Believe Midwifery Services

Gather together with breastfeeding mothers in the community for encouragement, counsel and fellowship.  Meetings occur the third Friday of each month from noon to 2pm at Believe Midwifery Services.  All are welcome!

Contact Penny at 765-436-7527 for further details. 

Visit our Blog 

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) provides research, administers and promotes continuing education programs, establishes clinical practice standards, and creates liaisons with state and federal agencies and members of Congress.

The mission of ACNM is to promote the health and well-being of women and infants within their families and communities through the development and support of the profession of midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives. The philosophy inherent in the profession states that nurse-midwives believe every individual has the right to safe, satisfying health care with respect for human dignity and cultural variations.

ACNM can be found at www.midwife.org

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Citizens for Midwifery is a non-profit, volunteer, grassroots organization. Founded by several mothers in 1996, it is the only national consumer-based group promoting the Midwives Model of Care.  www.cfmidwifery.org

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Birthing Rights vary based on code of ethics of each hospital, professional organization and state statute.  These sites can give you an idea of the level and kind of care you can expect - and demand - from healthcare providers belonging to such institutions.

www.Childbirthconnection.org.pdfs/rights_childbearing_women.pdf

www.aha.org/aha/issues/Communicating-With-Patients/pt-care-partnership.html

www.acog.org/from_home/acogcode.pdf

www.acnm.org/display.cfm?id=483

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The WORLD FACTBOOK

Central Intelligence Agency - world rankings of infant mortality rate

Waterbirth International offers a plethora of information concerning the safety of waterbirth and offers tubs and equipment for sale or rent.  www.waterbirth.org

Lamaze International www.lamaze.org and their blog, www.ScienceandSensibility.org

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Mother's ADVOCATE is a co-production of Lamaze and offers free materials for teaching Healthy Birth at www.mothersadvocate.org.  YouTube videos and pdf handouts are available for free download.

Childbirth Connection at www.childbirthconnection.org

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) www.motherfriendly.org

National Advocates for Pregnant Women www.advocatesforpregnantwomen.org

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Like Consumer Reports, The Birth Survey, helps people evaluate the goods and services they are shopping for in maternal/child health.  Collectively, this information provides the public with a tool that will help women make maternity care decisions that are right for their individual needs.  The Birth Survey was created by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) and piloted in New York City by Choices in Childbirth.  It became available nation-wide in the summer of 2008 and is online at www.thebirthsurvey.com. 

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La Leche League was founded to give information and encouragement, mainly through personal help, to all mothers who want to breastfeed their babies. While complementing the care of the physician and other health care professionals, it recognizes the unique importance of one mother helping another to perceive the needs of her child and to learn the best means of fulfilling those needs.  www.lalecheleague.org

Indiana Code. IC § 16-35-6-1
As added by P.L.125-2003, SEC.1.

Notwithstanding any other law, a woman may breastfeed her child anywhere the woman has a right to be.

New York Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney has recently introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act, which would provide women nationwide with the kind of support necessary for successful, sustained breastfeeding.  www.maloney.house.gov

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Doulas of North America (DONA)   www.dona.org

Local DONA doula instructor Paula Miller RN, (DONA) www.birth-by-design.com

Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE) www.alace.org

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Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)

As the cesarean rate continues to climb year after year, it becomes increasingly important for women to have access to VBAC, and to more information about the benefits and risks of VBAC and repeat cesarean.  The single most controversial issue regarding VBAC is the possibility of a uterine rupture, the separation of the uterine scar from a prior cesarean during labor or birth. The risk is less than 1% for women with one prior low-segment horizontal uterine scar, and 60 to 75% of mothers who choose VBAC successfully avoid a repeat cesarean. There is no evidence that routine repeat cesarean sections are safer than a planned VBAC.

www.childbirthconnection.org

www.ican-online.org

www.vbac.com

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Plus-Size Pregnancy   www.plus-size-pregnancy.org

Sidelines: High-risk pregnancy  www.sidelines.org

Compleat Mother Magazine  www.compleatmother.com

Mothering Magazine  www.mothering.com

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Distance Learning in Midwifery

Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Health  www.midwives.org

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You may be entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA").  This federal law applies to both women and men who work in a public agency, school or company with 50 or more employees with 75 miles.  The leave can be used for pregnancy complications as well as for the birth and care of your newborn. 

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/benefits-leave/fmla.htm

~~~INDIANAPOLIS AREA~~~

Homebirth Support Group of Central Indiana  http://health.gropus.yahoo.com

~~~LAFAYETTE AREA~~~

C.H.O.I.C.E.S of Lafayette   www.lafayettebirthchoices.com

LADIES Doula Group   www.lafayettedoulas.com 

La Leche League of Lafayette   www.freewebs.com/llloflafayette.index.htm

People's Elbow (food buying co-op)   www.localharvest.org 

The Boone, Clinton & Montgomery County Breastfeeding Coalition is a grass-roots group, composed of diverse individuals seeking to protect, support and promote breastfeeding families within our community.

The coalition is open to any and all community members interested in working towards this mission.  Meetings occur quarterly and are hosted by Believe Midwifery Services.  Visit our blog.

If you would like to be added to the networking group and receive updated information concerning this coalition, simply send Penny an e-mail of your interest!!

Believe Midwifery Services hosts the coalition's monthly breastfeeding support groups on the third Friday of each month from noon to 2pm.  You can pass the word through printing and distributing our flier!

This symbol indicates baby-friendly areas and breastfeeding-friendly facilities, as well as increasing awareness of breastfeeding.