It's Time to Get Things Started! It's the MANA Show!!

For some silly reason the Muppets theme song keeps playing in my head!?

It's time to play the music
It's time to light the lights
It's time to meet the Midwives on the MANA Show tonight.


It's time to put on makeup?
It's time to dress up right?
It's time to raise the curtain on the MANA Show tonight.


Why do we always come here?
I guess we really know!
It's like coming to Midwives' Mecca
And we just have to see the show!


And now let's get things started
Why don't you get things started
It's time to get things started
On the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Midwife-tational,
This is what we call the MANA Show!!!!

See you at MANA!

An Amazing Labor Transport Story !

I recently had the most amazing transport experience of my entire 25 years in midwifery. I will share part of the story with you here, and then I would like to encourage you to attend my workshop this coming Friday at the MANA conference in Traverse City, Michigan, which happens to be near where I grew up, so I am getting to go HOME for MANA…how cool! I cannot wait to get there…it looks like this will be one of the best conferences we have ever had! The great irony is that my brother and I are teaching the class on Transports and the Midwifery Model of Care! I now have lots more I want to say about how and when to do a great transport!

I helped Anna and Joe have their first baby at home two summers ago. She had a very normal, but hard, labor, and pushed for a long time. I so enjoyed this couple…very sweet young Amish, living way back in a secluded valley, on a little tiny lane back up against the mountains. There is no phone nearby, and there is no cell phone service anywhere in the valley.

Imagine a laboring Amish woman, having her second baby, on a lovely late summer day. We were all having so much fun and enjoying the idyllic weather, great food, and good conversation. When I checked her, after hours of laboring with a “funny feeling down there”, I found not just one, but TWO hands presenting first, and a huge bulging bag of water. The feeling of all those knuckles as my fingers ran over them was so interesting! I strained to feel everything else that was going on up in there…could I feel a cord? Oh, No! The water broke! Yes, there was a cord like a headband across the baby’s head so tight, and then a huge loop of cord came down as copious amounts of meconium stained water poured out. My able assistant Amanda was getting heart ones through all of this…and down they went.

I said, “Everyone in this room, you must now do exactly as I say.”

I began the extensive litany of instructions that was going to get us out of this valley, and to help, all the while going over in the back of my mind how far we were from cell phone service.

“Anna, over on your hands and knees. Put your chest down and your butt up!”

“Amanda, heart tones!”

“Gretchen, back your car up to the very edge of the porch!”

“Joe, do this and do that and get this and get that and lets pick her up and go!!”

What followed is simply the miracle of having professionals handle a crisis in the best possible way.

The dispatcher I eventually got on my cell phone, 10 minutes into the transport, listened to me, understood exactly what I needed and had an ambulance waiting for me in the next town.



The EMT’s – a husband and wife team - who took us lights and sirens and 80 miles an hour to the hospital were great. He drove, she asked me what she could do to help me, as I struggled to keep my hand inside of Anna for over 45 minutes, most of the time feeling that there was no pulse in the cord.



The rest of the story is just as amazing and even sometimes funny, as I ran through the hospital in my BARE FEET!




Come to the workshop and hear the end of this truly challenging transport, and learn about the visionary work we are doing to educate the EMS system about the midwifery model of care, and how you can help!

Midwifery and EMS: Education and Protocols for Safe Transport-

Krystin Madrine, DEM, EMT; Kraig Dodge, BBA,EMT-P

Friday, October 17, 10:30-12:00PM

.15CEU or 1.5 contact hour: MEAC, ACNM approved

Well, the Frost IS on the Pumpkin...

<
We experienced our first frost in Michigan last week. Autumn is definely in the air! The fall color is developing beautifully in downstate Michigan, so we should be at peak color in Traverse City this week. I checked the extended weather forecast today and I think we can expect lovely autumn temperatures in the 60's during the day and 40's at night. So remember to pack a jacket, sweater and gloves!

Are You Ready to Take Care of Yourself?

To add to your comfort and relaxation, visit the Red Tent
room, or the “womb of our own,” as we’ve nicknamed
it! Soothing sounds, soft low lights, teas, and comforts
make this the spot to unwind, contemplate, release,
and revitalize while enjoying dark chocolate cherries,
a Michigan specialty. Adjoining the Red Tent,our
staff of 9 massage therapists are available throughout the
conference for chair or full body massages. Sign up
sheets for massage times are posted outside the area.

Imagine yourself, massaged by skilled and loving hands,the sound of waves in the background, and did I mention dark chocolate and cherries. Ahhhh... does it get any better?

Actually it does! After your massage, take a few minutes to visit our Art Room

The ArtRoom is a gallery area celebrating birth art and the
female form. Meander through on your way to the Red
Tent to see fine art, belly casts, and other creative works. Kip and Amanda are putting together a wonderful exhibit for your enjoyment.

It's National Midwifery Week!

In the midst of all this conference work, I almost forgot that it's

National Midwifery Week, October 5-11.


Kiss a midwife today! Or give her a hug... or a massage... or draw her or warm bath... or maybe just let her take a long nap!

Continuing Education Update From ACNM

MANA 2008 PUSH has been approved by ACNM for
90 contact hours (9.0 CEUs)of continuing education credit!

32 breakout sessions and 8 pre-conferences have been approved.

Remember that Michigan Nurses Association accepts CEUs from ACNM for nursing license renewal.

Please review all of the exciting offerings at www.mana.org

Continuing Education Approved by MEAC!

The Midwifery Education Acceditation Council has approved the MANA 2008 program for 85.5 contact hours (8.55 CEUs). We are also waiting to hear about a possible 24 additional hours.

MANA conferences are a wonderful way to meet your continuing education requirements. Hey, where else can you see some great films, listen to inspiring and provocative speakers, see your old friends, dance to Motown, see the sunset over the Grand Traverse Bay, and earn continuing education credits painlessly?

Think about it now... where else?

The place to be October 16-19, is at MANA, Traverse City, Michigan.

Come on!

Let's PUSH together!!!

Herding Cats...

Ever hear the phrase "It's like herding cats?"

It's often used to describe an impossible (or nearly impossible) task.

The local Planning Committee has often laughed and said that planning a MANA conference is "like herding cats"! In fact our fearless leader, Kathi Mulder, (local Chairperson), even has a tee shirt!

Many of this year's planning committee were also very involved when we hosted MANA 10 years ago. I guess it's kinda like labor, you do forget the pain. Well, here we are again in the final stages of pulling this conference together, or should I say "pushing" it together. Everyone is working hard to finish and polish their particular contribution.

We have really tried to make this conference fresh and edgy, with diverse topics, speakers, and events. There are so many exciting things happening politically right now. Change is in the autumn air. We want to PUSH the boundaries of our profession and ourselves. We want to challenge your/our beliefs. We want to be a little uncomfortable. We want to grow.

IT'S TIME TO PUSH!!!

Think You Can’t Come to MANA Because You’re On-Call?

Have we got a deal for you!

We know that there are many busy midwives and doulas that will be on-call during the conference, and you may not know until the last minute that you are able to attend. You can register at the door, one day at a time. Friday, October 17: $60. Saturday, October 18: $100. Sunday, October 19: $60. The cost of an individual session is $35. Remember this does not include meals, entertainment or CEU packet.

Tickets for the MotherBaby Film Festival can be purchased from The State Theater at: http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/statetheatre/?page=buytickets and are $8/time slot. Go to: www.tcmiff.org for the film schedule.

Tickets for the Gala Reception/Book Signing at the Opera House on Thursday, October 17, 7:00PM-8:30PM can be purchased at the door, $15. This includes:
• Panel discussion with film makers
• Local wine, food, and music
Meet the authors of your favorite birth books and get your books signed

Local fare from Oryana Food Cooperative; beer from Right Brain Brewery; soda from Northwoods Soda Co; coffee from Great Northern Roasting Co; art by Hitching Post; cake from All Cakes; treats from Pleasanton Bakery; and chocolate from Charles Layton. Great fun for all your senses!

We will also be honoring Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein of “The Business of Being Born” for all their hard work this past year!

Tickets for Saturday, October 18, evening entertainment are: $5 ( if you are not registered for the full conference). Like Water Drum and Dance troupe will perform.

We want to see EVERYONE at MANA!!!

"Orgasmic Birth" In the Press

For her first film, an ode to the joys of childbirth, Debra Pascali-Bonaro needed an attention-getting title. She had five minutes at a pitch session with 200 television executives.

In an article written for The Record (Hackensack N.J.), www.montereyherald.com/living/ci_10564863
Lindy Washburn writes,

"First, she announced her working title, "An Ordinary Miracle: Global Models of Care."

Sit back down, they told her.

Then she tried "Ecstatic Birth." Still not good enough.

Finally, a friend Pascali-Bonaro had brought along for support whispered an idea in her ear. "Just go for it," she urged.

The fledgling filmmaker stood up and announced:

"Orgasmic Birth!"

Now they were interested.

"Orgasmic Birth" is being show at the Traverse City MotherBaby Film Festival on Wednesday October 16 at 9:00PM

Continuing Education Available at MANA

As we all know,continuing education is important in all professions,and midwifery is no exception. We have applied for continuing education approval from Midwifery Education Accreditation Council(MEAC) and the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM).

At this point we have been approved for 19 sessions totalling 2.7CEUs (27 contact hours) from ACNM, with several more sessions pending. We are awaiting approval for sessions from MEAC. Michigan Nurses Association accepts CEUs from ACNM.
Doulas of North America (DONA), accepts CEUs from both MEAC and ACNM.

So come to MANA and learn from great speakers, enjoy wonderful entertainment, spend time with old friend and meet new ones,view great films, AND earn continuing education credits at the same time!

Talk about multitasking!

Make Hotel Reservations by September 26th to Get Special Rates

Go to www.grandtraverseresort.com or call 1-800-968-7352 for reservations.

Please tell them you are with the Midwives Alliance.
The special room rate is $149 per night for one to four people, with an additional “resort fee” of $8.95 per room per night.

Condominiums are also available! If you are bringing your family or just want a larger space to share with your midwife friends, consider a condo! MANA rate is $239/night. Sample fairway or beachfront living when you get away to one of 190 condominiums. Two bedroom accommodations are available in a variety of locations. The condos include a furnished dining area, kitchenette, living room with queen-size sofa sleeper, plus wireless high-speed Internet access.

For all accommodations, check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. and check-out is by 11:00 a.m.

Remember you must register by September 26 to receive the conference rate.

www.grandtraverseresort.com or call 1-800-968-7352.

Attention Apprentice Midwives!

Pre-Conference Session
Thursday October 17
8:00AM-5:00PM

Beginning Skills: The Initial Exam
Come learn from the MANA board!

Workshop will include: first consultation, paperwork for starting a practice, informed choice, routine prenatal visit; psychological care of pregnant women; the initial physical and speculum pelvic exam, Pap smear.

Presented by:
Maggie Bennett, CPM, Region 6 Representative
Angelita Nixon, CNM, Secretary
Dinah Waranch, CNM, Region 9 Representative

Fee: $50

Buy Your Tickets Now For The MotherBaby Film Festival

Motherbaby International Film Festival

Coming to Traverse City!


An amazing array of films and speakers for women, families and health care professionals will have its Traverse City State Theatre premiere, October 15th-17th.

The Motherbaby International Film Festival (MIFF) is a traveling festival dedicated to showing images of pregnancy, birth & current healthcare issues that touch, inspire & transform while calling for cultural change.

Panel discussions include filmmaker Steve Buonaugurio, who is accompanying his documentary Pregnant in America, which was shown this year at Sundance.

Ricki Lake & Abby Epstein will be accompanying their documentary The Business of Being Born, which has been promoted on The View and in People Magazine.

Maria Iorilla is presenting her movie It’s My Body, My Baby, My Birth.

Robbie Davis-Floyd will be bringing her movie Evidence Based Childbirth to the MIFF in Traverse City.

New feature and short films include: Orgasmic Birth, Vaccine Nation, Finding the Words, plus many more.

Fourteen showings total. Family Friendly Movies 10 a.m. showing – children 6 and under are free,
Complimentary showing for Healthcare Professionals,Wednesday 6:30 p.m.

The Gala - Book Signing Benefit will be held at the City Opera House, October 17th, 7-8:30 p.m. The Gala will feature the best of local hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and beverages. More than 13 authors will be signing their books, plus Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein will be honored for all their hard work!

Tickets are $15 Babies in arms are welcome.

Film Tickets are $8 for Adults and $6 for Children 2-12
Buy tickets at The State Theatre http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org

Co- Hosted by: Sage Femme & Family Wisdom Conference
Local Film Festival Sponsor: Allegra

Like Water- Drum & Dance

Saturday October 18, 8:00PM
Open to the public. $5 admission

We are so excited to have Like Water Drum & Dance perform for us this year!

Like Water Drum & Dance is a Washtenaw County, Michigan
based percussion and dance troupe, showcasing traditional
West African drumming and dancing and original compositions.
Audiences are entertained and excited with intricately layered,
high-powered drum figures, energetic dance choreographies,
and stunning costumes. Like Water Drum & Dance play
traditional West African instruments including djembes (goblet
shaped hand drums), dununs (bass drums), balafons (wooden
xylophones), krin (log drums), as well as shakers and vocals.
The shows are not only a blast, but also inspirational, as the
group raises African and World cultural awareness, social
consciousness, as well as the ideals of unity and community.

Happy Birthday Ricki!

We want to wish Ricki Lake a very happy 40th Birthday. What a year it has been!
And we are so anxious to show our appreciation to Rikki and Abby Epstein at the MotherBaby Film Festival, October 17.

Change is Coming? I hope so...

Democrat or Republican? Red state or blue state? Liberal or conservative? I feel like Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz, when Glenda asks "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" Well... I wanna be good...

There are so many issues this election year. I guess there always are. But this year seems especially important. I try to be a responsible voter. I read. I listen. I ask questions. I watch the debates. I grew up in a working family. Not many "extras". My father's voting advise was always to "vote a straight ticket". This advice just never rang true to me. But politics is very simple to my father. I find it a lot more complicated. Is health care reform more important than the economy? Both are in a pretty big mess, if you ask me. And I'm confused.

Which brings me to MANA. This year, we are offering:
Change is Coming – What You Need to Know about the Elections and Health Care Reform- with Becky Martin and Jo Anne Myers-Ciecko, MPH


Designed for midwifery advocates who want to make sure that women will have improved access to midwives in the years ahead and that midwives will be adequately compensated for their work! Participants will use tools to compare and evaluate health reform proposals, including the platforms of the Presidential candidates. The facilitators will discuss specific programs and strategies for national political action to improve or assure access to midwifery care, including an initiative led by the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives. Find out how you can be a more effective advocate for midwives in your state and join with others for national impact!

I think this will help me sort things out.