September 2009

Three Things You Need to Know About the 2009 Conference

There’s still time to register for the Lamaze International 2009 Annual Conference, which takes place in Orlando, FL, October 1-4. And if you think you know all there is to know about the conference, check out these three announcements—you might be surprised!

1. Planning to sit for the Lamaze Certification Exam? Prepare for the exam while you attend the conference!
Looking for an exciting way to become eligible to sit for the Lamaze Certification Exam? You’re in luck! Passion for Birth is hosting a Pre-/Post-Conference Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar that prepares you for the exam while attending the conference. New and experienced childbirth educators, as well as midwives, doulas, labor and birth nurses, and social workers are encouraged to attend.

2. Looking to focus on mind and body? Attend the Pre-Conference Prenatal Yoga Workshop!
If you are an experienced educator looking for new ways to expand your teaching repertoire, sign up for the Pre-Conference Lamaze Prenatal Yoga Workshop. Led by a certified Whole Birth Yoga teacher, this workshop will show you how becoming a prenatal yoga instructor will expand your class offerings.

For more information on these and all conference sessions, visit the Lamaze International 2009 Annual Conference Web page, where you’ll find links for registration, housing and travel. See you in Orlando!

3. Can’t attend the Conference in person? Connect and learn through the Lamaze International On Call (virtual) Conference!
Participate in the lively and enriching conference educational sessions from the comfort of your office or home through the new Lamaze International On Call Conference. Specifically designed for childbirth educators and other health care professionals, the Virtual Conference offers easy access and up to 13 contact hours that do not require a post test.

The Virtual Conference links you to the conference through a live Webcast of 10 conference sessions, four plenary and six concurrent sessions selected by our program committee. You’ll be able to participate with your colleagues in live educational sessions and listen to inspiring keynote messages without traveling from your home or office! Each 60- or 90-minute Webcast session allows you to listen to the speaker, view their PowerPoint presentation and participate in question and answer sessions all in real time. View the scheduled sessions and register today!

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ALERT: H1N1 Flu Affecting Pregnant Women

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new information that advises pregnant women who are sick with novel influenza A (H1N1), or who present with a flu-like illness, to seek immediate medical treatment. The CDC cites evidence that that influenza can be more severe in pregnant women, so it is important that all birth advocates share this information with women and their families. Please read and become familiar with the CDC advisory and provide cautions to women and families that if a pregnant woman becomes sick with a flu-like illness, they must seek immediate care and obtain antiviral medication.

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Research Summaries Archives Available on Science & Sensibility

You can now access the archives of Research Summaries for Normal Birth at Science & Sensibility. After four years, this popular quarterly e-mail series was revamped to bring you more timely research updates through our new, user-friendly blog, Science & Sensibility. Most recently, the blog highlighted the archive of summaries of research on care in the second stage of labor.

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New Ethics Requirement for Lamaze Recertification

Are you an LCCE educator due to recertify by December 31? Don’t forget about the new, mandatory continuing education requirement on ethics related to childbirth education. At least one of the 25 mandatory contact hours must be on the topic.

The new requirement is effective for LCCE educators due to recertify this year, and for each subsequent recertification period through June 30, 2012. Lamaze International will offer opportunities to fulfill this requirement via Webinars and homestudies available through our Online Education Store, as well as specific ethics sessions offered at Lamaze International Annual Conferences. At the upcoming 2009 Annual Conference, session D-2, “Birthing Ethics: What Parents and Health Care Professionals Should Know About the Ethics of Childbirth,” will fulfill this requirement.

Relevant childbirth education ethics offerings from Lamaze Approved Providers of Continuing Education will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Questions? Contact certification@....

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Birth Network and Community-Based Outreach Mini-Grants Application Deadline

Are you looking to start a Birth Network or expand your existing Birth Network? Or perhaps you’d like to expand your childbirth education services to underserved communities. Consider submitting an application for the Lamaze Birth Network Mini-Grants or the Community-Based Outreach Mini-Grants.

The Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth offers up to 10 Birth Network grants annually, ranging from $500 to $1,000, to support established or emerging community-based Birth Networks in North America. The Institute also offers five $500 Community-Based Outreach grants annually to Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators and Lamaze Approved Providers who currently provide or would like to expand their Lamaze childbirth education services to underserved or vulnerable populations. The deadline to submit applications for both mini-grants is Friday, October 16. For more information, please refer to the Program and Eligibility Information and Grant Application Guidelines.

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Upcoming Lamaze Webinar: Beginning and Promoting In and Out of Hospital Lamaze Classes

Mark your calendar and plan to attend the next Lamaze Webinar, Beginning and Promoting In and Out of Hospital Lamaze Classes, scheduled for November 17. The Webinar, presented by Faith Terry, RNC, LCCE, FACCE, will explore different pathways in marketing yourself in the childbirth educator field. Learn how to develop your own childbirth business and how to sell your “product” to physicians and administrators or teach in a hospital-based childbirth program.

One contact hour is available for this Webinar. Lamaze Webinars are offered at a discounted member fee of $25, with a non-member fee of $40. For more information on all Lamaze Webinars and to register to participate, visit the Online Education Store.

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Ask an Expert, Ask Henci

Did you know that Lamaze provides a forum specifically for moms-to-be? The Ask Henci community forum answers questions surrounding pregnancy, labor and birth, and helps clear up confusing and conflicting information. Right now, you can find discussions on:

• Homebirth in Indian cities
• Pushing—how long is too long?
• Medical reasons for induction?

The forum is always looking for input from fellow experts—pop in and add your knowledge to the discussion!

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Volunteer Spotlight: Beth Day

Tell us about your professional life. 
I became serious about working with pregnant and birthing women shortly after graduating from Brigham Young University. I certified with DONA International shortly after the birth of my first child, Jonathan, in 2005 and immediately began looking into childbirth educator programs.

I was referred to Teri Shilling’s Passion for Birth training and became an instant Lamaze convert. I achieved my Lamaze certification shortly before the birth of my second child, Aaron, in 2007. Little Aaron traveled with me to Washington, DC, where I sat as a guest member at the Lamaze Certification Council meeting.  

During this time, I began work to start a birth network in my community in Arkansas. Our group became affiliated with BirthNetwork National where I would later take the position of regional representative on the board in 2008.  

In 2009, I joined the Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth as the Birth Networks Liaison.  I love the work I do to for both of these organizations at the national level, but the most rewarding work I do is in my home town. I teach small independent Lamaze classes and am constantly renewed by the amazing women who come to my classes hungry to hear the real story of birth.

Tell us how you view the current and future impact of Lamaze International.
I am impressed by continued efforts from Lamaze to update and rebrand their message, making it more relevant to the new generation of young mothers. From the beautiful Web site to the presence in magazines, Facebook and Twitter—Lamaze understands that even though the message is constant, packaging matters. As a young mother myself (I'm only 30!), those kinds of things matter to me, which is why I chose to affiliate myself with Lamaze.

What goals do you have as a volunteer for Lamaze?
Pregnant women need the support of local birth networks, and birth professionals need that local avenue for networking and support. Birth advocacy is hard work and can be frustrating when you are doing it alone. I encourage more Lamaze members to step up and help start birth networks in their communities. If I can encourage that process, I will consider my work a success.

Are you involved in any other organizations or networks outside of Lamaze?
I am a DONA-certified doula, I serve on the board of BirthNetwork National and I am a member of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services.

Can you tell us something about your other roles?
I find that one of my greatest challenges is striking a balance between my passion for birth and my passion for family. I find that my greatest joys come from being a mom. I am currently taking a hiatus from my doula role and am teaching Lamaze classes. I am also working to make our local birth network more self-sufficient. We are currently working on a promotion of The Birth Survey in our area. Occasionally, I also take on additional projects for BirthNetwork National and the Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth.

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Calendar of Events

September

17-19
Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA

21-23
Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar
The Family Way, Carrolton, TX

26
Creativity, Connection and Commitment: Supporting Teen During the Childbearing Years
Lamaze Specialty Workshop, Raleigh, NC

30 – October 1
Lamaze Prenatal Yoga Workshop
Lamaze Specialty Workshop at the Lamaze 2009 Annual Conference, Orlando, FL

October

1-4
Lamaze Childbirth Educator Pre-Conference Seminar
Passion for Birth at the Lamaze 2009 Annual Conference, Orlando, FL

1-4
Lamaze International 2009 Annual Conference
Orlando, FL

10-12
Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar
Passion for Birth Seminar, Brisbane, Australia

20-21
Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar
Duke University AHEC, Shelby, NC

22-25
Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar
Birth Pathways, Long Beach, CA

24
Creativity, Connection and Commitment: Supporting Teens During the Childbearing Years
Lamaze Specialty Workshop, Raleigh, NC

28-30
Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar
Passion for Birth Seminar (in English), Seoul, Korea

31
Creativity, Connection and Commitment: Supporting Teens During the Childbearing Years
Lamaze Specialty Workshop, Springfield, MO

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