Childbirth education in a world of challenges

In this column, the author considers the impact of widespread crises and global tensions on pregnancy and early parenting. Childbirth educators can help alleviate the impact of societal stress on expectant families.     

The power of perceptions of childbearing

Documenting women's perceptions of childbearing experiences can help other pregnant women with their own birth decisions.     

Learning about sex in later life: sources of education and older Australian adults

This paper examines the preferred sexuality education sources of older Australian adults in later life. Drawing on findings from qualitative interviews with 30 men and 23 women aged 60 years and older, we consider the sources that participants currently use, or would like to use, in seeking information about sex. Where relevant, we examine participants’ experiences of learning about sex in later life using different sources, and the impact these had on their sexual expression, pleasure and well-being. Preferred sources of information include the Internet, the media, health care providers, books and workshops or discussion groups. A substantial number of participants did not actively seek information on sex. For those who had, these educational endeavours could profoundly shape their sexual practices. As such, learning about sex should be viewed as a lifelong endeavour. Our findings carry important implications for the development and delivery of sexuality education for older adults.     

Leaving a Lamaze Legacy

The author reaches out across the years to establish a new link with Madame Blanche Cohen and acknowledge her legacy in ongoing efforts to promote natural childbirth.     

Dancing with the one who "brung" you into perinatal education

The childbirth education movement began with creating a cultural shift to foster understanding that women should have choice in their birth. It has moved to the perinatal education movement with recognition that there are many teachable perinatal moments.     

Post-ecstatic birth syndrome

In this column, the author suggests the use of positive terminology as a way to influence the dominant viewpoint of childbirth towards the midwifery model of care.     

Decision latitude in childbirth

Decision latitude in the workplace and a mother's perception of control in the labor of childbirth are highly related concepts. Both concepts have been shown to be important to the health and development of laboring humans.     

Will birth attendants need to promote high-tech intervention to afford malpractice insurance?

In this column, the author examines the trends of the midwifery model of care versus nonmedically indicated cesarean births and their effect on malpractice insurance rates. Childbirth educators are encouraged to support a health-care system that promotes normal birth.     

Overcoming isolation of the new mother

Isolation is a frequently mentioned and long-remembered issue for new mothers in a North American culture. Perinatal educators can play a role in helping new parents build support systems that are designed to diminish the experience of postpartum and new-parent isolation.