Full Circle Midwifery

When a baby is born, the lifeline between the mother and child (the umbilical cord) is cut, and the shrivelled remains become the belly button on the outside. What happens inside? – Margaret Lee Our belly button is a reminder for life that once we were attached to and dependent on our mother, floating like […]

Simple New Urine Test for Preeclampsia Could Save Many Lives Veronica Hackethal, MD March 20, 2019 Researchers have developed a simple, noninvasive, point-of-care paper test that measures misfolded proteins in a woman’s urine and looks set to improve the diagnosis of preeclampsia The Congo Red Dot (CRD) Paper Test is designed to be affordable and gives results […]

FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY STATISTICS January 1, 1984  through  December 31, 2018 Total planned home births:                                                                1598 Total  transports:                                                                                121   [ 7.4 % ] Mothers transported in labor:         85 Cesareans                           47   [ 3% ] Forceps/Vacuum                  9 Mothers transported within 24 hours postpartum:                 23 Babies transported within 24 hours after home birth:13 Counties:  Benzie […]

Why is Newborn Screening (NBS) important to Public Health?  Each year around four million babies are born in the United States. Some of these babies are born with conditions which, left untreated, can rapidly result in death or permanent disability. NBS can catch some of these disorders in time for them to be effectively treated. […]

By Kim Smith, Reporter  Global News Expectant mothers are finally getting some up to date advice when it comes to staying active during pregnancy. For the first time in 15 years, new guidelines are out. As Kim Smith reports, it’s dispelling old myths and providing a big incentive to keep moving. A new Canadian guideline for […]

The photo attached shows an exclusively breastfed, well gaining baby sucking his fingers. The mother has had a decrease in her milk production. Many consider a baby sucking his fingers at this age normal, but I don’t agree. I have posted on this question of “one breast at a feeding” more than once before, but […]

October 31, 2018, Rutgers University Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello, a professor in Rutgers University-New Brunswick’s Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology and Department of Anthropology. Credit: Jeff Heckman Infants born at home have more diverse bacteria in their guts and feces, which may affect their developing immunity and metabolism, according to a study in Scientific Reports. Understanding […]

https://www.psychcongress.com/news/us-women-increasingly-view-regular-marijuana-use-risk-free    

Here are some websites: https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/meds/treatingfortwo/index.html https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/WomensHealthTopics/ucm117976.htm OTIS:  https://mothertobaby.org If you are taking medications, please consider registering at this website and being a part of research into Medications and Pregnancy: https://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/WomensHealthResearch/ucm251314.htm  

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1704559

Making Informed Decisions When pregnant, giving birth and in the postpartum period, it is your responsibility to make informed decisions for yourself and on behalf of your baby. It is your legal right to give — or deny — permission for care. But how do you know what’s best for you both? Making informed decisions […]

EAT DATES for a SHORTER LABOR! Full Circle Midwifery Service has been recommending DATE consumption to our clients for about 5 years, and we think we see a difference in their labors! Date fruit has an oxytocin-like effect on the body, leading to increased sensitivity of the uterus. It also helps stimulate uterine contractions, and […]

Through the ages, teas to aid digestion have been recommended for unhappy babies. Traditionally, mothers brewed chamomile tea for babies—as well as peppermint, fennel, or dill teas—to help upset tiny tummies. The ancient roots of this practice are reflected in the names different cultures have chosen for these herbs. In Spanish, peppermint is called yerba […]

By Casey Seidenberg September 19 When I was pregnant for the first time, I read what I thought to be one of the greatest perspectives on eating during pregnancy. Nina Planck, author of “Real Food” and “Real Food for Mother and Baby,” wrote, “You have about forty weeks to build a baby.” I loved two […]

Gov. Rick Snyder makes appointments to the Michigan Board of Licensed Midwifery Friday, April 14, 2017 LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the initial appointments to the Michigan Board of Licensed Midwifery. Housed within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the 12-member board, in conjunction with LARA, will establish and implement the […]

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-the-vitamin-k-shot-in-newborns/ Evidence Based Birth® This Signature Article was written by Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN Evidence on the Vitamin K Shot in Newborns Published on March 18, 2014 and updated on January 20, 2015, © Evidence Based Birth®, All Rights Reserved Vitamin K  (1)Vitamin K deficiency bleeding, thought to be a problem of the past—has […]

‘Much better evidence is needed on such widespread antibiotic use.’ 22/03/2017 15:23 Amy Packham Life Writer (Parents) at The Huffington Post UK Screening pregnant women for Group B streptococcus (GBS) is “not recommended” by the National Screening Committee (NSC). About 150,000 pregnant women carry GBS each year in the UK and, in some cases, will […]

FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY STATISTICS January 1, 1984 through December 31, 2016 Total planned home births:                                                                                 […]

www.medscape.com Antibiotics Use in Pregnancy Linked to Child’s Asthma, Study Confirms By Rob GoodierNovember 27, 2016 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – New research confirms that children whose mothers used antibiotics during pregnancy have higher rates of asthma, but it remains unclear if the drugs or the infection, or something else entirely, is to blame. Dr. […]

www.medscape.com Neonatal Vitamin D Levels Linked to Future MS Risk Sue HughesDecember 01, 2016 A new study has shown a link between low levels of vitamin D in neonates and future risk for multiple sclerosis (MS), which the authors say strengthens the justification for routine vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy. The Danish case control study, […]

If a woman is not looking to get pregnant right now, but eventually would like to, how should she prepare her body? It’s pretty easy for a lot of people to get pregnant, but to really optimize your baby’s health and to optimize your own health while you’re pregnant and after, I really encourage women […]

Graphic and Fact Sheet: VBAC Roulette

Here’s the link to the original article. Tracey Chapman’s Story June 4, 2016 Life In Circles by Stephanie Wagner. There are moments in all of our lives where we simply refer to “before” and “after”. We may not know it at the time, but they are the game changers, the forks in the road, the […]

FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY STATISTICS January 1, 1984 through December 31, 2015 Total planned home births:                                                         1442 Total transports:                                                                           111   [ 7.6 % ] Mothers transported in labor:                78 Cesareans                                      43   [ 3% ] Forceps/Vacuum                             8 Mothers transported postpartum:         21 Babies transported after a home birth: 12 Counties: Benzie 2     Kent 11   Lake 18   […]

CMU audiology professor trains midwives, grows rate of newborn hearing screenings nearly 50 percent Michigan Midwives Project is first in state to provide equipment, training Central Michigan University is the only audiology program in the state training midwives to do newborn hearing screenings, and the outcome shows promising results. In just one year, CMU audiology […]

We support informed decision-making. ‘An informed decision requires you to have knowledge of the risks, benefits and alternatives to a course of action. It involves research. It involves getting in touch with your intuition and having a good think about what is truly best for you. Informed decision making is a process and it takes […]

Vitamin D deficiency early in pregnancy is associated with a five-fold increased risk of preeclampsia, according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. A serious complication of pregnancy marked by soaring blood pressure and swelling of the hands and feet, […]

A bill to license Certified Professional Midwives in Michigan will soon be reintroduced in the state legislature. When that happens, you can help! In the meantime: QUICK HISTORY In Michigan, non-nurse (mostly home birth) midwifery is not licensed, specifically legalized, or regulated in any way. As a result, we suffer: • Potential loss of midwives […]

From the mommypotamus website ON SEPTEMBER 8 | IN BIRTH | BY HEATHER Group B Strep: What it is and how to treat it naturally So, You’re Positive And in this case, we’re not just talking about your overall outlook on life. Like so many mamas, you took the Group B Strep test in pregnancy […]

ScienceDaily: Your source for the latest research news September 15, 2014 Source: Oregon State University Summary: Amid conflicting reports about the need for vitamin E and how much is enough, a new analysis published today suggests that adequate levels of this essential micronutrient are especially critical for the very young, the elderly, and women who […]

Folate Use, Not Maternal Concentrations, Linked to Fewer Autistic Traits in Offspring August 27, 2014 By Rob Goodier NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A new study confirms that children of women who take prenatal folic acid supplements have fewer autistic traits. But the link isn’t explained by maternal folate concentrations, at least not at 13 […]

Here’s a great article on natural remedies for treating a cold or allergies while breastfeeding 

Here’s a website page with Breastfeeding products recommended by a lactation consultant in Grand Rapids.  You can order bras, nursing pillows, breast pads, teas, salve and more directly from this page.

Read the article here. 

A good article  

Please follow the links below to read these articles.  Evidence Based Birth , a popular blog written by occasional Science & Sensibility contributor Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN, has just published a new article, “Evidence for the Vitamin K Shot in Newborns“ that examines Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB)- a rare but serious consequence of insufficient Vitamin K in […]

Reprinted from Childbirth Connection What Pregnant Women Need to Know MARCH 2014 In March 2014, the two leading obstetric professional organizations in the United States issued a landmark joint consensus statement. The statement says that cesarean birth is overused in the United States. More and more cesareans – now one in three births – have […]

February 12, 2014 Source: Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Summary: New research shows that well-child doctor appointments for annual exams and vaccinations are associated with an increased risk of flu-like illnesses in children and family members within two weeks of the visit. This risk translates to more than 700,000 potentially avoidable illnesses each year, […]

Research Review: Outcomes of Care for 16,924 Planned Home Births in the United States January 30th, 2014 Today’s post on Science & Sensibility coincides with the release of a long awaited study looking at the home birth data collected by the Midwives Alliance of North America MANAStats project, 2004-2009.  Judith Lothian, PhD, RN, LCCE, FACCE reviews […]

   SEARCH FAMILY JANUARY 30, 2014, 9:35 AM  1 Comment Low Vitamin D Tied to a Pregnancy Risk By NICHOLAS BAKALAR     Using preserved blood samples of pregnant women, researchers have found that low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk for severe preeclampsia, a serious and sometimes fatal disorder of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is characterized by […]

ByMICHELLE CASTILLO  CBS NEWS December 11, 2013, 5: 16 PM Father’s vitamin B9 diet may influence child’s chance of birth defects Dads, listen up: Your diet matters too when it comes to your newborn. What a father eats before his child is conceived may influence the chance a baby will be born with a birth defect, a […]

by Carl Sandburg Being born is important You who have stood at the bedposts and seen a mother on her high harvest day, the day of the most golden of harvest moons for her. You who have seen the new wet child dried behind the ears, swaddled in soft fresh garments, pursing its lips and […]

Excerpts from a  blog: “A hundred years ago, it was easy to get enough magnesium just by eating a variety of foods and drinking water. However, our modern soil is very depleted . . . [And] so is the water. ‘ Our human ancestors evolved in a world in which healthy drinking water came directly […]

November 30, 2013 The Myth of A Safer Hospital Birth for Low Risk Pregnancies  By: Judy Cohain, CNM Since the beginning of hospital birth, research supporting its use for low risk women has been lacking. The last 15 years has produced 17 studies all supporting attended planned homebirth as safer for low risk women. Research reveals […]

Tylenol Use During Pregnancy May be Linked to Autism By Dr. Brent Hunter Posted Monday, November 25, 2013 at 06:11pm EST Is it safe to take Tylenol during pregnancy? This question has been asked by millions of pregnant women. Typically, they hear from their doctor that Tylenol during pregnancy is completely safe for both the mother […]

From Dr.Jack Newman Yesterday, I received an email from a mother whose baby was strictly breastfed but had what is commonly called “breastmilk jaundice”. The doctor told her to give only formula for 48 hours, which she did and the baby is now refusing to take the breast. From our information sheet on jaundice at our […]

By Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer    How long a healthy pregnancy lasts can vary by as much as five weeks, even when doctors precisely determined the date of conception, a new study suggests. Although the length of a healthy pregnancy is known to be variable, some of this variation was thought to be due to errors in […]

Read this!  

Here’s a good article.

You will have to buy a replacement collection kit from this website  for $40.  The pump is a high quality double pump – An Affinity Pro!

I trust birth like I trust the weather. The sun will rise most mornings and set most evenings. There will be 4 Seasons, give or take a couple. Sometimes there’s sunshine with gentle breezes, or cleansing soft white snow, or life-giving warm summer rains. But we all know there are also floods, lightening strikes, hurricanes, […]

Columbia University Nursing Postdoctoral Fellow Finds that Women Who Perceive their Role as Passive Prefer Physicians in a Hospital Setting for Childbirth Delivery Newswise — (NEW YORK, NY, March 14, 2013) – Women who see themselves as active participants in the delivery of their first child, and prefer a collaborative role with their healthcare provider […]

Two new studies to be published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in August 2007 look at mineral supplementation and the prevention of specific conditions during pregnancy. In the first study, researchers examined the effect of magnesium supplementation and the development of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) in babies. HIE is the reduction of oxygen supply […]

Bilirubin as an Antioxidant February 23, 2010 by Jay Gordon, MD FAAP Contrary to what you often will hear about how bilirubin levels increasing in a newborn is not a good thing, there is new research which is showing the importance of the presence of bilirubin. Bilirubin has the ability to function as an antioxidant in the […]

 Dr.Jack Newman It has been known for many years that it is better to continue breastfeeding, even on the side of the infection, when a mother has mastitis. For one thing, continued breastfeeding on the side which has the mastitis, will decrease the pressure in the breast and relieve some of the mother’s pain. Furthermore, […]

SOME HERBAL REMEDIES SUGGESTED TO PREVENT GBS PB-8 acidophilus. You should take 4 caps daily. Follow instructions on bottle as to when it is best to take acidophilus. This will help to keep up your good bacteria which can fight away the bad. Immune Booster Tincture (includes Echinacea root, Echinacea purpuria, peppermint, and nettles). This […]

http://thetruthaboutbreastfeeding.com/2009/04/09/could-a-laid-back-approach-to-breastfeeding-help-your-baby-latch-on/

B=What are the Benefits of the proposed intervention, test, medication? What Benefits do you expect for me from this intervention, test or medication? R= What are the Risks of the proposed intervention, test, or medication? What Risks would be of concern in my case? A=What Alternatives would be available to try? N=What happens if I […]

A healthy microbiome, hopefully. By Moises Velasquez-Manoff|Posted Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at 1:06 PM E Maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome can be key to avoiding preterm birth Canwest News Service A few years ago, a microbiologist named Gregor Reid danced before an audience of students, post-docs, and scientists at a conference held by the American Society […]

Breast Milk Contains More Than 700 Species of Bacteria, Spanish Researchers Find Jan. 4, 2013 — Spanish researchers have traced the bacterial microbiota map in breast milk, which is often the main source of nourishment for newborns. The study has revealed a larger microbial diversity than originally thought: more than 700 species. Share This: 193 Related […]

Click on this link for a great article: pelvic-floor-incontinence

13DEC Henci Goer and Amy Romano have recently published their much awaited book,Optimal Care in Childbirth: The Case for a Physiologic Approach. Their research, based on the best available evidence, makes a strong case for supporting women who want to plan a VBAC. The most valuable aspect of their book is the fact that they […]

 More explanation can be found in the book Prenatal Parenting by Dr. Fred Wirth. Delve into these topics and learn how you can create a healthy, happy baby. While you are pregnant, a first easy step is to spend 15 minutes, several times a day, with a Fetal Love Break™ Awareness of these principles honors the […]

Have you seen babies melt into angelic smiles while giving rapt attention to their parents, who in turn are captured by this simple eye contact with their newly born infant? What you are seeing is a child receiving this wonderful message of love from his parents and sharing feelings of secure contentment. This is what I call a […]

J Obstet Gynaecol. 2011;31(1):29-31. The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery. Al-Kuran O, Al-Mehaisen L, Bawadi H, Beitawi S, Amarin Z. Source Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. oqba@yahoo.com Abstract We set out to investigate the effect of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption on labour parameters and delivery outcomes. Between 1 February […]

by CHRISTINE KENT on SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 In their landmark book, The Labor Progress Handbook, Penny Simkin and Ruth Ancheta describe six steps in the progression of labor1: The cervix moves from a posterior to an anterior position The cervix ripens or softens The cervix effaces The cervix dilates The fetal head rotates, flexes, and molds The fetus descends […]

The New Ear Infection Rules Forget what you thought you knew about the best treatment. Your pediatrician may not give you the same old advice anymore. By Richard Laliberte from Parents Magazine Otitis MediaTreating kids’ ear infections used to be pretty straightforward: Your pediatrician simply handed you a prescription for an antibiotic. Maybe your child is now […]

A Man’s Guide to Miscarriage by Steve Volk, The Philly Post How to help your wife and get over the loss of an unborn child The first miscarriage occurred in December, shortly before my wife’s birthday. The second miscarriage happened in May 2011, at the start of Memorial Day weekend, and lasted a long 72 […]

Magnificent Magnesium Written by Katherine Czapp September 23 2010 The Neglected Mineral We Cannot Live Without Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal, the eighth most abundant mineral found in the earth’s crust. Because of its ready solubility in water, magnesium is the third most abundant mineral in sea water, after sodium and chloride. In the […]

naturalnews.com  Originally published July 17 2009 Newborn Procedures: Make an Informed Choice about the Vitamin K Injection by Jen Patterson (NaturalNews) Both newborn babies and breast milk are said to be deficient in vitamin K1, and injection of this vitamin into newborns is standard practice in US hospitals. The diagnosis of vitamin K deficiency for […]

Thursday, July 5th 2012 at 5:30 am by Judy Cohain, CNM Since the beginning of hospital birth, research supporting its use for low risk women has been lacking. The last 15 years has produced 17 studies all supporting attended planned homebirth as safer for low risk women. Research reveals that there are only 2 acute conditions […]

From the Bring Birth Home Blog, 05 JULY 2011 Guest post by Jeremy For us, that went from about $4000 out of pocket to about $2000.  And many people have been able to get FULL reimbursement for an “out of network” homebirth.  In a nutshell, here is what we did: We called our insurance provider. […]

From the Cochrane Library, Feb 2012: Monitoring of the fetal heart rate (FHR) is one of the most common methods for checking a baby’s wellbeing. The two most common ways of monitoring the FHR are by listening to the heart beat using a fetal stethoscope, Pinard (special trumpet shaped device), handheld Doppler ultrasound device (this […]

 The Low Down on What’s Down Below! Aviva Romm, Physician, Midwife, Herbalist Sun, 03/18/2012 – 11:08 The times are a-changing ladies! Routine annual pelvic exams have been thrown out the window because they are virtually useless, and as of last week, paps are now recommended only every 3-5 years if you have a normal pap/HPV […]

MAR 20 2012, 8:06 AM ET 60 If you look at scientific literature, you find over and over again that many interventions increase risk to mother and child instead of decreasing it. Kenishirotie/Shutterstock When I ask my medical students to describe their image of a woman who elects to birth with a midwife rather than with […]

The American Academy of Pediatrics “reaffirmed” its breastfeeding guidelines today. Among the points of interest: • “exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months of a baby’s life” • “continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby” • “Pediatricians promote the advantages of breastfeeding to mothers and infants, as well […]

My baby will be born healthy and at the perfect time ~ My body contains all the knowledge necessary to give birth to my baby ~ My baby knows how and when to be born ~ I deserve to have the birth I desire ~ Babies are born when they are ready, not when doctors, […]

 UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Statement on vitamin D supplementation for breastfed babies Breastfeeding has a fundamental positive impact on the short, medium and long-term health of children and has an important and lasting impact on women’s health. Not breastfeeding contributes to infant mortality, hospitalisation for preventable diseases, increased rates of childhood diabetes and obesity, and adult disease. […]

I kept track of statistics for 1 year of births for the incidence of cord around the neck and past due status for the 45 births that year. 47% of the babies were born with the cord wrapped around their necks 55% were more than 41 weeks pregnant! All babies had healthy outcomes.  These are […]

10 Tips for Avoiding a First-Time Cesarean July 27, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment By Jessica English, CD(DONA), LCCE More and more women in the United States (and around the world) are having cesarean births. A recent study from the Yale University of Medicine showed two main reasons for the rise: more c-sections in first-time moms and lower […]

Guidelines have changed for exercise during pregnancy Trillia Newbell features@knoxnews.com Friday, July 8, 2011 Exercise during pregnancy is not only beneficial but recommended by scientific boards and governing organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. But it hasn’t always been. Only in the last 10 years has exercise during pregnancy been given […]

Science News ScienceDaily (June 24, 2011) — Use of vitamin D supplements during pregnancy has long been a matter of concern but now researchers writing in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research report that even a high supplementation amount in healthy pregnant women was safe and effective in raising circulating vitamin D to a level […]

Dietary supplement can protect against pre-eclampsia, new study suggests ScienceDaily (2011-05-19) — A dietary supplement containing an amino acid and antioxidant vitamins, given to pregnant women at high risk of pre-eclampsia, can reduce the occurrence of the disease, finds a new study.

By ANAHAD O’CONNOR THE FACTS Colic is one of the most prevalent conditions of infancy: about 20 percent of all babies suffer the inconsolable bouts of crying that characterize it. Yet no one really understands what makes a baby colicky. Scientists have investigated a number of causes — allergies, hormones in milk, even stress in the womb. But […]

ScienceDaily (Feb. 19, 2011) — Inducing labor without a medical reason is associated with negative outcomes for the mother, including increased rates of cesarean delivery, greater blood loss and an extended length of stay in the hospital, and does not provide any benefit for the newborn, according to a new study. As the number of […]

For more information about the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists or to find a service in your area, call (866) 626-6847 or visit us online at: www.OTISpregnancy.org. Ibuprofen and Pregnancy This sheet talks about the risks that exposure to ibuprofen can have during pregnancy. With each pregnancy, all women have a 3% to 5% chance of having a […]

Study urges vitamin D supplement for infants By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY Most babies should take a daily vitamin D supplement, a new study shows. That will be a big change for most parents — and even many pediatricians. Only 1% to 13% of infants under 1 year now get a vitamin D supplement, available […]

This is from Dr. Gott.  Mix equal portions of unprocessed bran, applesauce and prune juice together and place then in your refrigerator for at least an hour to blend them.  Then take 1 – 2 tablespoons daily, more if necessary, for relief.  The remedy may take up to 2 weeks to be fully effective, but […]

The Claim: Gargling With Salt Water Can Ease Cold Symptoms By ANAHAD O’CONNOR THE FACTS Nothing but time can cure the common cold, but a simple cup of salt water might ease the misery this winter. A sore, itchy throat and respiratory congestion are some of the more common symptoms of a cold, and gargling with salt water […]