Transitions Birth Services, LLC

The Evansville Birthnetwork has received a grant from Birthnetwork National to have an online survey asking local women about their maternity care experiences.  The survey is open to any woman who has given birth in the last three years within a 50 mile radius of Evansville, IN.  We hope to use the responses to help other women make informed decisions about their maternity care.  If you would like to take the survey, click here-

The Indiana Perinatal Network has a goal that all hospitals in Indiana will discontinue the practice of handing out free infant formula discharge packs by the end of 2013.  All birthing hospitals have received letters asking them to stop this practice.  Studies have shown that mothers who receive the formula packs breastfeed for a shorter length of time than those who do not.  The Indiana Perinatal Network has provided

On May 19th from 1-2:30pm, I will present a Birth Options Class at Little Ants, 1450 Bellemeade Ave.  Mothers/ couples who are expecting or planning to become pregnant can come learn about options they have in labor and birth.  I will be answering questions such as "How can I tell if my doctor or midwife is supportive of a low intervention birth?"  "Should I have a birth plan?"  and "What choices make having an unmedicated birth most likely?"  Having attended dozens o...

If a mom has had a cesarean and is planning another birth, she has two options.  She can have a repeat cesarean or a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).  There are risks and benefits of both options.  The main risk of having a VBAC is uterine rupture.  Uterine rupture happens about .8% of the time during a VBAC.  Most uterine rupures are not dangerous- many aren't even noticed until a cesarean or other abdominal surgery is done.  But occasionally, a rupture can ...

In most births, the baby's umbilical cord is clamped within seconds of being born.  Recently, this practice has been called into question.  There have been several studies that show benefits to waiting  even just a minute before clamping the cord.  More moms are beginning to ask for delayed cord clamping, and sometimes their doctors are not familiar with the benefits of it.

Nicholas Fogelson, an OB/GYN, has

Interested in knowing your hospital's cesarean rate?

The Indiana State Department of Health publishes yearly hospital discharge data.  The reports include information on each hospital stay for all kinds of conditions.  Although the reports are made public, they are in no way user friendly for the average person.  I have gone through the data using Microsoft Access and c...

Do you live in Kentucky and want to know your local hospital's cesarean rate?  Looking for information on Kentucky hospitals' VBAC rates?

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services makes information on hospitals' quality indicators and rates of utilizations of certain procedures on its website.  This information includes number of cesareans performed, cesarean rates, VBAC rates, and cesarean rates for first time mothers.  To see the information o...

Eating and drinking during labor can give a mother energy and keep her hydrated.  It also helps her avoid feelings of hunger and thirst, which keeps her more comfortable.  Many birth locations restrict moms from having anything more than ice chips.  But are these restrictions necessary?

Not allowing moms anything to eat or drink started in the days when most moms gave birth while unconscious- under twilight sleep.  When someone is unconscious, they can vo...

Here is a chance to meet me and some other great area doulas.  On Monday, October 17th from 6-8pm, Evansville Birthnetwork will host a "Meet the Doulas Night" at Oaklyn Library.  Area doulas will be present to talk about how a doula can benefit you during labor.  It should be a great time.  Come join us!

The Leapfrog Group, a non-profit organization that compares hospitals on national standards of safety and quality, released a Call to Action this week: Protect Mothers and Babies from Unecessary Harm.  From the press release:

 The employer-driven hospital quality watchdog, The Leapfrog Group, issued a Call to Action in response to its new data finding that thousands of...