Pregnant in America

A new documentary about the state of childbirth in the US is going to be released on DVD on December 16th! Pregnant in America examines

the betrayal of humanity's greatest gift--birth--by the greed of U.S. corporations. Hospitals, insurance companies and other members of the healthcare industry have all pushed aside the best care of our infants and mothers to play the power game of raking in huge profits.
His wife pregnant, first-time filmmaker Steve Buonaugurio set out to create a film that will expose the underside of the U.S. childbirth industry and help end its neglectful exploitation of pregnancy and birth with help from producers Betsy Chasse and Straw Weisman.
Pregnant in America is the controversial story of life's greatest miracle in the hands of a nation's most powerful interests.

Watch the trailer...

Expecting parents: What is a doula?

Since they focus solely on non-medical care, doulas can spend their energy comforting and encouraging the mother and her family and helping them navigate the slew of questions and decisions that often need to be addressed during labor and delivery. “When I’m working with parents as a doula I want my role to be uncomplicated by the clinical aspects of birth,” says Young. “I’m there to meet their emotional needs, physical comfort needs, to help them with information.”

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Home Births are on the Rise

Births in New York’s hospitals, where pediatricians are able to check babies immediately for potentially dangerous conditions, it should be noted, still vastly outnumber those in its homes — in 2006 home births accounted for only one-half of 1 percent of the city’s 125,506 reported births.

But local midwives say they have been swamped with calls and requests in recent months, in some cases increasing their workload from two, three or four deliveries a month to as many as 10. (New York health department statistics for this year will not be available until 2010.) Several certified nurse midwives who have home-birth-only practices said they had gotten so many more requests in recent months that they have begun referring pregnant women to midwives in Rockland County, Long Island and New Jersey.

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Mom's Group at Journey Birth Services

Come to Amy's house and meet other moms on the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings start at 11am and end at 2pm. Bring lunch or something to share. Children are always welcome!

Where:
52 Marshall Road
Glen Mills, PA 19342

When:
Wednesday, November 12th 11am to 2pm
Wednesday, December 10th 11am to 2pm

Journey Birth Services is adding retail!

I am excited to announce that I have added a retail section to my services. Everything I sell is available either at my office in Glen Mills or online. If you are a current or previous customer of Journey Birth Services, you receive a 10% discount on anything you buy - email me for the discount code. Also, 5% of profits from the retail store will go directly to the Rising Moon Birth Fund. Rising Moon Birth Fund seeks to make homebirth a viable option for families with financial obstacles through fundraising, outreach, and education. Clients of any midwives in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas may apply to the Rising Moon Birth Fund. So, feel free to shop! I'm adding new products all the time. If you're looking for something I don't carry, feel free to email me and let me know - maybe I can carry it!