Birth Matters Virginia

Mapping Maternity Care and Birth Outcomes

High quality maternity care saves the lives of millions of women in pregnancy and childbirth. The improvements in outcomes for women over the last two centuries make clear the benefits of surgical expertise.

Even now maternal mortality ranges by over 1000 times between countries with the poorest and best outcomes further indicating the benefits of medical interventions. Within the US however there are significant variations in the delivery of surgical care without any clear differences in outcomes as measured by either maternal or infant mortality. Over the last two decades the rates of cesarean section have dropped in the mid 1990's, when effort was paid to reduce their rates, and have subsequently risen dramatically. Over the same period there have been no corresponding reductions in maternal-infant mortality outcomes. The costs of these procedures can be measured in dollars and cents.

Within this site we present publically available data to highlight this process and to bring awareness to this issue. While there is controversy as to the optimal cesarean rate, there is evidence that the current rate is higher than necessary for maternal or perinatal safety and that geographic variation does not reflect differences in women's risks, values, or preferences. We hope that this information is found to be...... 

Please proceed through the four screens on the link provided:

http://www.mappinghealth.com/maternitycare

 

International Midwifery Day on May 5th, 2011

It's that time of year again. Birth Matters Tidewater is gearing up to celebrate International Midwifery Day on May 5th, 2011, all month long with our library display project. We want to thank you for participating last year. We were able to have a large and diverse presence in the Tidewater area. We are currently ...looking for people to sponsor a library display for $25. It’s a great way to show off your business or family name at a library near you.
The donations help fund our professional looking display and help defray the cost of printing for the many informative hand outs we make available for the displays. 
If you are interested in sponsorship please contact Kathy Hubbard by emailing her your electronic logo at [email protected] and mailing your business cards to 1208 Advance Rd., Virginia Beach, VA. 23452. Payment can be made by check to the above address or you can send her a request for a paypal invoice. The deadline is April 29th. If you have any questions please contact Kathy Hubbard by email or phone at (757) 631-0952. Help spread the word about midwifery! Thank you again for helping us as we strive to create a more positive and informed birth culture. 
Sincerely, 

The Birth Matters Tidewater Team

For Immediate Release Maternal Health Organizations Announce New Coalition

Nine national professional, consumer, and human rights organizations have come together to form the Coalition for Quality Maternity Care (CQMC) to champion the urgent need for national strategies to improve the quality and value of maternal and newborn health care in America. 

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Maternal-Health-Organizations-Announce-New-Coalition.html?soid=1101596944191&aid=opOleBwM7IA