Capital Area BirthNetwork
A Chapter of BirthNetwork National
It’s your birth. Know your Options
The Capital Area BirthNetwork is an organization of individuals and professionals committed to helping women and families in Mid-Michigan and the surrounding area have safe and fulfilling pregnancy and birth experiences while empowering them in their role as health care consumers. We promote an awareness of evidence-based care and informed decision-making through advocacy, information and support.
We believe birth is normal, natural, and healthy. We promote mother-friendly care through:
Advocacy: by leading a grassroots movement of individuals who insist on and support mother-friendly care, based on the principles developed by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) and the Six Care Practices that Support Normal Birth outlined by Lamaze International;
Information: by providing facts about and contact for mother-friendly maternity care;
Support: by ensuring that families have a network of experienced, encouraging people to help them make informed choices and embrace birth.
What is the Capital Area BirthNetwork?
Looking for a Birth Professional?
Check out our Local Online Resource Guide for Expectant Parents:
Contact Us
Email: CapitalAreaBirthNetwork@gmail.com
Mailing Address:
Capital Area BirthNetwork
P.O. Box 575
Haslett, MI 48840-0575
Chapter Leaders
Allyson Fernstrom, chapter co-leader
Julie Brown, chapter co-leader
Lucinda Molzan, chapter co-leader
What is Mother-Friendly Care?
The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) was formed in 1996. It is made up of midwives, physicians, hospital associations, public health workers, doulas, scientists, and many others. As a group they meet to review scientific reports and make recommendations for evidence-based obstetric practices in birth centers and hospitals.
To qualify for CIMS designation, a birth center, hospital, or home birth service must fulfill these Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care:
1. Offers all birthing mothers unrestricted access to: birth companions of her choice, continuous emotional and physical support, and professional midwifery care.
2. Provides to the public accurate descriptive and statistical information about its birth care practices and procedures.
3. Provides culturally competent care—that is, care that is sensitive and responsive to the specific beliefs, values, and customs of the mother’s ethnicity and religion.
4. Provides the birthing woman freedom of movement and discourages the lithotomy (flat-on-your-back) birth position.
5. Has clearly defined policies regarding: continuity of care, follow-up well-baby care, and breastfeeding support.
6. Does not routinely employ procedures unsupported by scientific evidence, including but not limited to: shaving, enemas, IV, withholding nourishment, early rupture of membranes, and electronic fetal monitoring. Other interventions are limited as follows: oxytocin (a chemical used to make labor start or speed up) induction rate of 10% or less, episiotomy rate of less than 20%, with a goal of 5%, cesarean rate of less than 10% and VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) rate of 60% or more, with a goal of 75% or more.
7. Educates staff in non-drug pain relief and does not promote the use of analgesic or anesthetic drugs.
8. Encourages touching, holding, and breastfeeding of all babies.
9. Discourages non-religious circumcision of the newborn.
10. Strives to achieve the WHO/UNICEF "Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative" to encourage breastfeeding.
The Tens Steps of Mother Friendly Care are a guide to safer childbirth. When considering a certain hospital or birthing center, ask if they have been designated by CIMS as a Mother-Friendly institution. This will assure you that you are receiving the best care. If they are not designated it does not necessarily mean they don’t follow these standards. You will just have to ask, point by point, about the specifics.
Article courtesy of www.mothering.com
