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Featured Class
Repeats every week until Wed Mar 14 2012 except Tue Mar 06 2012.
Tue, 02/21/2012 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Intuitively, women know how to give birth. In this 3 part class, birthing women and their companion(if applicable) learn self hypnosis techniques that are used before, during and after their labor and birth to promote relaxation and a calm environment. Deep relaxation allows the birthing woman and her companion to move through the birthing journey more comfortably and with greater self confidence. Reflecting on the importance and value of their relationship - how they work together-is an integral part of understanding how they work together at their birth.
Featured Practitioner
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The Woombie Ultra Sleeper Sack
New from Woombie: The Ultra Sleeper Sack. This fleece-lined sleep sack has sleeves to keep your baby's arms warm for sleeptime, or everday winter warmth.
Choosing a Care Provider
Choosing a Care Provider
When choosing a care provider, it is important that you look for someone who you trust, who makes you feel comfortable, and who you respect and respects you. There are several care provider options surrounding childbirth from obstetricians to certified nurse-midwives to homebirth midwives. Each care provider tends to operate in a different setting and have different training. The links below will help to educate you about the differences among care providers and list some local links to get you started.
One of the more frequently asked questions involves the differences in care between midwives and obstetricians; here is a (generalized) list of some constrasting elements between the midwifery model of care and the medical model of care.
| Midwifery Model of Care
Focus on health, wellness, |
Medical Model of Care
Focus on managing problems |
General
Article in Our Bodies, Ourselves: http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/childbirthexcerpt.asp?id=73&chapterID=21
Midwives:
Midwives:
It can be difficult to know the difference among midwives, especially with so many different types of certifications. The Midwives’ Association of North America website defines each type of midwife: http://mana.org/definitions.html.
Here is a guide for choosing a midwife published by the American Pregnancy Association: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/midwives.html
Another good description of differences among midwives in the US: http://cfmidwifery.org/midwifery/faq.aspx
Certifying Bodies for Midwives:
For CNMs:
- American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM): http://www.midwife.org/
For CPMs:
- North American Registry of Midwives (NARM): http://www.narm.org/
- Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA): http://mana.org/
Obstetriticians:
Guide for choosing an obstetrician published by the American Pregnancy Association:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/planningandpreparing/choosingob.html
For CNMs:
- American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM): http://www.midwife.org/
For CPMs:
- North American Registry of Midwives (NARM): http://www.narm.org/
- Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA): http://mana.org/
Obstetriticians:
Guide for choosing an obstetrician published by the American Pregnancy Association:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/planningandpreparing/choosingob.html
Local
Obstetricians:
Holyoke Medical Center: http://www.holyokehealth.com/find_default.aspx
Baystate: http://www.baystatehealth.org/Baystate/Main+Nav/Find+a+Doctor
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs):
Holyoke Medical Center: http://www.holyokehealth.com/find_default.aspx
Baystate: http://www.baystatehealth.org/Baystate/Main+Nav/About+Us/Locations/Baystate+Medical+Practices/Specialty+Care/Midwifery+%26+Womens+Health
Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs, Homebirth Midwives):
River Valley Midwives: Family-Centered Homebirth http://www.rivervalleymidwives.com/
Holyoke Medical Center: http://www.holyokehealth.com/find_default.aspx
Baystate: http://www.baystatehealth.org/Baystate/Main+Nav/Find+a+Doctor
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs):
Holyoke Medical Center: http://www.holyokehealth.com/find_default.aspx
Baystate: http://www.baystatehealth.org/Baystate/Main+Nav/About+Us/Locations/Baystate+Medical+Practices/Specialty+Care/Midwifery+%26+Womens+Health
Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs, Homebirth Midwives):
River Valley Midwives: Family-Centered Homebirth http://www.rivervalleymidwives.com/
Developed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, take this quiz to give yourself a better idea of what kind of care-provider is recommended according to your needs, expectations, and hopes for childbirth.