News and Articles
Yale Researchers Pinpoint Reasons for Dramatic Rise in C-Sections - June 21, 2011
"We found that more objective reasons, such as the baby being in a breech position and placenta previa, remained stable over time, while less objective reasons, such as slow progress in labor and concerns about fetal heart tracings contributed large proportions (>50%) to the increasing primary cesarean delivery rate," said Dr. Jessica Illuzzi.
In addition, suspected large infants, twin pregnancies, and preeclampsia contributed to the increase despite relatively stable rates of these conditions in the population during the seven-year study. "This suggests that the use of cesarean for these indications is increasing," said Illuzzi.
In addition, suspected large infants, twin pregnancies, and preeclampsia contributed to the increase despite relatively stable rates of these conditions in the population during the seven-year study. "This suggests that the use of cesarean for these indications is increasing," said Illuzzi.
Perinatal Pitocin as an Early ADHD Biomarker: Neurodevelopmental Risk? - April 28, 2011
Study findings showed that children whose mothers were exposed to pitocin during labor had nearly double the risk of ADHD as compared to the children with no exposure to pitocin, a whopping 67.1% versus 35.6%, respectively. Researchers Lisa Kurth and Robert Haussmann suggest that their findings "warrant further investigation into the potential link between perinatal pitocin exposure and subsequent ADHD diagnosis."
More Interventions at Delivery Not Linked to Healthier Newborns - April 13, 2011
In low-risk pregnant women, high induction and first-cesarean delivery rates do not lead to improved outcomes for newborns, according to new research published in the April issue of The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine.
The finding that rates of intervention at delivery – whether high, low, or in the middle – had no bearing on the health of new babies brings into question the skyrocketing number of both inductions and cesarean deliveries in the United States.
The finding that rates of intervention at delivery – whether high, low, or in the middle – had no bearing on the health of new babies brings into question the skyrocketing number of both inductions and cesarean deliveries in the United States.
Delivery Even a Bit Early May Mean Developmental Delays - February 17, 2011
A new study indicates that "late preterm" infants face more developmental delays than their full-term peers and those delays may affect their school performance. "Previously, these infants were just considered small full-term infants rather than preterm infants," said study author Dr. Melissa A. Woythaler, a neonatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. "There's been a shift in how they're viewed."
5 percent to 40 percent of U.S. births are now early elective deliveries, meaning that births are induced preterm without a valid medical reason, according to a recent hospital-by-hospital report from the Leapfrog Group. "There's a reason why normal gestation is 40 weeks," said Dr. Marty Ellington Jr., chairman of the department of pediatrics at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "If a child needs to be delivered for a maternal or infant medical condition, care has advanced where those children can do quite well. But we should never discount the importance of those two to four weeks. If we have a choice, we would want the child to go to term."
5 percent to 40 percent of U.S. births are now early elective deliveries, meaning that births are induced preterm without a valid medical reason, according to a recent hospital-by-hospital report from the Leapfrog Group. "There's a reason why normal gestation is 40 weeks," said Dr. Marty Ellington Jr., chairman of the department of pediatrics at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "If a child needs to be delivered for a maternal or infant medical condition, care has advanced where those children can do quite well. But we should never discount the importance of those two to four weeks. If we have a choice, we would want the child to go to term."
Continuous Support for Women in Childbirth - February 16, 2011
An updated systematic review of the effects of continuous labor support was published in The Cochrane Library
in 2011, Issue 2.
This review summarizes results of 21 randomized controlled trials that involved 15,061 women.
Overall, women who received continuous support were less likely than women who did not to:
Women receiving continuous support were more likely than those who did not to:
The reviewers drew the following conclusions about implications for practice:
Continuous support during labour should be the norm, rather than the exception. Policy makers should consider making continuous labor support a covered service, and hospitals should implement programs to offer continuous labor support.
This review summarizes results of 21 randomized controlled trials that involved 15,061 women.
Overall, women who received continuous support were less likely than women who did not to:
- have regional analgesia
- have any analgesia/anesthesia
- give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
- give birth by cesarean
- have a baby with a low 5-minute Apgar score
- report dissatisfaction or a negative rating of their experience.
Women receiving continuous support were more likely than those who did not to:
- give birth spontaneously (that is, with neither cesarean nor vacuum extraction nor forceps)
- have a shorter labor.
The reviewers drew the following conclusions about implications for practice:
Continuous support during labour should be the norm, rather than the exception. Policy makers should consider making continuous labor support a covered service, and hospitals should implement programs to offer continuous labor support.
CDC Data Shows National Cesarean Rate at Record High - December 21, 2010
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released the report Births: Preliminary Data for 2009 this morning, which shows that the U.S. cesarean delivery rate rose to a record high of 32.9 percent in 2009. The national cesarean rate, which is up from 32.3% in 2008, has risen for 13 consecutive years, beginning in 1996 when the rate was 20.7%."
Laboring Under an Illusion - October 12, 2010
The Professional Doulas of Charleston sponsored a showing of the film "Laboring Under an Illusion: Mass Media Childbirth vs. The Real Thing" by Vicki Elson. We hope that you will join us next time!
Forty Days - August 1, 2010
"In many cultures, birth is still an animal act and the postpartum period an exalted affair. The new mother is revered as the most important being in existence, and the community makes sure she knows it. Her strength is commended, her tenderness protected; her worries and wounds are soothed. She is massaged with sacred oils. She is fed special soups, lovingly prepared by those who have walked the path before her. It does not matter if it is her first baby or her fifth. After each birth, she is pampered and worshipped, an adored queen.
"While true parenthood begins in an instant, with new life’s first breath, the full transition from pregnancy to motherhood takes a little while. Around the world, 40 days seems to be the magic number. That’s 40 days of the mother lying in with the new baby, 40 days of bonding, breastfeeding, and embracing her heightened sense of being. The Latin cultures call it la cuarentena, but it is not an actual quarantine. It is a period of respect for the woman’s metamorphosis."
"While true parenthood begins in an instant, with new life’s first breath, the full transition from pregnancy to motherhood takes a little while. Around the world, 40 days seems to be the magic number. That’s 40 days of the mother lying in with the new baby, 40 days of bonding, breastfeeding, and embracing her heightened sense of being. The Latin cultures call it la cuarentena, but it is not an actual quarantine. It is a period of respect for the woman’s metamorphosis."
Labor Induction and the Risk of a Cesarean Delivery - July 2010
"Labor induction is significantly associated with a cesarean delivery among nulliparous women (women who have not given birth previously) at term for those with and without medical or obstetric complications. Reducing the use of elective labor induction may lead to decreased rates of cesarean delivery for a population."
World Breastfeeding Week to Highlight Benefits, Rights - July 30, 2010
"Breast-feeding is in a revival. For years, advocates have worked behind the scenes to bring mothers and babies back to a basic starting point.
"'People are really getting it -- that this is really what makes sense,' said Lin Cook, an advocate on breast-feeding issues and certified lactation consultant. 'Once a woman sits down and breast-feeds her child, then she knows this is the right thing. It's a bonding experience. You can't buy it.'"
"'People are really getting it -- that this is really what makes sense,' said Lin Cook, an advocate on breast-feeding issues and certified lactation consultant. 'Once a woman sits down and breast-feeds her child, then she knows this is the right thing. It's a bonding experience. You can't buy it.'"
OB-GYNs Issue Less Restrictive VBAC Guidelines - July 21, 2010
"Attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and appropriate choice for most women who have had a prior cesarean delivery, including for some women who have had two previous cesareans, according to guidelines released today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
"The cesarean delivery rate in the US increased dramatically over the past four decades, from 5% in 1970 to over 31% in 2007. Before 1970, the standard practice was to perform a repeat cesarean after a prior cesarean birth. During the 1970s, as women achieved successful VBACs, it became viewed as a reasonable option for some women. Over time, the VBAC rate increased from just over 5% in 1985 to 28% by 1996, but then began a steady decline. By 2006, the VBAC rate fell to 8.5%..."
"The cesarean delivery rate in the US increased dramatically over the past four decades, from 5% in 1970 to over 31% in 2007. Before 1970, the standard practice was to perform a repeat cesarean after a prior cesarean birth. During the 1970s, as women achieved successful VBACs, it became viewed as a reasonable option for some women. Over time, the VBAC rate increased from just over 5% in 1985 to 28% by 1996, but then began a steady decline. By 2006, the VBAC rate fell to 8.5%..."
Lexington Medical Center's Doula Program Helps New Moms - May 24, 2010
"Lexington Medical Center was the first in the Southeast to start a doula program. As a doula, Helen has been present at births for 15 years. Remembering her own labor helps her do her job.
"'All these things that I do with them that I wished I had someone to just guide me, show me, this is what's going on with your body. Don't run from it; it's okay,' Helen said. She moves, often without being asked, massaging mom's painful back, moving her into different positions. The movements help get the baby positioned properly..."
"'All these things that I do with them that I wished I had someone to just guide me, show me, this is what's going on with your body. Don't run from it; it's okay,' Helen said. She moves, often without being asked, massaging mom's painful back, moving her into different positions. The movements help get the baby positioned properly..."
NCHS Releases Report on Recent U.S. Cesarean Birth Rates - March 23, 2010
"A new report released today by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) revealed that from 1996 to 2007, cesarean rates increased for all women regardless of age, race, Hispanic origin, state of residence or gestational age of their infant(s) at birth.
In 2007, 32% of the approximately 1.4 million births in the United States were by cesarean section, the highest rate ever recorded in the United States and higher than the rates in most industrialized countries. The cesarean rate increased most rapidly between 2000 and 2007."
In 2007, 32% of the approximately 1.4 million births in the United States were by cesarean section, the highest rate ever recorded in the United States and higher than the rates in most industrialized countries. The cesarean rate increased most rapidly between 2000 and 2007."
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: New Insights - March 10, 2010
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) now recommends that women who become pregnant after a previous cesarean birth be given clear, medically accurate information from their physician when making a decision regarding how she chooses to give birth. NIH also recommended that ACOG regulations that have been restricting the availability of VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) be re-evaluated in hopes of decreasing routine repeat cesarean rates.
International Babywearing Week - Sept 21 to 29, 2009
International Babywearing Week is an opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of babywearing, including happier babies who cry less often, recover from premature birth more quickly and bond more positively and deeply to their parents or caregivers.
Continuous fetal monitoring does not improve outcomes, raises intervention rate - 2008
A study of laboring women showed that continuous external fetal monitoring (EFM) done by machine does not improve neonatal outcomes for the average mother. In fact, the restriction of movement and loss of certain coping methods (such as hydrotherapy) associated with EFM was found to have negatively affected women and made the machinery the main focus of birth.
Women Mourn Death of Natural Childbirth - July 28, 2008
A growing number of women want childbirth to be a natural process, not a medical one.
New Strategy for Labor Inductions - June 6, 2008
A recent article about inducing labor between 37-41 weeks as a method to "prevent c-sections and improve outcomes".
Medline Abstract: A randomized controlled trial of continuous labor support for middle class couples: effect on cesarean delivery rates - June 1, 2008
Previous randomized controlled studies in several different settings demonstrated the positive effects of continuous labor support by an experienced woman (doula) for low-income women laboring without the support of family members.
Inducing labor for convenience gets a second look - August 13, 2007
New studies show the practice has a role in rising costs and complications during labor.
Outcomes of Planned Homebirths with Certified Professional Midwives: Large Prospective Study in North America - June 18, 2007
Despite a wealth of evidence supporting planned homebirth as a safe option for women with low-risk pregnancies, the setting remains controversial in most high-resource countries. Views are particularly polarized in the United States, with interventions and costs of hospital births escalating and midwives involved with homebirths being denied the ability to be lead professionals in hospitals, with admitting and discharge privileges.
Listening to Mothers Survey II - 2006
A national survey of more than 1500 new mothers that asked participants about their prenatal care, birth experience and postpartum period. Survey highlights the high occurance of medical interventions, stating that "despite the primarily healthy population and the fact that birth is not intrinsically pathological, technology-intensive childbirth care was the norm".
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Standards of Practice | Membership Policy | FAQs | Testimonials | Birth Locations | Resources
© 2005-10 Professional Doulas of Charleston. Email Us. Site design by Adrienne Leeds & Breezy Peterson.
