B.I.R.T.H. Fair Educates On Healthy, Natural Birth Options

Houston, September 28, 2007--Childbirth is a natural process, not a medical procedure, so BIRTH -- Bringing Information and Resources to Houston, in conjunction with National Midwifery Week (October 1-7), is working to educate our community on the healthy, natural birth options available at it’s 6th Annual B.I.R.T.H. Fair .to be held October 6th at the United Way Center, 50 Waugh from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The fair will include sessions on Hypnobirthing, Waterbirth, and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean and give expectant moms the opportunity to meet professional midwives and doulas as well as participate in discussions on home birthing, baby wearing and breastfeeding. There will also be information available on alternative education for children, cloth diapers, the truth about vaccines, environmental toxins and children’s health and how to keep a healthy home. There is also a Dad’s panel to discuss issues relevant to dads-to-be.

There will also be $2,000 in giveaways, maternity service providers, information booths, and a mother and baby fashion show. Admission is free. For more information call 832-344-6060 or visit www.houbirth.org.

Natural Birth Options
Midwifery is the term traditionally used to describe the art of assisting a woman through childbirth. In the modern context, this term is used to describe the activities of autonomous practitioners who are specialists in normal pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum.
Midwives strive to help women have a healthy pregnancy and natural birth experience. Obstetricians, in contrast, are specialists in illness related to childbearing and in surgery. The two professions can be complementary, but often are at odds because obstetricians are taught to “actively manage” labor, while midwives are taught not to intervene unless necessary.
“Midwives know that healthy mothers mean healthy, happy babies and families,” said Pat Jones, Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and founder of BIRTH. “Midwives believe that a healthy body and mind is essential for all moms-to-be and provide the prenatal, pregnancy and postpartum care to facilitate a healthy and happy start for mom and baby.
Jones graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in 1987 as a Certified Nurse Midwife and has assisted women with more than 1500 births at home and in a free-standing birth center.

Natural Birth Facts
§ In 2002, the most current year which data is available from the National Center for Health Statistics, there were 307,527 CNM-attended births in the U.S. This accounts for over 10 percent of all vaginal births that year. The number of CNM-attended birtts has increased every year since 1975, the first year the NCHS began collecting this data.
§ In the U.S. the national infant mortality rate was 8.9 s per 1,000 live births [in 1991]. The state with the lowest rate was Vermont, with only 5.8. Vermont also has one of the highest rates of home birth in the country as well as a larger portion of midwife-attended births than most states.
§ Mothering Magazine has calculated that using midwifery care for 75% of the births in the U.S. would save an estimated $8.5 billion per year.
§ Marsden Wagner, formerly of the World Health Organization, states that every country in the European Region that has infant mortality rates better than the US uses midwives as the principal and only attendant for at least 70% of the births

About B.I.R.T.H.
BIRTH, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy birth options, also provides information on other natural birth options including hiring a doula, water birth, home birth, breastfeeding and vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC).

Generously Sponsored By:
Nativiti Women’s Health & Birth Center
The Center for Health & Healing
A Woman’s Work
The Motherhood Center
Holmes Chiropractic
Women’s Health & Birth Care

Contact Information

Melanie Fahey

Media Contact

Melanie Fahey Public Relations

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