Birth Day - International Childbirth Education Association

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The Editor’s Perspective A New Year, A New Decade edi·tor (ed'it∂r) noun — (1) a person who edits; often, specifically one whose work is procuring and editing manuscripts (2) the head of a department of a newspaper, magazine, etc. As the year 2009 comes to a close, so does my year as editor of the International Journal of Childbirth Education. This has been a wonderful revisit to a position I held in the early 1990s. I am deeply appreciative to the ICEA Board for this opportunity to serve. I will, however, remain active in ICEA as an ICEA Approved Trainer. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my Review Staff: Erica Konya, Erin Ross, Susan Bash and Brief Writer’s Guides for the ICEA Journal Submitted (electronic is preferred) articles (minimum 500 words) should express an opinion, share a teaching technique or research, or describe an experience. References are usually not required because the writing is solely from the author’s opinions or experience. Accompanying photographs of the people and activities involved will be published only with accompanying Photo Permission Form. The title page should include: • Title and author’s name • Academic and professional degrees, institutional affiliations, and status • Mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address Writers are asked to include a photograph, a two- to three-sentence biography, and a 50-100 word abstract of the article. If bibliography is attached, please use Chicago Manual of Style. Candy Mueller for their hard work and dedication to the success of the Journal during 2009. I would also like to thank all of the writers for their contributions during 2009 as well as Laura Comer at First Point Resources for her innovative design concepts that Connie Livingston have made the Journal easy to read with a contemporary spirit. This final issue for 2009 has as the theme Open Forum. With this issue is a wonderful centerfold of photographic contributions from ICEA Convention attendees. Congratulations to ICEA member Jan Mallak for submitting the winning photograph for our Cover Photo Contest! The featured educator for this issue is Chris Maricle, a veteran childbirth educator with a rich ICEA history! Another ICEA veteran, Polly Perez offers a look at Nurturing Laboring Women Through the Years. In keeping with the international aspect of our organization, Lissa Szajnbrum gives us a glimpse of Birth in Israel while ICEA Board member Connie Bach-Jeckell continues to keep us informed about the organizational outreach to Guatemala. Elizabeth Merrell Gross discusses what it is like to be a birth journalist. Last but not least, Sherokee Ilse, a featured speaker at many birth conferences, shares about loss and childbirth education. As always, it is my intention as editor to inform, inspire and engage the reader of the International Journal of Childbirth Education. Happy Holidays and New Year blessings to you and your family. – Connie Livingston 4 | International Journal of Childbirth Education | Volume 24 Number 4 December 2009
Across the President’s Desk Wisdom of the Sages By Jeanette Schwartz, ICEA President A recent birth I attended offered me an opportunity to reflect on my path in the childbirth profession. I am grateful for those who have shared their learning experiences with me as it is this “Wisdom of the Sages” I use to support women in birth. It was to be my day off. After the third phone call from the maternity care unit asking me to come in and help, I was compelled to say “yes”. As I was driving to the unit, I thought about how the energy of the universe often calls us for reasons we are unaware. I was called to be of assistance to a mother to whom I had not originally been assigned. It is ancient teachings that tell me “there is a purpose to everything we are called to do and we need to offer our services for the ‘higher good’.” I thought of Celeste Phillips, RN, PhD and her work around Family Centered Care that formed the philosophy of the unit to which I was coming to work. The unit was organized around the ICEA principles of “freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives”. This means the mother’s birth plan would be honored in an environment where the mother would be respected in her choices. I was assigned to a first time mother who had arrived at the hospital an hour earlier in active labor. She was dilated to three centimeters and was being supported by her mother and husband. It is Penny Simkin’s teachings that come to play now. Penny teaches the doula principles of continuous support, positive statements (“you can do this, you are strong, you are capable”) and the skills I would use to help support this mother’s labor. Into the tub would be the mother’s first choice for comfort measures—Barbara Harper’s, Gentle Birth Choices, taught me about the benefits of hydrotherapy and how safe it is to labor and birth in water. Forty minutes later, this laboring woman was dilated to six centimeters. She was “very loud” in her breathing…yes, screaming. Again, I was able to calm her support people as we listened to this mother’s “rhythm of screaming”. I was able to reassure them that the mother was, indeed, in complete control of her labor. It is Ida May Gaskin’s voice echoing in my head “our birthing centers need to have more noise”. Today that was going to be true. It was Marilyn Hildreth’s suggestion that I used next; “Ask the mother, ‘What are you thinking?’” to give clarity to how the mother is coping with labor. The mother’s response: “I think I am going to die.” In between contractions I am able to explain Suzanne Arm’s vision in her Jeanette Schwartz film Giving Birth- Unveiling Birth: The Wisdom, Science and Heart of how for millions of years women have been birthing and she is not alone in her thoughts. She explains to me, “I don’t think I can do this.” I stated, “This is as hard as it is going to be.” “How can that be?” she says. “I’m not even in transition.” I now need to draw on my 20+ years of experience working with laboring women. Over the years, I have observed women’s actions during active labor are about 20 minutes ahead of their cervix. For instance, in my experience, if a mother is responding to labor as if she was nine centimeters dilated, or in the transition phase of labor, a cervical check might in reality show the mother to be only six centimeters dilated. If the cervical check is delayed 20 minutes, in many instances the cervix would then be nine centimeters dilated. The way this mother was responding to her labor would have led me to believe she was nine centimeters dilated even though I knew her cervical check ten minutes ago revealed her to be six centimeters dilated. “You are in transition.” I stated. Again I ask, “Tell me about your loud voice.” “It makes me feel good.” Enough said. It was truly inspiring to watch this mother use all the wisdom of the ages to birth her baby. Dr. Sarah continued on page 10 Volume 24 Number 4 December 2009 | International Journal of Childbirth Education | 5
Page 1 and 2: International Journal of Childbirth
Page 3: International Journal of Childbirth
Page 7 and 8: Featured Educator Chris Maricle Wha
Page 9 and 10: Featured Educator: Chris Maricle co
Page 11 and 12: By Connie Bach-Jeckell Where Do We
Page 13 and 14: Birth in Israel By Lissa Szajnbrum
Page 15 and 16: Is Dad Getting What He Needs to Sup
Page 17 and 18: Are unexpected outcomes in childbir
Page 19 and 20: Nurturing Laboring Women Through th
Page 21 and 22: Nurturing Laboring Women Through th
Page 23 and 24: Volume 24 Number 4 December 2009 |
Page 25 and 26: Becoming a Birth Writer By Elizabet
Page 27 and 28: Poor Knowledge of Causes and Preven
Page 29 and 30: Poor Knowledge of Causes and Preven
Page 31 and 32: Calendar of Events continued from p
Page 33 and 34: Becoming a Birth Writer continued f
Page 35 and 36: Moms are looking for answers . . .

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