The Childbirth Collective has been publishing this newsletter since 1998 and now we take a step into the world of blogs. We recently introduced a new website design (www.childbirthcollective.org) and, since much of our member information, as well as the schedule for Parent Topic Nights are featured there, we wanted to find a way to continue to offer the articles, birth stories and book reviews that have been included in the paper version of the newsletter. This blog replaces the thematic content that you used to find in the newsletter.

We will put out a blog post three or four times each year, with the same dedication to evidence based, best practice information for expectant families that you have come to expect from the Childbirth Collective. Our members are passionate about their work and about the challenge we face to help parents discover how to plan for, work toward and experience a birth that is personal and unique to their family. The mission of the Collective has not changed and we believe that by reaching out with the information in this blog, we can continue to encourage, inspire and enlighten parents as they uncover the hopes and dreams they have for their birth. The Collective is dedicated to giving parents the information to make informed choices about how, where and with whom to give birth, and this information has helped to change and enrich the birth community here in the metro area.

THE MISSION OF THE CHILDBIRTH COLLECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE THE CHILDBEARING YEAR FOR PARENTS BY PROMOTING QUALITY DOULA SUPPORT, ADVOCATING EVIDENCE-BASED CARE, AND PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION BASED ON THE WELLNESS MODEL OF MATERNITY CARE.

We hope you will join us on the next chapter of our adventure to offer support, options and a safe place to explore the facts, fictions, myths and fears around birth. Our deep trust in birth as a process and in a mother’s instinctual reaction to pregnancy, labor and birth allow us to create a safe environment for families hoping and planning for a normal, intervention free birth, a planned surgical birth and for everything in between. It is our hope that what you read here will make you curious about what a supported birth might mean to you or to someone you love. Consider this blog an invitation to join us at one of our Parent Topic Nights – no matter how you hope to give birth, you will find a community of support and enthusiasm for all aspects of birth.

Judith Nylander
President
The Childbirth Collective