Issue 97

Midwifery Today Issue 97Theme: Cultural Aspects of Birth

There is no escaping it: Culture plays an important role in shaping birth practices and influences—sometimes dictates—the choices available to birthing women. From the pressures of time in modern Western societies, to the application of cord-burning techniques in developing nations, to the diverse frameworks for understanding postnatal blood, this issue considers various cultural aspects of birth and birth practices worldwide.

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Release, Rejuvenation and Rejoicing: The Blossoming of a Woman

After eating disorders and depression left her for dead, Elise Brion embarked on a transformative healing journey that lead to her to parenthood, a community of inspiring women and work as a doula.

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 Read more…. Release, Rejuvenation and Rejoicing: The Blossoming of a Woman

Time in a Bottle

Considering the fast-paced nature of modern American culture, perhaps it’s not unexpected that the issue of time is having a never-before-seen and increasingly disastrous effect on pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery Read more…. Time in a Bottle

Lavender and Letting Go: A Miscarriage Birth Story

A midwife and mother channels courage and strength to “let go” of the son she miscarries at home.

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Ethics and Lessons Learned in Transport

“There is more to the transport of a woman with her heart set on a natural out-of-hospital birth experience than communicating facts.” What is the midwife’s role in transport? How can she best support her client and help to facilitate communication with a hospital culture that is not always receptive to her efforts? Find out in this illuminating article from a CNM who has walked both sides.

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Opening the Pelvic Brim with Walcher’s Position

This past year, two labors I attended benefited (meaning we avoided a cesarean each time) from a technique shared over a hundred years ago by Dr. Walcher. The first of these mothers labored for her third homebirth after four previous cesareans. She’d had a hard time getting her first baby into her pelvis (lying in bed) and was given a c-section at 3 cm and then she had three more cesareans in following years. Umm hmm. So, I was honored to help at her first homebirth, her fifth child. He also took a long time to engage. Beginning posterior, a variety of positions eventually got him through. Her second homebirth occurred after a long latent phase but before her midwife arrived.

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Hey, Miz Pinkie

The author sits down at a diner in Cairo, Georgia with local legend and beloved midwife Pinkie Norwood, who delivered 600 babies over the course of 30 years.

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The Cultural Aspect of Birth: My Midwest Experience

The author, a former president of MANA and the first legal nurse-midwife in the state of Missouri, reflects on changes in a practice that spanned 30 years. What began with homebirths to independent-minded women in the 1970s evolved into something very different.

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Cord Burning

The many benefits of this simple, inexpensive procedure are explored. Find out why cord burning is making a comeback!

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Marion’s message: Placenta Accreta

Contributor Marion Toepke McLean offers a thoughtful overview of recent studies on the treatment of Placenta Accreta.

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 Read more…. Marion’s message: Placenta Accreta

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