Thanks to everyone who attend the planning meeting on May 29. We had a lot of fun. The committees were particularly useful. We'll spend more time like that next time. The next meeting is set for the 4th Thursday in June, June 26. We'll keep the same time and place -- 6:30 to 8:30pm at Broadmoor United Methodist Church on Youree Drive. (Note: the powerpoint posted below showed up in the opposite order than I intended. Please view it from last to first! Thanks.)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Summer Bradley Classes
Who can you help have a better birth? Chances are, if you're reading this, you know several women who are expecting. Please let them know about this opportunity to learn to give birth.
Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth Classes
Mondays, June 9 through August 4, 2008
6:30 to 9:00pm
Highland Hospital
*payment may be mailed or paid via PayPal at the bottom of this page*
Please contact Tracey for more information: carrinbabies@gmail.com.
Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth Classes
Mondays, June 9 through August 4, 2008
6:30 to 9:00pm
Highland Hospital
*payment may be mailed or paid via PayPal at the bottom of this page*
Please contact Tracey for more information: carrinbabies@gmail.com.
Monday, May 26, 2008
BirthNetwork Meeting Thursday, May 29, 2008
Planning Meeting for the Shreveport-Bossier BirthNetwork
DATE: Thursday, May 29, 2008
TIME: 6:30 to 8:30p.m.
LOCATION: Broadmoor United Methodist Church
3715 Youree Drive (Youree and Anniston)
Pierce Hall
RSVP appreciated
carrinbabies@gmail.com
Lap/nursing babies are welcome
DATE: Thursday, May 29, 2008
TIME: 6:30 to 8:30p.m.
LOCATION: Broadmoor United Methodist Church
3715 Youree Drive (Youree and Anniston)
Pierce Hall
RSVP appreciated
carrinbabies@gmail.com
Lap/nursing babies are welcome
Friday, May 16, 2008
SBBN Organizational Meeting PowerPoint May 8, 2008
This is the PowerPoint from the first meeting of the Shreveport-Bossier BirthNetwork Meeting that was held May 8.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Preserving Normal Birth
I attended the Preserving Normal Birth Conference in Lafayette a few weeks ago. I've intended to blog, or send a newsletter about it because it was so wonderful. I want to share what I learned. However, there was so much, I don't know quite where to start and how long it might take me to finish! So, I guess I'll just start and see what happens.
Celeste Phillips was the main speaker. She is amazing. For 25 years she has been a consultant to hospitals, helping them to transform their L & D wards into places with family-centered maternity care (FCMC). FCMC basically is treating people with dignity. Families are respected as units, birth is not considered an illness, mother and baby are not routinely separated, and women are given choices about their birth experience. It's not a "one size fits all" type of care.
About two hours into the program, I just felt overwhelmed. You begin to feel hopeless when you see what changes need to be made and you don't even know where to start. Outrage at how women are treated can take over. As a childbirth educator, I've heard lots and lots of stories of trauma in birth.
Then, something just clicked. I don't know if it was what Celeste said, or some mental process of my own. I just thought, "Start with what you know." Do something. You can't change everything, but you can change something. Where is your passion? What are your talents? Get about using them, and quit feeling hopeless. I could take a deep breath and not feel weighed down after that.
This is where Shreveport-Bossier BirthNetwork was born. It is my mission to advocate for high-quality family-centered maternity care in this area. It is also my goal to promote CNMs in our hospitals, delivering babies. Many, many women want midwifery care, but they want it in the hospital. Economics should not govern women's choices in birth. I feel very strongly that consumers can change the birth options here, which is why I believe in the BirthNetwork.
Celeste spoke about areas that had totally turned around. Her company goes into a city and does massive marketing surveys, finding out what women in that town actually want. In one town, many of the women said that they wanted their OB to sit and talk with them before being asked to disrobe for an exam. Basic human respect. Very simple. One older doctor refused. That did not align with his plans for seeing as many patients as quickly as possible. The other OB practice in town (there were only two), followed the wisdom from the marketing survey. In a matter of a couple of years, the first doctor was out of business. Consumer power. They simply took their business elsewhere. Of course this was not the only issue addressed, but it is one example to show you how consumers really do have the ultimate power -- the power of the pocketbook.
I'm convinced that we can truly make changes to affect the health and emotional well-being of mothers, babies, and families. If you want to be a part of this exciting consumer movement, please join the BirthNetwork.
Tracey
Celeste Phillips was the main speaker. She is amazing. For 25 years she has been a consultant to hospitals, helping them to transform their L & D wards into places with family-centered maternity care (FCMC). FCMC basically is treating people with dignity. Families are respected as units, birth is not considered an illness, mother and baby are not routinely separated, and women are given choices about their birth experience. It's not a "one size fits all" type of care.
About two hours into the program, I just felt overwhelmed. You begin to feel hopeless when you see what changes need to be made and you don't even know where to start. Outrage at how women are treated can take over. As a childbirth educator, I've heard lots and lots of stories of trauma in birth.
Then, something just clicked. I don't know if it was what Celeste said, or some mental process of my own. I just thought, "Start with what you know." Do something. You can't change everything, but you can change something. Where is your passion? What are your talents? Get about using them, and quit feeling hopeless. I could take a deep breath and not feel weighed down after that.
This is where Shreveport-Bossier BirthNetwork was born. It is my mission to advocate for high-quality family-centered maternity care in this area. It is also my goal to promote CNMs in our hospitals, delivering babies. Many, many women want midwifery care, but they want it in the hospital. Economics should not govern women's choices in birth. I feel very strongly that consumers can change the birth options here, which is why I believe in the BirthNetwork.
Celeste spoke about areas that had totally turned around. Her company goes into a city and does massive marketing surveys, finding out what women in that town actually want. In one town, many of the women said that they wanted their OB to sit and talk with them before being asked to disrobe for an exam. Basic human respect. Very simple. One older doctor refused. That did not align with his plans for seeing as many patients as quickly as possible. The other OB practice in town (there were only two), followed the wisdom from the marketing survey. In a matter of a couple of years, the first doctor was out of business. Consumer power. They simply took their business elsewhere. Of course this was not the only issue addressed, but it is one example to show you how consumers really do have the ultimate power -- the power of the pocketbook.
I'm convinced that we can truly make changes to affect the health and emotional well-being of mothers, babies, and families. If you want to be a part of this exciting consumer movement, please join the BirthNetwork.
Tracey
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Shreveport-Bossier BirthNetwork
Organizational Meeting
DATE: Thursday, May 8, 2008
TIME: 6:30p.m.
LOCATION: Hamilton-South Library
DATE: Thursday, May 8, 2008
TIME: 6:30p.m.
LOCATION: Hamilton-South Library
2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop
(across from Willis-Knighton South)
RSVP appreciated
(across from Willis-Knighton South)
RSVP appreciated
MISSION
The mission of BirthNetwork National is to promote the awareness and availability of mother-friendly maternity care. BirthNetwork National is leading a grassroots movement based on the belief that birth can profoundly affect our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. BirthNetwork National advocates mother-friendly care, as defined by the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI). By making informed choices and having confidence in the process, families can experience safe and satisfying childbirth.
A New Chapter of BirthNetwork National Here in Shreveport-Bossier!
This is a very exciting time for us as we embark on this new project to bring BirthNetwork to our area. Eventually, we will hold free monthly meetings with topics such as comfort measures for labor, birth plans, and finding the right doula for you. This is going to be a wonderful way to improve maternity care in Shreveport-Bossier by promoting this concept: "It's your birth, know your options."
Volunteers Needed
Many people have expressed an interest in birth work, but do not have the time to be educators or doulas. This is a perfect way to be involved with a small time commitment. Please consider attending this meeting to decide if this organization is a good fit for your skills and interests. We need lots of help!
A New Chapter of BirthNetwork National Here in Shreveport-Bossier!
This is a very exciting time for us as we embark on this new project to bring BirthNetwork to our area. Eventually, we will hold free monthly meetings with topics such as comfort measures for labor, birth plans, and finding the right doula for you. This is going to be a wonderful way to improve maternity care in Shreveport-Bossier by promoting this concept: "It's your birth, know your options."
Volunteers Needed
Many people have expressed an interest in birth work, but do not have the time to be educators or doulas. This is a perfect way to be involved with a small time commitment. Please consider attending this meeting to decide if this organization is a good fit for your skills and interests. We need lots of help!
Birth Order Humor
A friend sent this to me today, and I just had to share it. I have three children and can attest to the veracity of several points. Enjoy.
Tracey
For those of you having your first child, this may seem a bit unreal to you. However, if you are having your second or third child, we think you'll relate very well! Here are some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first:
Your Clothes
First baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
Second baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
Third baby: Your maternity clothes are your regular clothes.
The Baby's Name
First baby: You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favorites.
Second baby: Someone has to name their kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right? It might as well be you.
Third baby: You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger falls. Bimaldo? Perfect!
The Layette
First baby: You prewash your newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
Second baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
Third baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
Worries
First baby: At the first sign of distress - a whimper, a frown - you pick up the baby.
Second baby: You pick the baby up when their wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
Third baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
Activities
First baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
Second baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
Third baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.
Going Out
First baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
Second baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
Third baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
At Home
First baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
Second baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
Third baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
Emergency
First baby: When the first child swallows a quarter, you take them to the emergency room.
Second baby: When the second child swallows a quarter, you wait for it to pass.
Third baby: When the third child swallows a quarter, you take it out of their allowance.
Tracey
For those of you having your first child, this may seem a bit unreal to you. However, if you are having your second or third child, we think you'll relate very well! Here are some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first:
Your Clothes
First baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
Second baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
Third baby: Your maternity clothes are your regular clothes.
The Baby's Name
First baby: You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favorites.
Second baby: Someone has to name their kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right? It might as well be you.
Third baby: You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger falls. Bimaldo? Perfect!
The Layette
First baby: You prewash your newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
Second baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
Third baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
Worries
First baby: At the first sign of distress - a whimper, a frown - you pick up the baby.
Second baby: You pick the baby up when their wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
Third baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
Activities
First baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
Second baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
Third baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.
Going Out
First baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
Second baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
Third baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
At Home
First baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
Second baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
Third baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
Emergency
First baby: When the first child swallows a quarter, you take them to the emergency room.
Second baby: When the second child swallows a quarter, you wait for it to pass.
Third baby: When the third child swallows a quarter, you take it out of their allowance.
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