BlogHer - BlgHers Act Global Health Initiative Chosen - Comments

well researched book on maternal health

Dr.Hannah — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:10:58 -0500

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/328968_condor27.html highlights some of the issues women face when they are going to give birth.

Maternal Health starts with Preconception Care

Dr.Hannah — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 18:45:22 -0500

One of the reasons mortality rates are so high in the U.S. is related to amount of intervention that occurs in hospitals. Women evolved over the last several eons with the innate ability to give birth to a child--yet you'd think we couldn't do it without drugs, legs up in stirrups, C-sections, and pink hospital walls. You may want to ask, why is pregnancy treated as a disease in this country ladies?

Statistics show the healthiest babies are delivered through trained and experienced midwives, and with whom women have the smallest number of post-partum complications. High-tech birth intervention, while life-saving in some instances, is in reality part of the problem. Hard to acknowledge such a well-marketed, convenience-driven phenomenon could be negative, isn't it?

There are many reasonable-cost, preventatively-minded, preconception-care focused practitioners in the NorthWest that, if more people knew what existed, could HUGELY impact mortality and morbidity outcomes.

I'd really like to see a dialogue started outside the box here.

thank you,
Hannah Albert, ND
www.mantrart.typepad.com
www.hannahalbertnd.com

We must be willing to give up the life we've planned in order to live the life we are given.

Narrowing down maternal health is even a challenge

Maurene Caplan Grey — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:30:32 -0500

In the U.S., hospitals are vying for the maternal health business. I volunteer at our local hospital. The hospital is going to be providing the in-labor moms-to-be the option of having their nails manicured (between contractions, I guess).

Maternal health is treated differently by the moms-to-be and her family for baby one versus subsequent babies. "You've been through this already."

What role does/should alternative wellness vs. Western traditional medical illness play in the health of mother and child?

As others pointed out, the health of the mom-to-be is impacted by so many things. When I was pregnant, PCs were just coming into offices. There was a concern that radiation from the monitors could effect the unborn child. My employer gave me a typewriter to use until after the birth. One could say it was altruistic, but it was also at the suggestion of their lawyer, I'm sure.

I'm breastfeeding and find out that I'm pregnant again. Do I stop breastfeeding baby one? (By the way, that's exactly what happened to me. I chose to wean my first-born off the breast. That said, I breast-fed both babies for one year each.)

And I've not even touched on the lack of care in poor neighborhoods -- U.S., developing nations, and elsewhere.

... and so it goes ...

E-Communications & Community
Never let the urgent crowd out the important.

Maternal Health = Good for All

AmieN — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:03:39 -0500

Hi,

I'm new to this blog and don't know much about BlogHer Act. I wanted to offer a huge thank-you and as much encouragement as I can for this maternal health intitiative. I am an editor for RH Reality Check, an online publication devoted to reproductive health and rights. One of our focus areas (as well as a huge interest area for me) is maternal health.

Not sure if you know about the Women Deliver Conference happening in October in England? It's going to bring together the biggest women's health advocates from around the world to figure out how to increase the political will for maternal and newborn health. We're hosting a monthly post from Family Care International about maternal health & the conference.

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/06/21/why-women-deliver-why-now

If there is ANY way I, or my site, can help with this, please let me know!! Nice work women!
Amie

This is SO important...

BusyLife — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:52:30 -0500

Look after the mother and you look after the whole family!
Emotional and spiritual needs of mothers are core to health. Even if you do not follow a religion you can have a spiritual dimension to your life. I find this through yoga and meditation.
I think the specific Maternal Health needs of mothers with special needs children should be looked at. Being a mother is in itself a mammoth task, being mother to a child with additional needs can be like running a marathon almost daily.

Wow, Angela, that would be awesome...

cooper and emily — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:33:43 -0500

What a beautiful idea. The emotional and spiritual aspects of health, maternal and otherwise, are so vital to everything else. Email us if you have specific ideas - we are building the "plan" now -- cooper-emily@themotherhood.com

Thanks!

Excellent! Maternal health

Angela Chen Shui — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:29:08 -0500

Excellent! Maternal health is important for both the present and future of humanity. Perhaps I can best contribute by looking at the emotional and spiritual aspects of maternal health...

"Angela's Voice"
Spirituality Information Self Help
Internet Home Based Business Training

BlgHers Act Global Health Initiative Chosen

cooper and emily — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:21:09 -0500

The BlogHers Act global health issue for 2007-20008 is maternal health!

With more than 1,000 votes cast, maternal health took 22 percent of the vote.

It's going to be an interesting and exciting year for BlogHers Act and we are looking for your input, ideas on projects, ideas on groups we should be getting involved, and looking for volunteers. Now that we know what the focus is, we will be using the next couple of weeks to create the plan for the year. Look for that, but in the meantime, please let us know your thoughts, ideas and how you plan to get involved.

And if you have a health issue not related to maternal health, but still want to do your own BlogHers Act initiative, PLEASE DO!!!!! Just let us know, and be sure to tag it "BlogHers Act" so we can include it in our reporting of the project!