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Guided Imagery: A Best Practice for Pregnancy and Childbirth
by Belleruth Naparstek
Guided Imagery is an excellent intervention for the unique demands of pregnancy and childbirth, delivering a ready-made, complementary therapy for childbirth professionals to include in their tool kit. This article explores the ways that imagery takes the listener beyond simple relaxation to set the stage for productive, confident labor; enhance appreciation for the miracle of the body; focus breathing; and, reduce pain and promote a greater sense of connectedness with the baby. It describes recent research showing efficacy, offers samples of its evocative language, and provides practitioner tips for optimal use.
Patient-Centered Imagery in Obstetrics
by Harise Stein
Patient-centered imagery, often termed interactive or integrative imagery, focuses on helping the patient envision her own images for health and well-being. Because these images come directly from the patient, they can be more meaningful and powerful, and provide valuable insight into unspoken fears as well as intuition about what is needed.
A Few Tips for Facilitating Relaxation in Your Childbirth Classes
Excerpted from the book, Teaching Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting: A Childbirth Educator's Perspective, written by Marcy White (available for purchase from the ICEA Bookcenter.
The Impact of High-Risk Pregnancy on the Transition to Parenthood
by Kristin Lutz and Katharyn A. May
The transition to parenthood is one of the most extensively studied events in human experience, yet only relatively recently have the effects of high-risk childbearing on individuals and families been examined. High-risk childbearing is a situational stressor superimposed on the underlying developmental process of adaptation to parenthood. As such, its effects may be seen in increased stress on individuals and families as well as increased strains on family functioning. As is true in uncomplicated pregnancy and birth, the ability of families to adapt to the challenges and consequences of high-risk childbearing is dependent on the internal and external resources available to them. Childbirth educators may be an important source of support through this process.
Two Generations Learning Together: Facilitating Grandmothers' Support of Breastfeeding
by Jane S. Grassley and Valerie S. Eschiti
Grandmothers are important to successful breastfeeding because their knowledge, attitudes, and experiences influence their daughters' decisions to initiate and continue breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to use a focus group methodology to design an intervention that facilitates the development of grandmothers' knowledge and support of breastfeeding. The researchers identified three main themes that may lead to a greater understanding of the content areas of interventions that more effectively prepare grandmothers to support breastfeeding. These are: "being helpful," "updating my knowledge," and "learning together."
Yikes! I'm Pregnant?
by Janet Starr and Heather Akiyama
When a woman finds herself in an unintended pregnancy, her life situations can create challenges and barriers to effective prenatal education. This article will explore how two educators have helped moms meet these challenges and lower barriers, opening up opportunities for effective preparation for birth and parenting.
A Year to Remember
by Jan S. Mallak
This article is about how doula work can be not only rewarding but challenging in many ways. It focuses on statistics (expected and unexpected) "catching up" with a large, established doula service and how they handled each circumstance. By sharing these experiences, the author hopes to stress the importance of flexibility and open-mindedness - not onlly for clients but for doulas as well. That way, doulas can continue to better meet the needs of the ever-changing families they serve.
Healthy Lifestyles
by Elizabeth Smith
Just Relax! Easier Said But Can Be Done
Birthing a Research Project: Data Collection
by Marcella Hart
Audio Visual Review
by Margery Simchak
Complete Childbirth Class PowerPoint Presentation
Teacher Upgrade
by Donyale Abe
Podcast: Uploading Your Childbirth Class
Certification Update
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