarah Proechel
  This article, in English and Spanish, is reprinted from Voices of Maya Midwives. It is about a traditional Mexican midwife and how she continues the ages-old traditions of care for women and babies around birth.
• I Was Blessed: A Lay Midwife’s Story—Vanessa Brooks 
  Vanessa Brooks tells of what led her to start her birth center Da-a-Luz and shares the evolving realization of her dream for pregnant women in Spain.

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