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Here you will find the latest information on birth and other relevant topics in the news.

21st Century Maternity Care ~ Meeting the needs of our childbearing population while remaining competitive in a global economy
2004 White Paper, published by CEO

Preserving the health of already healthy mothers and babies is the primary role of maternity care.Traditionally this has been accomplished by protecting mothers and babies from the rare mistakes of Mother Nature and the frequent excesses of 20th century obstetrics.

The classic method for serving healthy childbearing women is  known as "physiological management."  Its classic principles are  “…in accord with, or characteristic of, the normal functioning of a living organism." In this science-based system, physicians and midwives all over the world are taught to utilize physiological management for normal pregnancy, labor and birth. These protective methods include a commitment not to disturb the natural process.  A non-interventive approach includes continuity of care, patience with nature, one-on-one social and emotional support, non-drug methods of pain relief and the right use of gravity. Obstetrical intervention is reserved for complications or if the mother requests medical assistance...READ MORE

Children Need Touching and Attention, Harvard Researchers Say
By Alvin Powell

America's "let them cry" attitude toward children may lead to more fears and tears among adults, according to two Harvard Medical School researchers.

Instead of letting infants cry, American parents should keep their
babies close, console them when they cry, and bring them to bed with
them, where they'll feel safe...READ MORE

Court Cases Revive Childbirth Rights Debate
CNN.com Saturday, May 29, 2004

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Amber Marlowe was a seasoned pro at delivering big babies -- her first six each weighed close to 12 pounds. So when she went into labor with her seventh last winter, she brushed off doctors who told her the 11-pound, 9-ounce girl could be delivered only by Caesarean section...READ MORE

Just How Safe is "Safe"? How the F.D.A. Determines The "Safety" of Drugs
By Doris Haire, AIMS

Few Americans realize that: The approval of a drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not mean that the FDA has approved the drug for general use...READ MORE

FDA Approved Obstetrics Drugs: Their Effects on Mother and Baby
By Doris Haire, AIMS

Most Americans, including many health care providers, assume that if the FDA approves a drug for marketing then the FDA has determined that drug is free from harm or injury to the person receiving the drug. They do not know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bases its approval of a drug on whether, in the Agency's opinion, the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks. Unfortunately the FDA has no way of knowing the true incidence of risk to the patient because there is no law or regulation that requires a doctor or other health care provider to report an adverse drug reaction to the FDA, even if the patient dies...READ MORE

Treating Group B Strep: Are Antibiotics Necessary?
By Christa Novelli
Mothering Magazine Issue 121, Nov/Dec 2003

Most women who have been pregnant in the last few years are familiar with the terms Group B Strep...READ MORE

Labor Union: The Story of a Bradley Dad
By Dimitri Kaasan
Mothering Magazine Issue 119 - July/August 2003

We shuffled into the back room, leaving our pregnant partners to talk among themselves. Hunching around the table, we grinned at each other...READ MORE

Revealing the Real Risks: Obstetrical Interventions and Maternal Mortality
By Marsden Wagner
Mothering Magazine Issue 118, May/June 2003

Recently, a woman in Iowa was referred to a university hospital during childbirth because of possible complications. At the university hospital it was decided that a cesarean section should be done. After the cesarean section was completed and the woman was resting in her hospital room, she went into shock and died...READ MORE