Kensington Midwives

H1N1 information

2009-11-11T08:18:00.000-08:00

Naturopathic Doctor and author of Childhood Vaccinations, Katia Bailetti, has just published this current, comprehensive summary of H1N1, with a very useful list of tips to stay healthy, and great links attached.

Please be aware that this article does not replace the advice of your midwife or doctor, but may be useful in helping you make an informed choice

See H1N1 Vaccine- Weighing the risks

Meet Midwife Safire Naranjo R.M.

2009-11-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

I was inspired to become a midwife during my travels in Hawaii when I came across the book “Spiritual Midwifery” by Ina May Gaskin. Midwifery seemed like the perfect combination of all of my passions: women’s health, social justice and wellness.

My journey to becoming a midwife then began with an apprenticeship with a midwife in Ghana, West Africa in a remote village called Janga. I then went on to become a doula and started volunteering with teenagers in Toronto, and later supported many more expecting families as a doula through labour and birth. I also began teaching prenatal yoga, and yoga for childbirth classes to couples.

I completed my midwifery education at Ryerson University in 2009, after many wonderful placements in Toronto midwifery clinics and hospitals. I am thrilled to have joined Kensington Midwives for my New Registrant year! I was born and raised in Toronto (born at St. Joseph's Health Centre) and I speak English, Spanish and French. It feels really amazing to be working as a midwife in the community where I grew up.

I love to travel! I have travelled all over North, Central and some of South America, as well as West Africa and Europe. I love learning about birthing and midwifery practices from around the word, as I believe that midwifery is a timeless global profession. I have attended several international midwifery conferences and I spent a month learning and working with Mexican midwives in San Miguel de Allende.

I am registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario, and I am a member of the Association of Ontario Midwives. I am passionate about the philosophy of midwifery care and I am really excited to be a part of experiences and memories that last forever..

Meet Midwife Corinne Hare R.M.

2009-11-09T10:00:00.001-08:00

Hello, my name is Corinne Hare. I graduated with honors from Ryerson University’s Midwifery Education Program in 2008 and joined Kensington Midwives as a registered midwife that same year.

I believe midwifery care plays an important role in the support of women and their families. By empowering women through informed choice, I hope we can enrich the experience of pregnancy and assist in supporting families in their early days of parenting.

My personal journey began in Sheffield, England. From there I immigrated to Vancouver, B.C. and completed a BFA in Theatre at the University of BC. After an exciting ten years of working as a professional stage actor, I moved to Toronto, where I met my partner and became a mother myself. As a new resident of Toronto I found that having a small infant can be very isolating. I become involved with a neighbourhood mothers’ group and it was through my experiences there that my interest and passion for becoming a midwife developed.

As a registered midwife, I hope to continue to learn and grow through my interactions with the women who come through our practice. Each woman’s experience of pregnancy and childbirth is unique and I hope that I can play some small part in making that experience a positive one.

Childbirth Education and Yoga classes in the east end of Toronto

2009-11-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

Yoga Goddess offers a prenatal class to combine yoga and childbirth education – This class prepares women physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually for birth.

Each class of the Yoga Goddess Prenatal Childbirth Education + Yoga series includes:

Prenatal yoga for physical preparation (40 minutes)
Meditations and visualization for spiritual preparation (30 minutes)
Practical childbirth education, labour preparation and class discussion (30 minutes)

Zahra Haji, Director and Principal teacher of Yoga Goddess is a certified Yoga Teacher with over 800 hours training, including pre and post natal yoga and women cycles. The Yoga Goddess Prenatal Yoga and Childbirth Education series is inspired by Zahra’s course work with Sylvia Segal, the former director of Humber College’s Childbirth Educators Program (and Zahra’s mentor), as well as Gurmukh, the world renown Prenatal Yoga Teacher in Los Angeles, CA and author of Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful (the recommended reading for the Yoga Goddess prenatal class).

Upcoming Sessions

November 17 - December 8, 2009

January 12 – February 2, 2010

February 23 – March 16, 2010

March 23 – April 13, 2010

Day & Time: Tuesdays from 6:15pm - 7:55pm

Fee: $115 for 4 weeks or $300 for 12 weeks

To Register

Or call Zahra at 416-901-4032

Classes take place at The Yoga House on the ravine (Coxwell & Danforth)

Thank you so much Lindsay and I hope to see you very soon!

Love and delight,

Zahra.

zahra haji
director, yoga goddess
home studio: 416.901.4032

mobile: 416.707.6294

iam@yogagoddess.ca
www.yogagoddess.ca

Birth Preparation Classes we recommend!

2009-11-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

BIRTH PREPARATION
with Sasha Padron & Geraldine Dempsey

This course will focus on:
understanding the physiology of labour and delivery
coping with the joys and challenges of labour effectively and positively
building a positive coping mindset
exploring massage and all comfort measures that ease the process of labour
exploring the partner’s/father’s role
recovery, healing & adjusting to the postpartum period
understanding newborn behaviour, newborn care and feeding
Experiential exercises will be used to explore fears, concerns, expectations and to tap into inner resources and wisdom, building awareness around how we are approaching birth and parenting.

These birth preparation classes are inspired by the many births we have attended as doulas, our training with Pam England (Birthing from Within), our many years practicing yoga and the constant learning that comes from working with expectant families.

Upcoming Sessions

Weekend Intensive
November 21/22 2009
Saturday 10 - 5 pm/Sunday 11 - 6 pm

and
Wednesdays 6:30 - 9 pm January 13 - February 17 2010
Fee: $220/couple plus gst

To register call Sasha at 416-588-5050 or email sasha.padron@sympatico.ca
Classes will be held at Sasha’s home (College & Bathurst)

Midwifery in the news!

2009-10-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Check out this interesting feature published online Oct 3, 2009 at the Toronto Star.
It shows a map of the percentage of babies delivered by a midwife, and the percentage of home births for all Toronto neighbourhoods in 2007.
http://thestar.blogs.com/maps/2009/10/maps-of-the-week-childbirth-week-4.html

AND

Published Aug 31, 2009 in the Toronto Star is an article about the latest Canadian research study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal to show that planned homebirths with a registered midwife is as safe as a planned hospital birth, with less interventions including cesarean sections.

link to Toronto Star article

link to CMAJ study

2008-11-06T09:19:00.001-08:00

Both our daughters are Kensington babies: Sophia (born in November 2006 at St. Joseph's Hospital) and Simone (born at home in September 2008). This photograph was taken 12 hours after Simone was born. And yes, Sophia is chewing on a condom wrapper as if to say "Hey, mom & dad, next time use one of these".

Words cannot capture the gratitude and admiration that we feel towards these remarkable sages femmes. A special thank you to Pam (I will have to fly back to Canada if I get pregnant again because you and pregnancy go together in our family -- and maybe one day a birth, too *smile*) and Elaine (my voice when I could not speak, my strength when I could not stand), Lindsay and Babette, Houley, Raquel and the many students (especially Holly) whose paths we crossed.

Our home - wherever in the world it may be - will always be open to you.

I heart kensington midwives

2008-03-14T08:54:00.001-07:00

After giving birth to my son, I was wondering why I’m very fond and
grateful to the Kensington Midwives, so after a few weeks of thinking I
realized that I shared with them one of the most intimate moments of my
life. Besides conceiving a child, giving birth involves some sort of
intimacy and vulnerability. Being naked and exposed in front of these
women (meaning emotionally and physically), made me feel a bond with them.

Their patience and caring attitude made me feel safe and strong. Corrine
was always there answering to every call, didn’t matter if it was a false
alarm or simply to share a feeling. She had a loving voice and time to
listen. Andrea was always cheerful and made me feel we were doing the
right thing, always with open mind and respect to my feelings. Houley’s
kindness and big smile gave me a peace of mind. Pam is part of this
family’s history, she’s been here for us twice, and we really appreciate
her.

My pregnancy wasn’t easy, with a “dynamic” cervix, a threat of premature
labor, a previous gestational diabetes pregnancy, a tiring trip to Mexico,
a six long weeks of false labor and an induction at 41 weeks, but it ended
up with a beautiful fast birth.

There are not enough words to thank this group of women for their hard
work and dedication. It’s hard to say goodbye but our time here is over.
We sure are going to miss them very much, but we’ll have them in a special
place in our minds.

Mil gracias Corrine, Andrea, Houley and Pam.
Love
Nuria

Labour-Ball!

2008-03-14T08:46:00.001-07:00

Midwife Lindsay MacDougall with Kate (3rd time super - birther) in labour in room 10 at St. Joseph's Health Centre

Welcome baby Abigael born Jan 2008! & thanks to Kate for sharing this photo.

Meet Midwife Pam MacInnis

2008-01-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

PHOTO COMING SOON!

Hi! My name is Pam MacInnis.

I was born and raised in the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, and I am the youngest child in a family of 4 girls. I always loved listening to the birth stories of my parents told by my grandmothers. Both my parents were born in Toronto at home. Apparently, my Dad was born on the kitchen table, and my mom born without the doctor there. I have two wonderful little girls age Alaina and Ava, who were born at home with midwives.

In 1985 I studied massage therapy. I have been practicing massage for the past 18 years. The last ten years of my practice, I focused on women’s health, pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum period for moms and babies. In 1994, I attended my first birth. I was honoured when my sister Kelly asked me to be with her and support her at the birth of her son Sam. It was the most amazing experience for me. I attended many labours and births after that as a massage therapist.

I began my training for Midwifery in 1998 in the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson University. Throughout my training I enjoyed many clinical placements working with various healthcare providers in obstetrics and women’s health. The last year of my clinical education, 2003-2004 was with Kensington Midwives. This allowed me to develop a great relationship with our hospital St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, as well as familiarize myself with various resources for women and families in this area.

I am registered with the College of Midwives and practice within their standards and guidelines. I am also a member of the Association of Ontario Midwives. I maintain a current certification in CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation, as well as Emergency Skills.

I look forward to meeting and working with you!

2008-01-28T14:59:00.000-08:00

Julie and Dylan Jan 2008

New Motherhood and Midwives

2008-01-28T14:31:00.000-08:00

Tribute to Kensington Midwives

I am French and left Paris for Toronto at the end
of my seventh month of pregnancy.

That's when Djoume, my partner, we got to know Lindsay
and Manavi, our midwives. Since the very beginning, we loved
them. Their sweetness,their smile, understanding, tolerance...
we felt that at once,during the first appointment with Lindsay,
and forever.

My pregnancy was very healthy. I was not more anxious than any
other pregnant woman,I guess, and not less. Of course,
moving to a new city and country during your first pregnancy
is a source of anxiety, but I was really feeling secure in my
midwives' hands !

Then labor came. Manavi was on call. She was really supportive,
and as usual,full of respect and understanding. I did not notice
(I was to busy with contractions)but Djoume underlined the fact
that Manavi did not try to interfere during labor, she wasn't
intrusive at all, on the contrary ! She even told us "you know
guys,it seems that contractions are stronger when I am not around,
you're doing very well together so I'll stay in this room and
leave you alone". I had never heard a care giver admit that it
was better without them! My labor was very long, and even though
we would have liked a home birth, we ended up at the hospital
for a c-section. Then again, Manavi was supportive and
understanding. She understood why I was crying, why I was so
disappointed but explained me with highly soothing words that
it was the best, and the only option.

Pregnancy, labor... everyone knows that midwives help you
through those deeply emotional times. But I am most grateful
to Manavi,Lindsay and Elaine for their help,support, understanding,
respect and knowledge for the post-partum part.

They gave us lots of advice, about breastfeeding and baby care.
All the advice and explanations were full of common sense and
meant at helping parents not to feel guilty, especially mummy.

Gosh, how guilty I felt. The first days of the baby are so painful,
I had never had such contradictory feelings. I felt trapped, I
felt that I my life was totally controlled by this new little human being,that I had lost my self and wasn't really feeling love for this baby,I was crying at least three or four times a day. I was feeling guilty,and inadequate, and a bad mother, not able to supply enough milk, and poorly latching the baby on and... well thinking that everything starting from my behavior to my feelings was WRONG. Even though I was prepared for the "baby blues" I couldn't imagine such strong negative emotions.

Manavi,Lindsay, Elaine took time to listen to me, and they kept
encouraging me, giving advice, telling me I was doing a great job. They never judged me and remained so supportive and understanding. I think I wouldn't have succeeded in breastfeeding without their advice. They managed to make me feel as confident as a newborn mother can feel.

Above all, Manavi always succeeded in putting Souleymane to sleep before she would leave us on the first days... that was of great help and support

My last appointment with Manavi is coming soon, within 2
days. I already said goodbye to Lindsay. I feel as if they were
friends to me, they helped me to go through such a major change
in my life. They actually became my best friends and best mothers during the post-partum period.
But I understand that I must grow up, that I can't remain a
newborn mother forever. The cord has to be cut !

Thanks. I will miss you and never forget you.

Elise

Kensington Midwives Makes Cute Babies!

2008-01-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

Baby Sevrin born April 2007

Midwifery Students 2008

2008-01-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

From Jan 2/08 until April 10/08, Kensington Midwives will have 3 great new Midwifery I students joining us from the Midwifery Education Program. Let's give them a warm welcome.

Hey all, my name is Susannah Merritt and I am thrilled to begin my first clinical placement at Kensington Midwives in January 2008. I live in the neighborhood of Kensington Market/Little Italy, so I feel very lucky to be working with a diverse group of midwives and clients in my own community. In 2003, I completed a degree from the University of Toronto, where I majored in History, Environmental studies and English. I have traveled extensively and lived in South America, where I had the opportunity to visit the Antarctic twice as a bartender onboard a Russian ship (!) While traveling, I became particularly interested in women’s reproductive health issues around the world. After returning to Canada and assessing my options, it became clear that midwifery is—for me-- a perfect fit.

I can’t wait to get started.
Susannah

My name is Claire Osepchook and I am very excited to begin my first clinical placement at Kensington Midwives. I am in my second year of the Midwifery Education Programme at Ryerson University. I decided to follow this path as I am fascinated by women’s health and the wonderful adventure of pregnancy and birth. I have an undergraduate degree in biochemistry as well as a Masters degree in exercise science. I completed part of my studies at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where I was able to combine my interest in physiology, athletics and traveling. In 2006, I returned from New Zealand, where I lived for over four years working as a research technician, part of which in a placenta and pregnancy laboratory. I am happy to be back in Canada, especially at a time when so many of my loved ones are starting their own families. I enjoy exploring the outdoors, taking part in triathlons, and supporting women and their families as they welcome their new babies into the world.

Hello, Bonjour. My name is Amelie Seguin Bender and I am very excited to be doing my first clinical placement with the Kensington Midwives. I previously graduated from Queen's University with a B.A. in Psychology and Health but my heart has always been in Midwifery! Prior to becoming a student at Ryerson I have been working with at-risk youth and travelling. I had the opportunity to teach English overseas and travelled throughout parts of South East Asia and India. These experiences have made me eager to practice my midwifery skills both at home and abroad. I want to thank each of you for allowing me to learn through your birth experiences. I look forward to meeting you!

Breastfeeding Handbook

2008-01-10T08:26:00.001-08:00

The following link is an excellent free breastfeeding handbook that will help you get a good start on breastfeeding. We recommend that you first read through it in your pregnancy, and then keep it as a reference in the postpartum. For clarification, ask your midwife
http://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publications/pdfiles/breastfeeding_handbook.pdf

Meet Midwife Mary Hunking

2007-11-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

PHOTO COMING SOON!

My name is Mary Hunking.
I have been an Ontario midwife since 1989. I did my initial midwifery training in a small 3-yr. direct entry program in British Columbia. Throughout that program, I had the opportunity to do clinical placements with midwives in Vancouver, Edmonton, Jamaica (both Montego Bay and Kingston), and Holland. It was fantastic. Upon returning to Ontario, I began practicing in Peterborough Ontario and then qualified for the pre-legislation program at the Michener Institute in Toronto Ontario. I then moved to Kingston Ontario where I lived and worked for the next 9 years. Toronto was my next destination and I joined Kensington Midwives in 2003, when we were still Access Midwives. Prior to being a midwife I was a Registered Massage Therapist. I have 2 beautiful boys named, Oliver and Sacha.

Welcome Baby Ruby

2007-09-24T18:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for all your help.

We are saddened to think that soon we will not be seeing you regularly.

We are delighted with our new little human.

Here is a pic. at five days

John & Corrie & Ruby Tait Wilcox

Homebirth Story and Photos

2007-09-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Roman’s Birth
by Andrea

With a 42-week induction scheduled and looming, my partner and I were trying anything and everything to get labour going, but it seemed that our baby boy was very happy in utero. Or perhaps he works better with a deadline, like his parents do.

Either way, we put our best efforts into getting our boy out: spicy food, walks, intercourse (Dad’ll explain later why your allowance was so high, Roman), nipple stimulation, consuming a whole pineapple, foot massage, stretch and sweeps, intercourse, two rounds of acupuncture, chiropractic lumbar adjustments, talking to my belly, homeopathic remedies, intercourse, and finally when it came down to the day before my scheduled induction, castor oil.

At Manavi’s suggestion the castor oil was mixed with Orange Crush (we walked to a distant 7-11 the night before to get it) and I began pounding back these weird jelloshooter-like shots on September 12, at noon, one and two o’clock, checking in with Manavi throughout the day to let her know how things were progressing.

Or not progressing, it almost seemed. As a former Walkerton resident, who was part of the water tragedy in 2000, I thought maybe my ironclad intestines were going to prove impervious to the castor oil, but suddenly things began moving. And moving.

Another conversation with Manavi; she suggested one more dose of castor oil and intercourse and though I felt anything but sexy we gave that a try too. By evening, with lots of nipple stimulation I had actually begun to have some crampy early labour contractions!

At 10pm Mariam and Manavi came to our house to check on my progress. Manavi performed another stretch and sweep and I believe that’s when my labour really got going. I could feel the contractions start and taper off. I was so happy that my uterus was actually working!

At 2am Manavi suggested that we break my water. If the baby had passed meconium we would need to transport to St. Joe’s – a fact I was aware of and okay with despite our plans for a home birth. Our bags were packed and ready. We called our doula and she arrived shortly after.

Luckily, it appeared that Roman had not passed any meconium and we were able to continue our plans with the home delivery. I remember feeling really happy and thanking the baby for holding his bowels. And then labour started to become very intense.

I was in and out of the shower and trying different positions on the bed for a while. Manavi checked me after a few hours and found that my cervix had not dilated much beyond where it was when my water was broken. I remember feeling surprised and disappointed because I had been labouring for a while – I thought I would have been at 7 cm or more! Contractions were so strong and the sun was coming up and I didn’t know how much more I could handle.

Manavi decided we should do another stretch and sweep. I said okay, but that I needed my partner, Moris. He had been resting in the other room for a little while, at the suggestion of our doula and me.

With my amazing support team around me, I sat on the birthing stool and Manavi began to stretch my cervix through contractions. It was so intense, my legs were shaking uncontrollably and I began to find it hard to stay with my breathing. Finally, when she was finished I had another shower.

Contractions were coming along so strongly. Our doula, Geri, was a shoulder to lean on, literally. She stood by the edge of the tub getting soaked and helped me breath and moan through those last centimeters. I don’t know how long I was in there. Geri needed a break though and Moris was right there with his shoulder, encouraging me, helping me along. In between contractions Mariam monitored the baby’s heart rate with the doppler.

Finally, things had progressed enough in the shower that I was able to move into the bedroom and sit on the birthing stool as my cervix dilated the last little bit. Manavi helped push the last little bit of cervix over the baby’s head.

The sensations began to change and I actually felt my breath catch and a bit of an urge to push. Pushing was hard work, equally intense, but the change in sensation was wonderful for my brain. Something new to process. Our secondary midwife Houli showed up, and I pushed and pushed for what I’m told was an hour (time meant nothing at that point). Somewhere in that hour Manavi said that she thought I could get the baby out in ten pushes. I joked euphorically that we should try to do it in nine. I’m guessing it took more pushes than that. I was getting really tired at the end, and it was such hard work. Geri kept offering sips of water and Gatorade which helped a lot. Moris sat on the edge of the bed behind me and I held his hands, crunching his fingers with each contraction. Someone mentioned that my induction at St. Joe’s had been canceled.

When the baby’s head began to crown Manavi said I could reach down and touch it. I knew I was close, but I was just getting so tired. Houli and Manavi plucked my belly with their fingers to keep contractions coming strongly. Between contractions we saw the baby’s feet kicking from inside my belly. It was so incredible. He was trying to help too.

Everyone kept encouraging me, and telling me how strong I was. Manavi mentioned something about a racehorse getting to the end of a race and quitting – wouldn’t that be a shame? And I summoned every last bit of strength I had and pushed and pushed and pushed until the the baby’s head was actually out! Only a push or two more and the rest of his body was out!

“He’s huge!” I said. All of a sudden this big, slippery baby was pushed up on my chest. The midwives were wrapping my arms around him, making sure I held on tightly. He was still covered in vernix, which I thought surprising since I had been so far past my due date. I reached out and felt the umbilical cord; we really were attached. This was my big baby!

Then the cord was clamped and Moris got to cut through it.

I was up on the bed on my back and it was time to push out the placenta. Compared to pushing out such a big baby this was easy! The room was a flurry of activity and Moris stayed by my head. The baby was being monitored and tested and weighed (nine pounds, ten ounces, and 22 inches long!) and I was bleeding a little more than the midwives liked to see, so extra injections of oxytocin were given. Manavi also said that I should concentrate on not bleeding for a while, which I did; pretty soon the blood stopped flowing so much.

Then I got to nurse our baby; Houli popped him onto my nipple a few times and he latched on right away!

The energy in the room was so wonderful. I had just shared an amazing, life-changing experience with some very special people. I tried to tell them how much they all meant to me, how I couldn’t have done it without their expertise. I was so high on endorphins I don’t know if I made much sense, but I was really happy to have experienced the birth I had wanted and planned for, and proud for pushing out such a big baby.

Eventually the midwives had to go and they gave us a list of instructions and things to check for. Manavi said she had put the baby’s hat into our dog’s bed to familiarize our little pooch with the new pack member, which I felt was really thoughtful of her.

The room seemed very quiet when they left. Moris, Roman and I stayed in bed for hours and began bonding as a new family.

2007-09-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

We want to share with you some photos... this is Mariana Gonzalez, she was born on August 4th... Lindsay and Maryam were with us.

Thank you for all your support.

Carlos Gonzalez y Paola Vidal.

Welcome baby Desmond

2007-08-16T11:04:00.001-07:00

Baby Desmond Lucchese with happy new mom Emily

Baby Desmond with Midwife Houley Bah and midwifery student Feben

Meet Midwifery Student Cindy

2007-07-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hello,

My name is Cindy Wye and I am in my fourth year of the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson University. I will be completing my final clinical placement at Kensington Midwives from April 2007 to March 2008. I completed by Level I clinical placement at Womancare Midwives in London, Ontario and my Level II clinical placement at Midwife Alliance in Toronto, Ontario.

I have been practicing as an Occupational Therapist for 7 years – one year in psychiatry in a hospital setting and 6 years as a consultant in the private rehabilitation sector. I have found that Occupational Therapy and Midwifery have many shared philosophical values, most importantly, client-centred care and a holistic approach to practice.

I was drawn to Midwifery because I see pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood as very special experiences, ones wherein women can and should feel empowered. I believe strongly in the value of continuity of care and in a woman’s right to make informed choices. In my view, midwives are in a wonderful position to foster confidence and fulfillment for women throughout their birthing experiences, however or wherever they choose to give birth.

As a future midwife, I consider it a great privilege to be able to participate in such important and meaningful events, and am very grateful to the women and families who agree to share these experiences with me. I very much look forward to meeting you all.

Baby Photos!

2007-07-04T07:19:00.001-07:00

Welcome baby Weston born April 23 2007, and older sister Stella

Kensington Midwives are on the front page!

2007-05-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.thestar.com/Health/article/217456

Check out today's Health section of the Toronto Star for an article about midwives in Toronto. One of our clients (Thanks Dori!) and Midwife Manavi Handa were interviewed for this great article.

MAY 7th 2007- International Day of the Midwife

2007-05-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

Please join us in celebrating International Day of the Midwife. We would love to hear your stories and testimonials about midwives or midwifery care. In honour of midwives and pregnant women around the globe, please try to spread the word about midwifery care. We encourage any pregnant woman to contact us by phone or email to learn more about our services. Kensington Midwives has openings for women due in all months except August, it is never too late to call.

Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Outcomes in Developed Countries

2007-04-20T06:07:00.000-07:00

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a new evidence report on breastfeeding and health outcomes. The report found evidence that breastfeeding decreases infants' and mothers' risk of having many short-term and chronic diseases.

There is good evidence that breastfeeding reduced infants' risk of ear infections by up to 50 percent, serious lower respiratory tract infections by 72 percent, and a skin rash similar to eczema by 42 percent. Children with a family history of asthma who had been breastfed were 40 percent less likely to have asthma, and children who were not prone to asthma had a 27 percent reduced risk compared to those children who were not breastfed. The risk of developing type1 diabetes was reduced by about 20 percent. These benefits were seen in infants who were breastfed for three or more months. Breastfeeding also reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 39 percent compared to those who were not breastfed.

The report also found that breastfeeding was associated with fewer episodes of diarrhea during infancy, decreased incidence of childhood leukemia, and decreased deaths from sudden infant death syndrome. The report found no clear relationship between breastfeeding and improvement in IQ. In premature infants, breastfeeding decreased the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious gastrointestinal infection that often results in death.

For health outcomes in mothers, there is good evidence that women who breastfed their infants had up to a 12 percent reduced risk of type 2 diabetes for each year they breastfed. Breastfeeding decreased the risk of ovarian cancer by up to 21 percent. Breastfeeding also decreased the risk of breast cancer by up to 28 percent in those whose lifetime duration of breastfeeding was 12 months or longer. Women who did not breastfeed their infants were more likely to have postpartum depression, but unmeasured factors—such as depression that was undiagnosed prior to giving birth—may have increased the rate of depression seen in this group. Breastfeeding did not increase the risk of fractures due to osteoporosis. The effect of breastfeeding on a woman's weight could not be determined based on the available studies.

The report was nominated and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health and prepared by Stanley Ip, M.D., Joseph Lau, M.D., and colleagues at AHRQ's Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center in Boston, Massachusetts. AHRQ's EPCs develop evidence reports and technology assessments on topics relevant to clinical, social science/behavioral, economic, and other health care organization and delivery issues—specifically those that are common, expensive, and/or significant for the Medicare and Medicaid populations.

To access Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Outcomes in Developed Countries , go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/brfouttp.htm.