Join the Conversation tonight,Tuesday July 29th at 6pm ET as Dana and Laura discuss infant mental health with Kimberly Treharne, Clinical Supervisor for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health at The Florida Center for Early Childhood, Inc. Have a question for our hosts or guest? Please email us or post to our facebook page.
Tune into WSLR 96.5 LPFM or online at www.wslr.org tonight, Tuesday, July 29th at 6:00pm ET. The program will also available later in the evening via podcast at maternallyyoursradio.com.
Join the Conversation tonight, Tuesday, July 22nd at 6pm ET as Ryan and Laura discuss gun safety. With over 1.5 million American children living in homes where firearms are left unsecured and loaded and an estimated 62 deaths and 660 hospital visits caused by accidental shootings each year, it's time to ask some tough questions about this lethal, yet politically accepted, epidemic. To help us get some answers, we are joined by Chryl Anderson, Florida Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
Tune into WSLR 96.5 LPFM or online at www.wslr.org tonight, Tuesday, July 22nd at 6:00pm ET. The program will also available later in the evening via podcast at maternallyyoursradio.com.
Join the Conversation Tuesday, July 15th when Dana and Ryan talk about the art of keeping a sane and satisfying family life with Meagan Francis, author of the book The Happiest Mom and the popular website, The Happiest Home. Have a question for our hosts or guest? Please email us or post to our facebook page.
Tune into WSLR 96.5 LPFM or online at www.wslr.org Tuesday, July 15th at 6:00pm ET. The program will also available later in the evening via podcast at maternallyyoursradio.com.
Routine Pelvic Exam Should Be Discontinued, Physician Group Says
In a new practice recommendation issued last week, the American College of Physicians said the routine pelvic exam is not an effective way to detect gynecological cancers, venereal or pelvic inflammatory disease or bacterial infections. The annual procedure causes pain and discomfort to as many as 60% of women of childbearing age, prompting many to avoid regular visits to a gynecologist. And it is particularly likely to cause distress to women who have been sexually abused and those who are extremely overweight. Whether the recommendation will change the routine medical care of women is uncertain, as pelvic exams are most often performed by OB-GYNs who, citing "expert opinion," have defended their value. In a committee opinion drafted in 2012 and reaffirmed this year, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists acknowledged that the case for the annual pelvic exam "lacks data to support a specific time frame or frequency." But the group nevertheless recommended annual pelvic exams for women over 21 without symptoms of possible illness, after a consultation between doctor and patient. Last week, ACOG said it "continues to firmly believe in the clinical value of pelvic exams."
Effect of Home Visiting by Nurses on Maternal and Child Mortality
A new study in the latest issue of JAMA Pediatrics finds that home visits from nurses may help lower the risk of maternal death. The study, revealed that in a group of 1,138 mothers at high risk for maternal death, those who received prenatal and infant and toddler nurse visits at home were significantly less likely to die than those who did not. The mothers were assigned to one of four different treatment groups, two of which included home visitation. After analyzing all cause maternal mortality and preventable-case mortality like sudden infant death syndrome, unintentional injury and homicide in children, researchers found that the average 21-year maternal all-cause mortality rate was significantly higher in the control groups without home visitation. Locally, Sarasota Memorial Hospital had a groundbreaking postpartum home visitation program that was defunded in 2012. The program included home visits from a lactation nurse to over 1100 families annually. We urge Sarasota Memorial to investigate funding sources to reinstate this program. In the meantime, support can be given to The Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, who provides in-home and group support to women through all stages of pregnancy and the postpartum year. Visit healthystartsarasota.org for more information.
National Women's Law Center Launches CoverHer Hotline
In this week’s “Oh, Hobby Lobby” segment, we bring you some good news from our friend Sonia Fuentes, who tells us that the National Women's Law Center has launched a new hotline called “CoverHer” to help women who are having trouble getting access to women's preventive health services - especially contraception - at no cost to them. The user-friendly hotline provides personalized instructions on how to navigate the health insurance process to ensure that women get the coverage for preventive services they are guaranteed under the health care law. It also includes critical follow-up to track the results. The hotline number is (866) 745-5487. Visit www.CoverHer.org for more information.
Rest in Peace, Stephen Gaskin
And we have lost another champion of mother’s rights this week, as we say goodbye to Stephen Gaskin. Stephen was the founding father of the intentional community The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee, and the husband for 46 powerful years to midwifery pioneer Ina May Gaskin. Let’s listen to Ina May talk about the kind of man her husband was.
Tonight's Epilogue:
On tonight's show, we welcomed back Hermine Hayes-Klein of the international organization Human Rights in Childbirth. Hermine expounded on the introduction to her organization she shared on our show two weeks ago, explaining how the motivation so many of us share through absorbing the negative birth experiences of our peers was transformed into the mobilization of multiple disciplines throughout several countries, all with a shared mission: to clarify and promote the fundamental human rights of pregnant people.
The fundamental human rights in childbirth that Hermine's organization works to raise awareness and preservation for are:
We talked about several recently publicized instances of human rights violations in childbirth, including forced cesarean sections, criminalization of homebirth midwifery, lack of VBAC access, shackling and sterilization of incarcerated pregnant women, and an overall obstetric climate that suggests that women are not autonomous, when we are, in fact, the captains of our ships.
Childbearing women are humans, and humans have basic fundamental rights. Human Rights in Childbirth is leading a global movement to restore and preserve these rights. If you would like to support their efforts, please visit their website, and go to their IndieGogo campaign to learn more. (You can score some sweet gifts, too.)
Join the Conversation Tuesday, July 8th at 6pm ET as Laura and Dana welcome back Hermine Hayes-Klein of Human Rights in Childbirth. Following her appearance on our episode on Forced Cesareans two weeks ago, Hermine will share the history of her organization and the pressing human rights issues facing childbearing women worldwide. Have a question for our hosts or guest? Please email us or post to our facebook page.
Tune into WSLR 96.5 LPFM or online at www.wslr.org Tuesday, July 8th at 6:00pm ET. The program will also available later in the evening via podcast at maternallyyoursradio.com.
Join the Conversation tonight, Tuesday, July 1st when we talk about car safety and children. With new car seat laws taking effect and summer heat sweltering, car safety is an issue at the forefront of many parents' minds. We'll speak to local experts and bring you the latest on keeping your little ones safe, on the road. Have a question for our hosts or guest? Please email us or post to our facebook page.
Tune into WSLR 96.5 LPFM or online at www.wslr.org tonight, Tuesday, July 1st at 6:00pm ET. The program will also available later in the evening via podcast at maternallyyoursradio.com.
