We wanted to make sure you are all aware of the news story that has exploded over the last 24 hours regarding the recent AMA Resolution against homebirth and Ricki's response to being named in it.

In February of this year, one month after the premiere of BOBB, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) reiterated its long-standing opposition to home births. In an obtuse reference to The Business of Being Born, ACOG stated, "Childbirth decisions should not be dictated or influenced by what's fashionable, trendy, or the latest cause célèbre." If that wasn't enough, ACOG, this past weekend, introduced a resolution to the American Medical Association (AMA) at their annual meeting. The resolution commits the AMA to "develop model legislation in support of the concept that the safest setting for labor, delivery, and the immediate post-partum period is in the hospital...". The reasoning for this resolution begins, "Whereas, There has been much attention in the media by celebrities having home deliveries, with recent Today Show headings such as "Ricki Lake takes on baby birthing industry: Actress and former talk show host shares her at-home delivery in new film...". (Resolution 205, click here to read).

Since when did Ricki become an evidence-based data point? What are they so afraid of?

Insurance Companies Rejecting Women with History of Cesarean Some Companies Require Surgical Sterilization for Coverage; Trend Gives New Imperative to Learn Ways to Avoid Unnecessary Cesarean Redondo Beach, CA, June 1, 2008 – As reported in today's New York Times, ICAN has begun tracking an alarming new trend of insurance companies refusing to provide health insurance for women with a history of cesarean surgery. In some cases, women are being rejected for coverage outright and in other case they are being charged significantly higher rates to obtain the same coverage as women without a history of

A worthy cause - did you know that African American women receiving prenatal care at The Birth Place birthing center in 2007 had no premature or low-birth weight babies? The average baby weighed 7lbs 7ozs and was born around the 39th week of pregnancy. Nationally Black women have twice as many babies born too soon, too small and too sick to survive their first year of life as White babies. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. Read on.............

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Jennie came runner-up in the Onyx Award for Health Initiatives, and we say congratulations to Dr. Henry Lewis III, Dean and Professor, Florida A&M University for winning the category!

Jennie has been nominated for an Onyx Award for Health at the sixth annual Onyx Awards - Florida's signature African American awards celebration of "Black Trailblazers" and corporations that promote inclusion and diversity in the workplace. This signature event serves as a funding engine to support health and education initiatives of the foundation, such as: sickle cell anemia and early literacy programs and services.

More information on the nominees can be found here.

Our very own Robyn Mattox has returned to The Birth Place family after working with our friends at the Labor of Love Birth Center in Tampa. For those of you who don't know, Robyn grew into the amazing midwife that she is having got her start as a birth assistant, doula and childbirth educator with me 'way back when'! She went on to attend midwifery school, apprenticed with me and graduated in 2004.

Robyn was instrumental in joining with me in setting up The Birth Place birthing center in Winter Garden in 2003 and we are thrilled to have her back. Robyn has been a firm believer in The Birth Place's philosophy of care, the midwifery model and The JJ Way. She has my total endorsement as one of the most competent and conscientious midwives in the area, and if you don't know her you will soon realize she is a total sweetheart as well. As I meet the demands of representing midwifery and The JJ Way in the greater community I am happy to have such a reliable practitioner to help me meet all of your maternity helath care needs as well.

Jennie

Jennie Joseph's Winter Garden Birthing Center Expands

Neonatal units? Routine Cesarean sections? Hectic Labor and Delivery floors? When did birth become an illness? Long before institutionalized deliveries, babies were delivered at home, women supported women and entire families were considered the central focus for the beginning of each new life. Currently two-thirds of the world’s babies are delivered by midwives. Not so in the USA, where approximately only 8 – 10 % are delivered that way. The midwifery model of care incorporates all aspects of care - physical, spiritual, emotional and social - and as such has been shown to increase satisfaction, reduce interventions and improve perinatal outcomes.

Wow! It’s hard to believe that we moved into our new office space at 1130 E. Plant St. three months ago already. It has certainly been hectic. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of our wonderful clients who have hung in there with us as we have attempted to settle into our new way of being – kind of like getting through the first trimester really! I anticipate plain sailing from here so, again, thanks for your patience.

THERMOGRAMS ARE BACK AT THE BIRTH PLACE!!

Call for your appointment today - 407 832 5066

 

TV APPEARANCE

THE BIRTH PLACE featured on Central Florida News 13. December 9, 2006

Click below to read an article and see Jennie Joseph and Carol Chandler, AP discuss this cutting edge method of breast screening with health reporter Nancy Gay.

VIDEO! Jennie talks about thermograms at The Birth Place on Channel 13!