by Debby | Jan 22, 2019 | General
In a study recently published by JAMA Network Open, researchers used U.S. birth certificate data for over 2 1/2 million women who labored in 2015 to analyze the use of neuraxial analgesia during labor in 49 states plus the District of Columbia. (The study authors did... 
by Debby | Aug 13, 2018 | General
The long-awaited ARRIVE Trial was published in the August 9, 2018 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a joint press release with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) on August... 
by Debby | Jul 26, 2017 | General
It has been about a year since a study out of Australia about childbirth education generated news reports around the world. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), researchers at Western Sydney University compared outcomes of women who attended usual hospital... 
by Debby | Jun 21, 2015 | Book Review
What an incredible treat to read A Passion for Birth, Sheila Kitzinger’s autobiography. It brought back so many memories of reading and devouring her books and of hearing her speak as a young childbirth educator in the 80s. Although she didn’t like being called a... by Debby | Sep 18, 2014 | General
For sure, the highlight for me was getting to meet (Dr.) Sarah Buckley. She presented three general sessions on her game-changing new report, Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing: Evidence and Implications for Women, Babies and Maternity Care to be published next month... 
by Debby | Jul 3, 2014 | Book Review
I loved this book. If I were still teaching a series of natural childbirth classes, I would up my fee by $10.00 to provide each pregnant woman a copy. I know that not all students are readers, but this book is short (122 pages), has plenty of white space, and is... 
by Debby | Jun 30, 2014 | Book Review
I love research, so it makes sense that I would appreciate a book that has over a thousand references. Debunking the Bump is authored by a mathematician who uses her skills with numbers to analyze the many risks and precautions associated with pregnancy. Recognizing... 
by Debby | Oct 28, 2013 | Book Review
Sociologist and college professor Theresa Morris claims in her introduction (and throughout her excellent new book) that she does not blame maternity health care providers for sky-rocketing cesarean section rates in the U.S. However, this claim rings hollow when you... 
by Debby | Jun 11, 2013 | Book Review
I picked up this book to read a chapter or two. The next thing I knew several hours had passed by and I had finished the book. Roanna Rosewood is an excellent writer and she certainly hooked me from the beginning of the book. I had expected another book focusing on... by Debby | Mar 22, 2013 | General
In the Health Affairs article (see post below), one of the strategies recommended to reduce cesarean rates (and thus healthcare costs) is to establish more birth centers which focus on physiologic childbirth for low-risk women. The Health Affairs article comes on the...