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☆ Penny Simkin, ‘Mother of the Doula Movement,’ Dies at 85
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Penelope Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Penny Simkin, a childbirth educator and author who was often described as the “mother of the doula movement,” died on April 11 at her home in Seattle. Ms. Simkin, a physical therapist turned birth educator, was a pioneer in helping women have a better experience during and after birth. Doula is the Greek word for “female servant,” and it was embraced by alternative birth professionals sometime in the 1970s or ’80s to refer to someone who supports mothers during labor. In books, workshops and training organizations, Ms. Simkin helped popularize that role and worked as a doula herself. Doulas are not medical professionals; their role is to provide comfort to women in the delivery room as well as postpartum care at home.

Persons: Penny Simkin, ”, Linny Simkin, Simkin, Doula, Doulas Locations: Seattle

☆ I'm an American in South Korea. Living here allowed me to have a bigger family.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Meredith Lee Khanloo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewMy journey to South Korea began in 2007 when I accepted a position as an associate professor in Daegu. Raising kids in South Korea is a slice of modern paradise: convenient, safe, and attractive in both outdoor recreation and education. My boys attended Korean school and read a lot to maintain their English and Persian skills at home. School lunches are the highlight of my kids' school days. We will continue to embrace the educational opportunities, the culture, and, of course, the delicious food South Korea offers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Universal, Korean, International Locations: South Korea, Daegu, Korea

☆ Some healthcare systems are taking on the challenge of health inequity — but ending the disparities isn't a quick process
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Heather Lindsey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Some health systems are embedding health-equity programs in their business strategies. The report said health inequities led to increased costs associated with premature death, loss of work productivity, and excess medical spending. "When you lean into health equity, you can create value, better outcomes, and lower costs," he said. Bhatt said health systems can push for health equity by creating diverse care teams. "If you lean into health equity," Bhatt said, "there is opportunity to improve outcomes, build consumer loyalty and trust, and create economic value."

Persons: —, Keneica Moore, Moore, MAAME doulas, Sarahn Wheeler, Wheeler, who's, inequity, Jay Bhatt, Bhatt Organizations: Healthcare, Service, Empowerment, Duke Health, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute, Minority Health, Deloitte Health Equity Institute, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions Locations: Durham, North Carolina

☆ One couple packed up an RV and drove 1,300 miles to give birth in Virginia to escape the high Black maternal mortality rate in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Brianna Holt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Two Black women crossed state lines to give birth since they lived in places with low healthcare ratings. AdvertisementAdvertisementFor Black women, both nationally and in Texas, those rates are disproportionately higher. To avoid becoming another statistic, more and more Black women are opting for home births, doulas, midwives, and birth assistants. Due to the high maternal mortality rate in the US, some Black women are turning to midwives. Perritt warned that crossing state lines, even for those who can afford it, will not address the Black maternal mortality crisis.

Persons: Mimi Evans, Evans, Sarah Reingewirtz, Jamila, Perritt, Erin Monk, Monk, she's Organizations: MediaNews, Los Angeles Daily, Getty, OB, Physicians, Reproductive, VCU Medical Center, SDI, University of Maryland Medical Center, University Hospital Locations: States, Houston, Texas, Richmond , Virginia, Chesterfield, Richmond, In Texas, United States, Virginia, Charlotte , North Carolina, Baltimore , Maryland, Carolina, Maryland, Charlotte

☆ Opinion | How to Reduce the High Rates of Maternal Mortality
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “More Mothers Are Dying, and It’s Preventable,” by Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell (Opinion guest essay, July 17):There are other ways to address the high maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Improve abortion access at any gestational age when maternal life is at risk. Educate high-risk women of all ages on long-term, reversible contraception (especially IUDs). Make it easier to credential or re-credential older, retired professionals (physicians, nurse midwives) across state lines to assist with the shortage of medical practitioners. Nutrition or health classes are often part of school curriculums; educate, screen and treat at younger ages for hypertension and other medical conditions.

Persons: Veronica Gillispie

☆ These cofounders are giving parents-to-be an alternative option to traditional hospital care by addressing the system inadequacies for people of color
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Allegra Hill and Kimberly Durdin launched Kindred Space LA, a birth-support center, in 2018. They shared their experiences launching Kindred Space LA and their hopes for the future. Today, Kindred Space LA offers in-clinic births, home births, support groups, sessions with mental-health professionals, and collaborative care with ob-gyns and midwives who work in hospitals. Insider spoke with Hill and Durdin about their experiences launching Kindred Space LA and their hopes for the future. Kindred Space LA ultimately raised around $50,000, enough to open the birth clinic that year.

The richest Black mothers and their babies are twice as likely to die as the richest white mothers and their babies. Yet there is one group that doesn’t gain the same protection from being rich, the study finds: Black mothers and babies. The researchers found that maternal mortality rates were just as high among the highest-income Black women as among low-income white women. The richest Black women have infant mortality rates at about the same level as the poorest white women. Generally, rates for Hispanic mothers and Asian mothers track more closely with those of white mothers than Black mothers.

“We were using Facebook Messenger to communicate with her parents and coached them through the delivery, so I watched her being delivered on my cellphone," Blackburn told NBC News. Davon Thomas with his wife, Erica Thomas, and their newborn, Devynn Brielle Thomas. Erica and Davon Thomas were trapped in their house by snow when Erica suddenly went into labor, Blackburn said. She had also instructed him to help his wife take a hot shower to ease her pain and help her move around “to get the gravity going,” Blackburn said. Moments later, Erica squatted down and when the baby came out, Davon Thomas was there to receive his daughter with towels in his arms.

☆ Rate of babies born preterm in US climbs to 10.5%, March of Dimes report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The US preterm birth rate peaked in 2006 at 12.8%, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics. States with the highest and lowest ratesThe new March of Dimes report also highlighted state-by-state differences in the rate of babies born prematurely across the country. The report grades a preterm birth rate less than or equal to 7.7% as an A and a preterm birth rate greater than or equal to 11.5% as an F.The national preterm birth rate of 10.5% is graded as a D+. No state has achieved an A rate, and only one has a state-level preterm birth rate that would be graded as an A-: Vermont, which has the lowest preterm birth rate in the US at 8%. Henderson also said that preterm birth is one of the top causes of infant deaths and disproportionately affects babies born to women of color.

☆ Mississippi banned most abortions to be the 'safest state' for the unborn. Meanwhile, one in three Mississippi kids lives in poverty.
▼ + stars: | 2021-11-26 | by ( Sarah Fowler | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Mississippi lawmakers said the ban on most abortions after 15 weeks makes Mississippi 'the safest state in the country' for the unborn. "We've had so many state leaders who have talked about wanting Mississippi to be the safest state in the country for unborn babies. It's even higher for kids: one in three Mississippi children live in poverty. Each of the women has dedicated their life to helping Mississippi women and families. More than 100,000 Mississippi children should be eligible, but in 2019 – the most recent year for which there's data – just 20,900 benefited from the program.

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