This may sound like a *touchy-feely* term. Well, it is.
I think we all need to be more touchy-feely when it comes to birth and supporting a birthing mother. My new favorite author and activist this week is Penny Simkin. Through her website I found this, Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care, as compiled by the Coalition for Improvement of Maternity Services, www.motherfriendly.com
This is easy stuff people.
1. Offers all birthing mothers with unrestricted access to birth companions, labor support, and midwifery care.
2. Provides accurate, descriptive statistical information about birth care practices.
3. Provides culturally competent care.
4. Provides birthing mother with the freedom to walk, move, assume positions of her choice.
5. Has clearly defined policies, procedures for collaboration, consultation, links to community resources.
6. Does not routinely employ practices, procedures unsupported by scientific evidence.
7. Educated staff in non-drug methods of pain relief and does not promote use of analgesic, anesthetic drugs.
8. Encourages all mothers, families to touch, hold, breastfeed, care for their babies.
9. Discourages non-religious circumcision of the newborn.
10. Strives for the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative to promote successful breastfeeding.
