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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.
Maternal and Child Health Advocacy Groups
Local:
This national organization is based in Amherst. They have connections with several other maternal advocacy groups and are a wealth of information, strength and support for mothers. "When mothers are valued and supported, we are more successful in all areas of our lives, benefiting our children, families and communities."
La Leche League International: www.llli.org/
The mission of LLLi is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
**LLLi lactation counselors at Cradle, and monthly LLLi meetings for everyone interested in attending. Call or stop by Cradle with any questions.
Massachusetts Midwives Alliance: www.massmidwives.org/
The Massachusetts Midwives Alliance (MMA) is a professional trade organization created by and for a dynamic and diverse group of midwives. The MMA was founded to build cooperation among midwives, and to promote midwifery as a means of improving health care for women and their families. We promote practicing the Midwives Model of Care based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. This means we not only practice the Art of Midwifery, but also put strong emphasis on evidence-based medical practice, the safest form of care in obstetrics today. We represent Certified Professional Midwives, Traditional/Direct-Entry Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives who practice in hospital, home, and birth center environments. The MMA also includes representatives of the birth community such as consumers and educators. These members are involved not only in the activities that promote respectful and safe practices, but also serve as board members, contributing to our membership goals.
Worldwide:
The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) is a coalition of individuals and national organizations with concern for the care and well-being of mothers, babies, and families. Our mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs. This evidence-based mother-, baby-, and family-friendly model focuses on prevention and wellness as the alternatives to high-cost screening, diagnosis, and treatment programs.
Since 2006, MomsRising has been working to bring together millions of people who share a common concern about the need to build a more family-friendly America. Our members are bringing important motherhood and family issues to the forefront of the country's awareness. Together, we are working to create both cultural and legislative change, on both the national and state levels.
International Cesarean Awareness Network: http://www.ican-online.org/
A prevention, recovery and advocacy group, with support groups nationwide. The C-section rate is currently at an all time high- 32% of births.
Midwives Alliance North America: mana.org/
In 1982, the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) was established as a professional organization for all midwives, recognizing the diversity of educational backgrounds and practice styles within the profession. Its goal is to unify and strengthen the profession of midwifery, thereby improving the quality of health care for women, babies, and communities. As a leader in midwifery, MANA has been at the forefront of developing midwifery credentialing and educational organizations. In particular, the North American Registry of Midwives oversees a competency-based certification process for midwives, granting the title of Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) to those passing rigorous written examinations and testing of clinical experience and skills.
Childbirth Connection: www.childbirthconnection.org/
Childbirth Connection is a source for trustworthy up-to-date evidence-based information and resources on planning for pregnancy, labor and birth, and the postpartum period. Founded in 1918, Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of maternity care. We promote safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care for all women and families.
Our Bodies Ourselves: www.ourbodiesourselves.org
Our Bodies Ourselves (OBOS) is a nonprofit, public interest women’s health education, advocacy, and consulting organization. Beginning in 1970 with the publication of the first edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves, OBOS has inspired the women’s health movement by: producing books that make accurate health and medical information accessible to a broad audience by weaving women’s stories into a framework of practical, clearly written text, identifying and collaborating with exemplary individuals and organizations that provide services, generate research and policy analysis, and organize for social change, and inspiring and empowering women to become engaged in the political aspects of sustaining good health for themselves and their communities. OBOS introduced many key ideas into the public discourse on women’s health.
The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project: www.rememberthemothers.org/
The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project is a national effort developed to draw public attention to the current maternal death rates, as well as to the gross underreporting of maternal deaths in the United States, and to honor those women who have died of pregnancy-related causes since 1982. The Project is the vision of Ina May Gaskin, midwifery pioneer, who has been instrumental in bringing this issue to the public light.
International Confederation of Midwives: www.internationalmidwives.org/
The International Confederation of Midwives supports, represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives on a global basis. At present ICM has 99 Member Associations in 88 countries. The ICM works with midwives and midwifery associations globally to secure women’s right and access to midwifery care before, during and after childbirth. We have worked alongside UN agencies and other partners for decades in global initiatives to help reduce the numbers of mothers and babies who die in and around childbirth, and evidence is growing that shows expanding midwifery care is one of the best ways to combat maternal mortality. The drive for safer motherhood continues to gain strength as more women worldwide achieve access to midwifery care. Please use the website to find out more about the ICM and its members; its work and projects; and many publications and documents that you may find helpful.
The International Confederation of Midwives supports, represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives on a global basis. At present ICM has 99 Member Associations in 88 countries. The ICM works with midwives and midwifery associations globally to secure women’s right and access to midwifery care before, during and after childbirth. We have worked alongside UN agencies and other partners for decades in global initiatives to help reduce the numbers of mothers and babies who die in and around childbirth, and evidence is growing that shows expanding midwifery care is one of the best ways to combat maternal mortality. The drive for safer motherhood continues to gain strength as more women worldwide achieve access to midwifery care. Please use the website to find out more about the ICM and its members; its work and projects; and many publications and documents that you may find helpful.
Safe Motherhood: www.safemotherhood.org/
Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health was established with the aim of promoting the health of women and newborns, especially the most vulnerable. Expanding the scope of the global Safe Motherhood Initiative and building on the work of the Safe Motherhood Inter-Agency Group, the Partnership aims to strengthen maternal and newborn health efforts at the global, regional, and national levels, in the context of equity, poverty reduction, and human rights.
Lamaze International: www.lamaze.org/
Lamaze promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. Knowing that pregnancy and childbirth can be demanding on a woman’s body and mind, Lamaze serves as a resource for information about what to expect and what choices are available during the childbearing years.
Baby Friendly Initiative: www.babyfriendlyusa.org/
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding. The BFHI assists hospitals in giving mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies or feeding formula safely, and gives special recognition to hospitals that have done so.
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action: www.waba.org.my/
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals & organisations concerned with the protection, promotion & support of breastfeeding worldwide. WABA action is based on the Innocenti Declaration, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the Global Strategy for Infant & Young Child Feeding. WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF & an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: www.who.int/pmnch/en/
joins the maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) communities into an alliance of more than 300 members to ensure that all women, infants and children not only remain healthy, but thrive.