Helpful Resources for Childbirth Educators and Parents

In this column, reviewers offer perspectives and comments on a variety of books and CDs that address topics related to the politics of midwifery in the United States, preparing expectant parents for childbirth, babywearing techniques, breastfeeding guides, and a child''s perspective of home birth.     

Jonah’s Birth

Rachel Goldstein shares her experience of exploring options related to care provider and place of birth early in her pregnancy. Goldstein and her husband, Marc, after reading and research, chose midwifery care and a home birth. She shares the story of a long labor at home supported by her husband, her doula, and her midwife. Her positive attitude, her ability to use various comfort strategies, and the support she received throughout labor contributed to being able to give birth naturally and ecstatically to her son Jonah.     

They Said So on the News: Parsing Media Reports About Birth

In this column, the authors reprise recent selections from the Lamaze International research blog, Science & Sensibility. Each selection discusses shortcomings in the news media coverage of childbirth issues. The authors demonstrate how to identify misleading claims in the media and highlight how childbirth educators can apply a common-sense approach and careful fact checking to help women understand the whole story.     

New Resources for Childbirth Educators and Parents

In this column, reviewers offer perspectives and comments on a variety of new media resources for childbirth educators and for expectant and new parents. The books and DVDs reviewed in this issue''s column address the following topics: new directions for childbirth education classes; pregnancy tips for expectant mothers; empowering women to give birth naturally; midwifery care; breastfeeding; labyrinths and “laborinths” (an alternative approach to preparing for birth); preterm labor; understanding newborns'' language cues; and exercise programs during pregnancy and the postnatal period, as well as exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor and help new mothers deal with incontinence.     

Preparing for the First Birth: Mothers' Experiences at Home and in Hospital in Australia

The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of a group of first-time mothers who had given birth at home or in hospital in Australia. Data were generated from in-depth interviews with 19 women and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. One of the categories to emerge from the analysis, “Preparing for Birth,” is discussed in this article. Preparing for Birth consisted of two subcategories, “Finding a Childbirth Setting” and “Setting Up Birth Expectations,” which were mediated by beliefs, convenience, finances, reputation, imagination, education and knowledge, birth stories, and previous life experiences. Overall, the women who had planned home births felt more prepared for birth and were better supported by their midwives compared with women who had planned hospital births.     

Safe,Healthy Birth: What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know

In spite of technology and medical science''s ability to manage complex health problems, the current maternity care environment has increased risks for healthy women and their babies. It comes as a surprise to most women that standard maternity care does not reflect best scientific evidence. In this column, evidence-based maternity care practices are discussed with an emphasis on the practices that increase safety for mother and baby, and what pregnant women need to know in order to have safe, healthy births is described.     

Being a resource for both mother and child: fathers' experiences following a complicated birth

The aim of this study was to describe fathers' experiences of being present on a postnatal ward and during the first days at home following a complicated birth. Fifteen fathers were interviewed, and content analysis was used for the analysis. The theme illustrated that fathers were a resource for both mother and child through practical and emotional engagement. The categories describe how the father empowers the mother and illustrates adapting to new family roles. Following complicated birth, fathers should be invited to stay around-the-clock on postnatal wards because it gives them the opportunity to place their resources at the disposal of mother and child. In antenatal courses, fathers should be prepared for their empowering role after a complicated birth.     

Research Summaries for Normal Birth

In this column, the author summarizes four research studies relevant to normal birth. The studies summarized include a systematic review of trials evaluating the benefits versus harms of routine artificial rupture of the membranes; a study of the effect of continuous female labor support by a minimally trained family member or friend on attachment and early parenting; a systematic review examining the relationship between cesarean surgery and postpartum urinary incontinence; and a randomized controlled trial of warm perineal compresses during the second stage of labor.     

从转型的视野探究我国新型居家养老模式

随着我国人口老龄化步伐的逐渐加快,老年人的养老问题越来越突出,受多种因素的制约,居家养老已成为大多数中国老人的首选。因此,从我国的国情出发,探究新型居家养老模式就显得尤其紧迫。这就要求我们在发展新型居家养老模式中,应发挥政府主导作用,规范社区功能;挖掘市场调节潜力,促进产业效应;依托专业队伍建设,培育服务内涵。     

Ways with Visual Languages: Making the Case for Critical Media Literacy

Teaching is a stressful profession. The causes are many but solutions are available to help the teacher cope. The author offers thirteen practical suggestions to manage stress.     

Making the Case for a Comprehensive ADHD Assessment Model on a College Campus

Despite increased demands on university counseling center resources, some centers are offering comprehensive assessments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The rationale for one counseling center's decision to provide comprehensive ADHD assessments is presented, including the clinical, legal, social, medical, financial, and philosophical factors influencing such a decision. The general characteristics of the students presenting for assessment and the specific ADHD assessment process are described. In addition, the benefits of and drawbacks to such a program, as well as its applicability to other university counseling centers, are discussed.     

论实现小康社会教育发展目标:比较的角度

我国实现小康社会的教育发展目标,既要参照国际教育发展状况和趋势,又要有为中华民族伟大复兴奠定基础的远见。面对教育发展不平衡、教育体制有待完善、教育质量有待提高等现实问题,我们应当继续推进教育体制改革,加大和优化教育投入,全面实花素质教育,从而保障小康社会的教育发展目标能真正落到实处。     

Making the aural presentation of examination papers student friendly: an alternative to a reader in examinations

Where a student can benefit from having an examination paper presented aurally, the traditional method is to provide a reader. This can be socially uncomfortable for students, and offers of readers are frequently declined. A trial is reported in which examinations were presented on an Apple iPod. This is a medium with which many students are comfortable, which facilitates easy exploration of the examination paper and repetitive listening and which is both socially acceptable and practical in a normal examination room. The findings indicate that it removes one of the significant barriers to greater take‐up of aural presentation.     

先行调解法治化运行的困境及出路——以H县人民法院为分析样本

先行调解入法前在司法实践中已经践行,对H县人民法院先行调解的实践进行梳理,不难发现先行调解在司法实践中尚存主体不明、适用范围不清及对当事人权益欠缺相应保障等问题。剖析其原因,主要是先行调解的性质不明,当事人对先行调解制度的认同度低,以及法院片面追求高调解率等体制痼疾所致。明确先行调解制度的性质,探索合理运行模式,在制度运行中切实保障当事人的合法权益,并建立合理的司法绩效考评体系,不失为先行调解制度法治化运行的有效路径。     

Inter‐agency approaches to the development of a school‐based student health service

Young people living in rural areas lack opportunities for accessing health advice and care without reference to a parent, carer, or other adult. In this article Jane Harrison and Jane Bullock provide the rationale for the development in 1997 of Bodyzone, a school‐based health service to address this problem. Presented here as a case study, Bodyzone, twenty of which have been started in Oxfordshire, demonstrates the value of such a service to young people and teachers. The multi‐agency sessions are held once a week either on school premises or in youth or sports centres nearby. The service is accessed by self‐referral and the sessions are drop‐in. The provision of this service enables young people to begin to take responsibility for their health and to meet health professionals on their own territory, rather than that of the agency.     

像做电视剧一样做栏目--从《雾都夜话》的成功看方言电视栏目剧之路

近年来,方言电视栏目剧悄然崛起。在数十个卫星频道争奇斗艳的中国荧屏,缺少大制作、缺少大明星、讲着重庆方言的《雾都夜话》凭借其清晰准确的市场定位、本土化的真实故事、共同关注的情感话题和简洁化的故事情节等成为其中的佼佼者,给方言电视栏目剧的制作带来有益借鉴。