International Edition December 2008 Stay informed! - DONA ...

needs you!Board and committeepositionsDid you know that, otherthan a small Home Officestaff, DONA Internationalis run solely on volunteerpower? Be a part of it all -volunteer today! The GetInvolved page on the website has a list of variousopenings with differentobligations, as well asinformation on theapplication procedures.Editing positionsIf you enjoy reading thiseDoula, you might wantto consider editing it! Forinformation about theeDoula Newsletter Editorposition and also theInternational DoulaManaging Editor andAssociate Editorpositions, contact theDirector of Publications.Make your new year'sresolutions early! Devotesome time and energy tothe organization youlove!Please visit the GetInvolved page on the website to learn more aboutavailable volunteerpositions.Quick TipBy Julia MacNeil,CD(DONA)Mississauga, ONCarrying a container ofcorn starch is especiallyhandy for those who havesensitive skin. It allowsyou to massage withoutthe friction of skin-on-skinand without the risk ofallergies or sensitivitiescommon to someproducts. It is also lesslikely to cause respiratoryproblems than babylast 20 years. More families relocate due to their jobs and moregrandparents continue to be involved in their own careers andinterests. This leaves new parents without the necessary support thatthey need to get off to a good start and build a stable foundation for theirfamilies.So, here I am wondering if I shouldn't offer full circle services--fromchildbirth education through postpartum doula support. Perhaps theunique vantage point I develop when helping new parents discover theirphilosophies and goals during childbirth classes can guide me to providenot only the most effective birth support, but the best possible postpartumsupport, as well.Have you thought about expanding your range of services and offeringboth birth and postpartum doula care to your clients? Maybe you too willtake the opportunity to consider the advantages to yourself and yourclients and will choose to add to your credentials in the coming year!Breastfeeding resource for mothers with limited literacyThe Fund for the City of New York, in partnership with the MorrisaniaNeighborhood Family Health Center-WIC program in the Bronx, NY,recently launched two public web sites designed to achieve betteroutcomes for mothers with limited literacy and/or resources.Breastfeeding: A Gift for Your Baby and Healthy Eating: A Gift for YourFamily provides mothers with limited literacy and resources access to theessentials of breastfeeding and nutrition. These multi-media, bi-lingualsites communicate through culturally-sensitive videos, animation,photographs, diagrams and audio.Risk indicators for labor dystociaA prospective study of nearly 3,000 women having their first babiesshowed a strong association between certain characteristics presentupon admission and the diagnosis of dystocia (or failure to progress) inlabor, with resultant cesareans. These characteristics are: a tense cervixthat is dilated less than 4 cm with a thick lower segment and a fetal headthat is high with poor head-to-cervix contact. Epidural analgesia also hadthe strongest association with dystocia among the risk indicatorsassessed. Read it here.Educational OpportunitiesWorkshop listingsDONA approved birth and postpartum doula workshops are listed on theweb site under the Find a Doula Workshop link by location. Find a