Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Florida Midwifery
August 4, 2009 by midwiferobyn
The State of Florida is a great place for moms looking for a home birth midwife. Florida has established laws and regulations that govern midwifery, making it legal. During my years as a Licensed Midwife I am often asked questions like, what is the difference between midwives, what type of training do midwives have, and how do all these acronyms affect my choices in Florida? So let me elaborate on paths to midwifery to help you understand all those letters behind our names!
There are several types of Midwives through out the nation. There are Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), Licensed Midwives (LM), Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) and Lay midwives. In the State of Florida only two types of Midwives are legal to practice, CNM’s and LM’s. This is where it all gets a bit interesting! In Florida, in order to be a LM, you must also become a CPM, even though you couldn’t be a CPM by itself in Florida. Let me explain further.
Certified Nurse Midwives have gone through a educational process that includes becoming an RN, and then continuing on through a Master’s degree program in Nursing, with a focus on Midwifery. This program can take up to 6 years or longer to complete. The focus of Nurse Midwifery is in primary care, and not just midwifery. They are not independent practitioners and need to have physician oversight. However, they do have additional privileges that other midwives do not, such as the ability to write prescriptions, and deliver babies in the hospital. They are legal in all 50 states. They may also be known as Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners or ANRP’s depending on their education path. There are very few, if any CNM’s that are currently attending homebirths in Florida. There are many that are Birth Center Midwives. The vast majority practice in the hospital setting.
Licensed Midwives are also required to complete an education process to become licensed by the State of Florida. Licensed Midwifery is not legal in all 50 states. Florida LM’s are legal, independent practitioners and do not require physician oversight. They are able to care for low risk pregnant moms only. LM’s do not have prescription privileges and while they are legally allowed to deliver babies in a hospital, no hospital uses LM’s, and most prefer homebirth to hospital practice.
The road to becoming a licensed midwife requires a 3 year educational process. This 3 year program is comprehensive and includes hard sciences like biology, embryology and soft sciences like psychology. It of course also covers extended course work in midwifery and newborn care. LM students are required to be skilled in determining risk status, normal pregnancy, labor & delivery, postpartum and newborn care. They are well versed in complication management as well. During their 3 years in school they will observe 25 births out of the hospital, and then deliver 50 babies under the supervision of a Licensed Midwife. Once a LM student has graduated, they are required to take the state test, this is where that CPM credential comes in to play.
The North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) is an international certification agency whose mission is to establish and administer certification for the credential “Certified Professional Midwife” (CPM). CPM certification validates entry-level knowledge, skills, and experience vital to responsible midwifery practice.
Many States, including Florida, use this as their licensure exam. So in addition to meeting the minimum Florida requirements for licensure, you must also meet the NARM national requirements. So each midwife in Florida is an LM, CPM. ( ahhh ..So that’s what all those initials are!) In order to maintain these, each midwife must also have a minimum number of continuing education credits each year. Some midwives also have extra training, such as being an EMT or other certification that add to the value of their services. All licensed and certified midwives are required to have certification in CPR and Neo Natal Resuscitation.
Lay midwives are those women who have no formal training, but have apprenticed with experienced midwives. These ladies gain their education through self study and observation, and then by doing. Often they become CPM’s, through NARM, although some do not and practice without a formal license in those states where that is legal. This type of midwifery is not legal in Florida.
When choosing a midwife it is important to understand the type of midwife and her training. You can feel confident that whether you choose a CNM or a Florida Licensed Midwife you are in very capable and trained hands to guide you through your journey in childbirth.
Robyn Mattox, LM, CPM, EMT
http://centralfloridagreenguide.com/
The State of Florida is a great place for moms looking for a home birth midwife. Florida has established laws and regulations that govern midwifery, making it legal. During my years as a Licensed Midwife I am often asked questions like, what is the difference between midwives, what type of training do midwives have, and how do all these acronyms affect my choices in Florida? So let me elaborate on paths to midwifery to help you understand all those letters behind our names!
There are several types of Midwives through out the nation. There are Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), Licensed Midwives (LM), Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) and Lay midwives. In the State of Florida only two types of Midwives are legal to practice, CNM’s and LM’s. This is where it all gets a bit interesting! In Florida, in order to be a LM, you must also become a CPM, even though you couldn’t be a CPM by itself in Florida. Let me explain further.
Certified Nurse Midwives have gone through a educational process that includes becoming an RN, and then continuing on through a Master’s degree program in Nursing, with a focus on Midwifery. This program can take up to 6 years or longer to complete. The focus of Nurse Midwifery is in primary care, and not just midwifery. They are not independent practitioners and need to have physician oversight. However, they do have additional privileges that other midwives do not, such as the ability to write prescriptions, and deliver babies in the hospital. They are legal in all 50 states. They may also be known as Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners or ANRP’s depending on their education path. There are very few, if any CNM’s that are currently attending homebirths in Florida. There are many that are Birth Center Midwives. The vast majority practice in the hospital setting.
Licensed Midwives are also required to complete an education process to become licensed by the State of Florida. Licensed Midwifery is not legal in all 50 states. Florida LM’s are legal, independent practitioners and do not require physician oversight. They are able to care for low risk pregnant moms only. LM’s do not have prescription privileges and while they are legally allowed to deliver babies in a hospital, no hospital uses LM’s, and most prefer homebirth to hospital practice.
The road to becoming a licensed midwife requires a 3 year educational process. This 3 year program is comprehensive and includes hard sciences like biology, embryology and soft sciences like psychology. It of course also covers extended course work in midwifery and newborn care. LM students are required to be skilled in determining risk status, normal pregnancy, labor & delivery, postpartum and newborn care. They are well versed in complication management as well. During their 3 years in school they will observe 25 births out of the hospital, and then deliver 50 babies under the supervision of a Licensed Midwife. Once a LM student has graduated, they are required to take the state test, this is where that CPM credential comes in to play.
The North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) is an international certification agency whose mission is to establish and administer certification for the credential “Certified Professional Midwife” (CPM). CPM certification validates entry-level knowledge, skills, and experience vital to responsible midwifery practice.
Many States, including Florida, use this as their licensure exam. So in addition to meeting the minimum Florida requirements for licensure, you must also meet the NARM national requirements. So each midwife in Florida is an LM, CPM. ( ahhh ..So that’s what all those initials are!) In order to maintain these, each midwife must also have a minimum number of continuing education credits each year. Some midwives also have extra training, such as being an EMT or other certification that add to the value of their services. All licensed and certified midwives are required to have certification in CPR and Neo Natal Resuscitation.
Lay midwives are those women who have no formal training, but have apprenticed with experienced midwives. These ladies gain their education through self study and observation, and then by doing. Often they become CPM’s, through NARM, although some do not and practice without a formal license in those states where that is legal. This type of midwifery is not legal in Florida.
When choosing a midwife it is important to understand the type of midwife and her training. You can feel confident that whether you choose a CNM or a Florida Licensed Midwife you are in very capable and trained hands to guide you through your journey in childbirth.
Robyn Mattox, LM, CPM, EMT
http://centralfloridagreenguide.com/
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Strawberries help fight bad cholesterol

glitter-graphics.com
Add strawberries to the growing list of super foods.
A 2.5-year-long study by the University of Toronto found that the
antioxidants in strawberries helped manage bad cholesterol, according
to a news release.
The study, conducted by Dr. David J.A. Jenkins, backs existing
evidence that touts strawberries as a nutrient-rich foods. It showed
that the antioxidants in strawberries can improve and maintain the
effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering diets.
According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture study, strawberries rank
third in antioxidants compared with other fresh fruits and
vegetables.
The berries also improved the taste of the cholesterol-lowering diet,
which can affect whether people will stick with an eating plan.
email newsletter from Jordan Farms
Friday, January 30, 2009
Pregnant in America
THE U.S. SCORES 2ND WORST
IN NEWBORN DEATH RATE AMONGST ALL INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS
IN NEWBORN DEATH RATE AMONGST ALL INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS
Friday, October 10, 2008
Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher
It is heartbreaking to see someone you love go through this! Keep in mind the more informed you are , the more you can help them with informed choices regarding healthcare.
Gwen Olsen
Scary! I knew this happened to children but I guess I didn’t know to what extent. The children’s ages is what shocked me the most!
"100,000 Americans die each year from their prescriptions" None of these deaths are from overdoes, or a mistake by a Dr, pharmacist or the patient themselves... Death came only as a consequence of taking the drug as directed. from
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Robert Kennedy on the Vaccine Autism Coverup
Below is the article mentioned:
Deadly Immunity
This post & website are not a replacement for a health care provider & the advice given should not be considered a diagnosis or treatment. Seeking a professional care provider is the responsibility of the reader.
Mercury In Vaccines
If you don't feel you have time to watch this 4 minute video Fwd it to a minute 45 seconds to watch what happens to you & your children's brain cells when receiving a vaccine with mercury.
This post & website are not a replacement for a health care provider & the advice given should not be considered a diagnosis or treatment. Seeking a professional care provider is the responsibility of the reader.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Apple Cider Vinegar
Here is a list of ailments ACV helps with:
ACNE BLEMISHES
AGE SPOTS
ARTHRITIS HELP
ASTHMA
ATHLETE'S FOOT
BLEEDING NOSE
BLOOD PRESSURE
BODY ODOR
BONE HEALTH
BRUISES
BURNS
CANCER PREVENTION
CHOLESTEROL REDUCTION
COLDS
CONSTIPATION
CORN AND CALLUS TREATMENT
COUGHS
CRAMPS
DANDRUFF
DIABETES
DIAPER RASH
DIARRHEA
DIGESTION
EAR INFECTIONS
ECZEMA
FATIGUE
FLATULENCE
FOOT CARE
GOUT
HEADACHES
HEARTBURN (ACID REFLUX)
HEMORRHOIDS
HICCUPS
INSECT BITES AND STINGS
INSOMNIA
JELLYFISH STINGS
LEG CRAMPS
MENSTRUAL PROBLEMS
MORNING SICKNESS
MUSCLE SORENESS
NAIL FUNGUS
NIGHT SWEATS & HOT FLASHES
POISON IVY & POISON OAK
SINUSITIS
SORE THROAT
SUN BURNS
ULCERS
UTI
VARICOSE VEINS
WARTS
WEIGHT LOSS
YEAST INFECTION
for more details visit:
http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/home-remedies.html
P.S.
In an email from a friend of mine she mentioned ACV is good for gall and kidney stones. She wrote "My mom drinks it and her diabetes count went down and so did her cholesterol! "
Thanks Jessica!!
ACNE BLEMISHES
AGE SPOTS
ARTHRITIS HELP
ASTHMA
ATHLETE'S FOOT
BLEEDING NOSE
BLOOD PRESSURE
BODY ODOR
BONE HEALTH
BRUISES
BURNS
CANCER PREVENTION
CHOLESTEROL REDUCTION
COLDS
CONSTIPATION
CORN AND CALLUS TREATMENT
COUGHS
CRAMPS
DANDRUFF
DIABETES
DIAPER RASH
DIARRHEA
DIGESTION
EAR INFECTIONS
ECZEMA
FATIGUE
FLATULENCE
FOOT CARE
GOUT
HEADACHES
HEARTBURN (ACID REFLUX)
HEMORRHOIDS
HICCUPS
INSECT BITES AND STINGS
INSOMNIA
JELLYFISH STINGS
LEG CRAMPS
MENSTRUAL PROBLEMS
MORNING SICKNESS
MUSCLE SORENESS
NAIL FUNGUS
NIGHT SWEATS & HOT FLASHES
POISON IVY & POISON OAK
SINUSITIS
SORE THROAT
SUN BURNS
ULCERS
UTI
VARICOSE VEINS
WARTS
WEIGHT LOSS
YEAST INFECTION
for more details visit:
http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/home-remedies.html
P.S.
In an email from a friend of mine she mentioned ACV is good for gall and kidney stones. She wrote "My mom drinks it and her diabetes count went down and so did her cholesterol! "
Thanks Jessica!!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Identifying and Treating Thrush
Symptoms
of thrush may include:
- Unusually pink or red nipples.
- Cracked or bleeding nipples
- Itching or burning nipples
- A shooting pain deep within the breast
- Pain that continues throughout a nursing session
- White patches inside the baby’s mouth. (the inside of his cheeks is a “thrive” zone and an easy to identify location)
- Yeast infections in other locations (diaper area, vaginal)
Treatment
of thrush with GSE
Grapefruit Seed Extract = GSE is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound synthesized from the seeds and pulp of grapefruit. It is an extremely potent and effective broad-spectrum bactericide, fungicide, antiviral and antiparasitic compound. Tests have shown that GSE is dramatically more effective than Colloidal Silver, Iodine, Tea Tree Oil and Clorox bleach against five common microorganisms. In studies performed by Dr. John Mainarich of Bio-Research Laboratories in Redmond, WA, samples of each of the common antimicrobials or sanitizing agents were evaluated for effectiveness against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus faecium and E. coli. The other antimicrobials tested were considerably less effective than the GSE.
The use of distilled water to make your solution is very important. The chemicals placed in your local tap water to kill bacteria can reduce the effectiveness of the active ingredients in GSE.
Use
this solution with an absorbent swab on mom’s nipples and baby’s
mouth once every hour during all waking hours. Swab baby’s
mouth prior to
nursing and mom’s nipples after nursing.
Applying it to baby’s mouth prior to nursing will help them to
avoid the possibility of baby associating the bitter taste with
nursing.
If
diaper area is affected, put the same strength solution into a spray
bottle or swab as above at every diaper change.
If the infection is
particularly rampant or you are having difficulty getting rid of it,
mom may need to take acidophilus or GSE capsules to get rid of it
systemically.
GSE solution can also be used in laundry or as a
surface cleaner to kill yeast hiding and waiting to multiply again.
It may be [is] necessary for Mom to eliminate [at least reduce] sugar from her diet until
the yeast infection is gone.
Read full
article HERE
This post & website are not a replacement for a health care provider & the advice given should not be considered a diagnosis or treatment. Seeking a professional care provider is the responsibility of the reader.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Article from BOBB
Wording Changed to be kid friendly
We wanted to make sure you are all aware of the news story that has exploded over the last 24 hours regarding the recent AMA Resolution against homebirth and Ricki's response to being named in it...Since when did Ricki become an evidence-based data point? What are they so afraid of? Just last week, Medical News Today reports that 'about 8.2% of infants born in the US in 2005 had low birth weights, the highest percentage since 1968.' US infant mortality rates continue to rank us below 30 other countries, 22% of pregnancies are induced, and most worrisome of all, in the last 4 years, the maternal mortality rate has risen above 10 per 100,000 for the first time since 1977. To us, these seem like the troubling trends, not home birth.
Filmmakers Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake teamed up with journalist and Pushed author Jennifer Block to pen the response (following at the end of this email) for the Huffington Post
UPDATE: June 20, 2008
We also received a letter today from a recent Yale medical school graduate, who writes:
'I wholeheartedly support the work you are doing! During my third year, I saw very few [natural] deliveries in the hospital. Seeing the high C-section rates and the sense of disempowerment and lack of support and education given to women during prenatal, intra-partum, and post-partum care, I sought out the midwifery model and did an elective in natural childbirth mostly with a small CNM home-birth practice in CT and a CNM childbirth center. I now know that there really is another way. And I would prefer it for myself, and recommend it to family, friends, and patients with low-risk pregnancies.'" from BOBB email newsletter
"Ladies, the physicians of America have issued their decree: they don't want you having your babies at home with midwives.We can't imagine why not. Study upon study have shown that planning a home birth with a trained midwife is a great choice if you want to avoid unnecessary medical intervention. Midwives are experts in supporting the physiological birth process: monitoring you and your baby during labor, helping you into positions that help labor progress, protecting your pelvic parts from damage while you push, and "catching" the baby from the position that's most effective and comfortable for you-hands and knees, squatting, even standing-not the position most comfortable for her. When healthy women are supported this way, 95% give birth [naturally], with hardly any intervention. And yet, the American Medical Association doesn't see the point. Yesterday it adopted a policy written by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists against "home deliveries" and in support of legislation "that helps ensure safe deliveries and healthy babies by acknowledging that the safest setting for labor, delivery, and the immediate post-partum period is in the hospital" or accredited birth center."There ought to be a law!" cry the doctors. The trouble is, they have no evidence to back up their safety claims. In fact, the largest and most rigorous study of home birth internationally to date found that among 5,000 healthy, "low-risk" women, babies were born just as safely at home under a midwife's care as in the hospital. And not only that, the study, like many before it, found that the women actually fared better at home, with far fewer interventions like labor induction, cesarean section, and episiotomy (taking scissors to the _____, a practice that according to the research should be obsolete but is still performed on one-third of women who give birth [naturally]). Which is why the American Public Health Association supports midwife-attended home birth. The British OB/GYNs have read the research, too, and have this to say: "There is no reason why home birth should not be offered to women at low risk of complications... it may confer considerable benefits for them and their families. There is ample evidence showing that labouring at home increases a woman's likelihood of a birth that is both satisfying and safe"The other trouble with the American MDs is that they seem to have lost all respect for women's civil rights, indeed for the U.S. Constitution - the right to privacy, to bodily integrity, and the right of every adult to determine her own health care. The "father knows best" legislation they are promoting could indeed be used to criminally prosecute women who choose home birth, say, by equating it with child abuse. Research evidence be damned, the doctors want to mandate you to go to the hospital. They don't want you to have a choice.We think they're spooked. The cesarean rate is rising, celebrities are publicizing their home births (the initial wording of the AMA resolution actually took aim at Ricki for publicizing her home birth on the Today Show!), people are reading Pushed and watching The Business of Being Born, and there's a nationwide legislative "push" to license certified professional midwives in all states (The AMA is against that, too, by the way). The docs are on the defensive.After all, birth is big business-it's in fact the most common reason for a woman to be admitted to the hospital. And if more women start giving birth outside of it, who will get paid? Not doctors and not hospitals. "The AMA supports a woman's right to make an informed decision regarding her delivery and to choose her health care provider," the group said in a statement. But if it really supported women's birth choices it wouldn't adopt a policy condemning home birth and midwives. Because if U.S. women are to have real birth choices, everybody needs to be working together to provide them, not engaging in turf wars at their expense."
By Ricki Lake, Abby Epstein and Jennifer Block for The Huffington Post
Saturday, June 14, 2008
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