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Focus on Breastfeeding: Can't Just Sit Still and Nurse? Grassroots Activism in the Promotion of Breastfeeding
by Jennifer Altenbach and Lisa Breschi Almond
How can ordinary mothers make a difference in their communities? This article describes the activities of a group of new mothers who became inspired to reach out to others in their community through breastfeeding promotion. With help from local nonprofit and government sources, they created a calendar that features positive images of breastfeeding, breastfeeding facts, and breastfeeding resources for mothers and health practitioners in the state of New Mexico. Over 7000 copies of the calendar were printed. The authors hope to inspire other groups to become active in their own communities.
Postpartum Doulas: Vital Members of the Maternity Care Team
by Wendy Middleton
Postpartum doulas have emerged as a new member of the childbearing family's "support team." These trained childbirth professionals provide physical, emotional, informational and practical support during a critical transitional period for the family. Numerous benefits have been linked to postpartum care, including increased breastfeeding initiation and duration, enhanced bonding, and decreased incidence of postpartum depression. Postpartum doulas assist parents as they master the developmental tasks of postpartum and help them to get off to an optimal start with their new baby.
Physical and Emotional Effects of Postpartum Hormone Levels
by Ann Behnke
There are four major hormones which drive pregnancy and postpartum. Understanding the physical and psychological effects of these hormones during pregnancy helps to clarify their effects in the postpartum period.
Postpartum Home Visits: Making the Transition Easier and Safer
by Connie Kishbaugh
Early postpartum discharge has become the norm in hospitals throughout the United States. Mothers and their infants are discharged within forty-eight hours after a cesarean birth. However, there are still crucial needs of the mother, the newborn and the family that must be addressed during this transitional time. Postpartum home visits are an ideal means for making the transition easier and safer.
2000 ICEA Virginia Larsen Research Grant Winner: Birth Plan Decision-Making: Patterns of Interaction
by Mary Ellen Doherty
A birth plan is a vehicle of communication for all involved in the childbearing season. It is a tapestry of women's voices as they plan for the miracle of birth and plays a significant role on the path to a positive birth experience. This study describes interaction patterns between prenatal clients and nurse-midwives with regard to decision-making in developing a birth plan. Three distinct patterns of interaction emerged from the data. Findings suggest that the manner in which nurse-midwives and other healthcare providers approach a birth plan with clients has important implications for clinical practice. This can be extended to include childbirth educators as well.
Do As We Say... And As We Do!
by Linda Todd
Statistics
by Dale E. King
Cocaine Use and Infant Development
Nutrition News
by Dvorka Monti
Nutritional Needs of the Postpartum Family
Political Issues
by Naomi Bromberg Bar-Yam
An Introduction to Human Milk Banking
Resources
by Linda Worzer
Information Update
by Judy O'Connor
Certification Update
ICEA Postnatal Educator Certification |
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