ORLANDO ­Her reasons for being tremendously involved with two local benevolent organizations while trying to balance a career and mentor her 19 year­-old daughter are quite simple: intuition and common sense.

It was Fifth Third Bank Orlando Magic Maker Monica May's intuition that led her to become extensively involved with the programs Common Sense Childbirth Inc., and Consider Your Image, a non­-profit organization she founded herself. And it's common sense that drives her today.

"I know there is a simple way to life," explains May. "If there is an opportunity to help put together a road map for young people, I want to be a part of that."

But May has been more than just a part of children's lives. In her work with Common Sense Childbirth, Inc., May helps to inspire a change in maternal child healthcare. The program empowers mothers (especially young and indigent) to bring healthy babies to term. The model was created by May's close friend, Jennie Joseph, a midwife who specializes in providing prenatal healthcare and nurturing to populations that typically don't get the proper treatment in traditional health settings.

From tampabay.com. In Print: Monday, February 23, 2009.

WINTER GARDEN — This Central Florida office feels more like a home than a maternity ward, with portraits of glowing mothers-to-be proudly displayed on the walls leading to the "suites." The Van Gogh room has a nighttime feel, with a dark blue couch near a star-designed quilted bed and the Starry Night painting hanging above.

And then there is the birthing stool oddly found in the mix, looking more like a misplaced item in a bedroom.

It is the vision of Jennie Joseph, an energetic midwife originally from England who has run this birthing center since 1994.

Her waiting room is filled with expectant parents, but times are still tough for her and many of Florida's approximately 110 midwives.

Insurance is expensive — when policies are available. The number of new mothers choosing midwives seems to have peaked. Some colleges have closed their midwifery programs citing a lack of enrolment. And some still question the safety of having a child outside of a hospital.

"We have this complete myth we created around birth. Subsequently that has prevented midwives from becoming a staple in this country," Joseph said.

There are about 20,000 midwives in the United States, performing about 320,000 reported deliveries per year, according to the North American Registry of Midwives and federal government statistics. That's about 1 in 12 nationally. Because of under-reporting, the actual number is probably higher.

Jana Borino

December 5, 1964 – February 13, 2009

 

 

Onidis Lopez - joins The Birth Place TEAM! Wait until you meet this amazing midwife, I am thrilled to have her onboard. 

Jennie

2009 is off to a great start and I am writing to personally wish you all the very best for this upcoming year. I am excited to announce the launch of my Campaign for Healthier Babies and to invite you to come sail the high seas with us in October - yes, we are going on a CRUISE to The Bahamas! This will be our first annual 'fun'draising cruise and I am looking forward to some much needed down time with my family and yours. Come hang out with us, bring your friends, co-workers and relatives and let's have some fun!

Imagine this - cruising can help us raise funds for Commonsense Childbirth, our non-profit program, which provides prenatal care, education and support for uninsured and low income women at The Birth Place. We maintain an 'open door' policy at our Easy Access clinics - no woman will be turned away if she needs help with her pregnancy. More and more women are struggling to find a way to pay for maternity care or are having trouble securing Medicaid. We often see women who are more than 30 weeks advanced in their pregnancy, still waiting for their application to go through and unable to find a practitioner to help them.

We also set up Easy Access Clinics in Sanford, Orange City and Daytona last year. Our motto is ''every woman wants a healthy baby and every woman deserves one" the need is great and it is getting worse. We know our program is making a difference - of 245 women who attended our Easy Access clinic at The Birth Place in 2008 only 2% had a premature baby. The average for Orange County is 15% and is even higher for African American women. They say it costs around $37,000 - $50,000 in medical care per preterm baby; this means that we saved the State more than $1 million by helping the other 13% carry their babies to full term. (If you've ever been a patient, you know how hard we work to make sure you can reach us around the clock if you need help).

Our recent study proved that my midwifery model, The JJ Way™, is making an impact - I like my babies cute and chunky! Your financial support enables us to continue to offer prenatal care and classes to the most vulnerable women and babies in our community. There are many ways to help us please check the Campaign page. Thank you for caring!

Call Kaevon at 407 654 9900 or e-mail her at worldtravelst@aol.com - $50 deposit is due by Februaury 1st to secure your spot. Check out the attachments for more details. See you soon...

Jennie

Midwives deliver America needs better birth care, and midwives can deliver it. By Jennifer Block December 24, 2008 Some healthcare trivia: In the United States, what is the No. 1 reason people are admitted to the hospital? Not diabetes, not heart attack, not stroke. The answer is something that isn't even a disease: childbirth.

Troubling data on infant deaths

By Eugene Declercq and Judy Norsigian  |  November 17, 2008 BOSTON GLOBE

 

By Susan Hodges with Henci Goer

Traveling, speaking - you name it! Thanks for bearing with me as I answer the call to go out into the community and share the message, the truth about birth in America, the fact that we are making a difference and that the time for change is RIGHT NOW. I have outlined some of my commitments below; know that I appreciate your support and understanding of my need to be gone from the center from time to time. My commitment to your best birth experience has not changed (nor will it) and Robyn and The Birth Place staff continue to provide the ultimate midwifery care - The JJ Way™.

The Motherbaby International Film Festival is a traveling festival dedicated to showing images of pregnancy, birth and current healthcare issues. MIFF will touch and inspire while calling for cultural transformation. This Festival is hosted by Family Wisdom Conference – Traverse City, MI and Sage Femme - Tiburon, CA. Guest appearances such as Ricky Lake and Suzanne Arms, panelists, lively audiences and filmmakers all contribute to make a unique experience. This is an opportunity to beckon change, create a cultural shift in the way that women and children are currently being treated and advised in times of pregnancy, birth and parenting.

Jennie was there signing her book Beautiful! on Friday evening October 17, 2008