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 As we entered the 21st century, Childbirth Connection (then known as Maternity Center Association) took a close look at the childbirth experience in the U.S. Our assessment highlighted serious concerns about the quality of maternity care. We found major gaps between the care that mothers and babies actually receive and the care that they should receive based on the best scientific evidence. We refer to this as the "evidence-practice gap." To address these concerns, Childbirth Connection launched a long-term national program to promote safe, effective, and satisfying care that is consistent with the best scientific research. Our program helps women, health professionals, policymakers, and the media understand the best available research, take steps to make care more consistent with the best research, and fill in gaps in knowledge about safe and effective maternity care. We support improved clinical decision making and changes in policy and education to ensure that childbearing women have access to high-quality care. Our program places special emphasis on helping women to:
Childbirth Connection's website, research, and other programs are recognized by a broad spectrum of health professionals and many key organizations as a leading national resource for evidence-based maternity care. Many health professionals are committed to practicing according to the best evidence and welcome Childbirth Connection's help with understanding the evidence-based paradigm, lessons from the best research on specific topics, and how to gain access to basic resources for evidence-based maternity care. And, many childbearing women rely on our resources for trustworthy, high-quality information to help them make informed maternity care decisions. To extend its reach and resources, Childbirth Connection collaborates extensively with a broad range of organizations and with many leaders in the field. Childbirth Connection works to promote safe, effective and satisfying maternity care through 4 major ongoing initiatives: Cesarean Alert Initiative, Listening to Mothers Initiative, Labor Pain Initiative and Labor Support Initiative. Inside Programs:Cesarean Alert InitiativeCesarean section is on the rise in the U.S. About 1 woman in 3 now gives birth by major surgery. Childbirth Connection carried out the first in-depth review of the relevant research to identify all adverse effects in mothers and babies that are more likely with a cesarean or a vaginal birth. A booklet based on the results, What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know About Cesarean Section, helps pregnant women understand the key results from this research and provides evidence-based tips for women who wish to avoid unnecessary cesareans. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of using the best research to guide personal decision making, policy making and maternity care practice.Go to Cesarean Alert Initiative  Listening to Mothers InitiativeChildbirth Connection's ongoing Listening to Mothers Initiative is devoted to understanding experiences and perspectives of childbearing women and using this knowledge to improve maternity policy, practice, education and research. National Listening to Mothers surveys provide an unprecedented understanding of experiences that affect women, babies, and families in the United States during a critical period in human and family development. They enable us to compare actual experiences of childbearing women and newborns to mothers' preferences, as well as to optimal evidence-based care, optimal outcomes, and protections granted by law. Identified gaps present opportunities to improve conditions for over four million mothers and babies annually in the U.S. In addition to the landmark first national Listening to Mothers survey (2002), we carried out and reported Listening to Mothers II in 2006. A follow-up survey with Listening to Mothers II participants that focused on postpartum experiences will be reported in spring 2007. Childbirth Connection will also issue Recommendations based on results of both Listening to Mothers II surveys in 2007.Go to Listening to Mothers Initiative Labor Pain InitiativeLabor pain is a matter of great concern to the 4 million U.S. women who give birth annually, yet controversy and incomplete knowledge about methods to relieve it still exist. Many women lack access to valid and complete information and a choice among pain relief methods. Childbirth Connection's Labor Pain Initiative helps ensure that women and their caregivers have access to the best research on the safety and effectiveness of available methods for relieving labor pain, and that women have access to a full array of drug and non-drug pain relief methods.Go to Labor Pain Initiative Labor Support InitiativeContinuous support during labor offers women many benefits and has no known downsides. This initiative helps increase women's access to and understanding of the positive impact of continuous care from a supportive companion during labor. Childbirth Connection participated in a comprehensive study describing the experiences of nearly 13,000 women has found that women who receive supportive care from a companion throughout labor are more likely than women without such care to avoid cesarean birth and other major medical interventions and to be satisfied with their birth experience.Labor Support Initiative Related Links
© 2008 Childbirth Connection. All rights reserved.
Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families. |
News and Features
Perfect Gift for New Mothers!
You are My World  This book celebrates the miraculous interaction between babies and their mothers and fathers through lovely black-and-white photos. Learn more about this book   We are celebrating our 90th anniversary! Donate online More ways to donate View a list of our generous donors Read our 2007 Annual Appeal letter Childbirth Connection In the News The New York Sun:"Rise in C-Sections is Stirring Worry" USA TODAY:"Interest Wanes in Birth Classes" Mothering Magazine:"Cesarean Birth in a Culture of Fear" Get these links and more articles  Creative Ways to Donate to Childbirth Connection When you shop at Amazon.com from our website, you could be directly giving Childbirth Connection a portion of the sale! See this and other ways to donate Blog Chatter Here are some entries mentioning Childbirth Connection or our work. Go to In the Blogs  Journey to Parenthood Full Book Available Online! A family-friendly book covering the trimesters, pregnancy resources, and the latest information on baby's first year of development. Available online (free) and for purchase in the Bookstore. Browse through Journey to Parenthood Buy this book and learn more New Content!
Cesarean Trends: Graphs and Links
Provides a graph of the rising c-section rate, and links for the latest resources for the rising cesarean section rate. Access our cesarean section resources Journey to Parenthood :: entire book available online We've made our popular pregnancy book available online for free. Start reading Journey to Parenthood Preparing for Pregnancy Preparing for pregnancy now can make all the difference as you are trying to conceive. Go to Preparing for Pregnancy Popular Pages
"The only thing that I did not like was that after my son was born, I was having trouble breastfeeding and the hospital staff seemed too busy to help me. I had a Lactation Consultant come to my house to help, when I really should have received that help at the hospital."
Every woman has the right to freedom of movement during labor, unencumbered by tubes, wires, or other apparatus. She also has the right to give birth in the position of her choice.
Perfect Gifts for Pregnant Women and New Mothers! You are My World  A perfect gift for pregnant women and new parents, this book celebrates the miraculous interaction between babies and their mothers and fathers through lovely black-and-white photos of infants with captions that reflect reality as seen through their newborn eyes.Learn more about this book Shop at Amazon  When you shop at Amazon by clicking on a link to a book or other product from this website, we earn a small commission based on what you buy. If you're going to shop at Amazon, start by clicking here! Our recommended pregnancy books Browse in Amazon A Personalized Mommy Tag  Engraved Mommy Tags, made of sterling silver, are a perfect gift for a new mom - or a mom who needs a new accessory! Learn more about Mommy Tags
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