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The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative
The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) is a coalition of individuals and national organizations with concern for the care and wellbeing of mothers, babies, and families Our mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce cost. The evidence- based mother/baby/and family friendly model focuses on prevention and wellness as the alternative to high cost screening, diagnosis, and treatment programs. In spite of spending far more money per capita on maternity and newborn care than any other country, the United States falls behind most industrialized countries in perinatal morbidity and mortality, and maternity mortality is four times greater for African-American…
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To Hat or Not to Hat
If you have ever worked with newborn infants, they ALWAYS have those little blue and pink stocking caps. When you see newborn infants on TV or in magazines they always have those stocking caps on. All of use assumed that keeps the baby warm because heat is lost through the head. We never questioned this practice and “God forbid”, if you don’t have a stocking cap on your newborn in the hospital setting, you were counseled. You would be a wealthy person if you were the manufacture of those “little blue and pink stocking caps.” Imagine how many of those caps are sold to the hospital’s maternal-child care departments. Newborns…
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Hands-Only CPR Video
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WOW – No Pressure Mom!
Abusive behavior is escalating in our “humane (?)” society. Why is it that a person has such controlling and abusive behaviors? Why is it that hurting someone violently occurs over and over? Why is it that an abuser has no regard for the pain and suffering inflicted on another human being? All of these occurrences can be often rooted in infancy with the lack of bonding, touching and attachment. When the infant is provided with skin-to-skin contact with mother he or she gets his or her needs met. That of comfort. “Someone is there to meet my needs.” When an infant becomes hungry and mother puts the infant to her…
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Birthing – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Back in the 1940’s having a baby was a scary event for mothers. Mother’s called their doctors when they thought they were in labor. The doctor determined if Mother should come to the hospital. When mothers arrived at the hospital the nurse prepared her for Labor and Delivery. The nurse gave the mother an enema. This was done to keep fecal material from contaminating the vaginal area. The nurse then shaved the perineal area of pubic hair. Pubic hair was believed to be a source of bacteria. Fathers were allowed to be with the mother but had no idea what to do or how to support the mother during the…
