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Midwifery Today Conference
“Birth Is a Human Rights Issue”

Strasbourg, France • 29 September – 3 October, 2010

Please note: Updates to the printed version and original PDF of the program can be found on our updates page.

Please note: The conference language is English except as noted. “Bilingual” means English and French. Since the printing of the original program, many more offerings have been noted as bilingual.
Avis: La langue du congrès est l’anglais sauf exceptions notées dans le programme. “Bilingual”/“bilingue” voudra dire en anglais et en français.

 

Tuesday, 28 September 2010 • International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative Meeting
		Debra Pascali-Bonaro, Robbie Davis-Floyd and Jan Tritten Creating Optimal Models of MotherBaby Care Please view the complete program for this meeting on our Web site here: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/conferences/Strasbourg2010/IMBCI2010.asp
Wednesday, 29 September 2010 • Pre-Conference
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Choose one: A1–A4 (Full-day class)
A1		Elizabeth Davis, Carol Gautschi, Tine Greve and Debra Pascali-Bonaro Hands-on Midwifery Skills, Part 1 (Bilingual)
		Elizabeth Davis Essential Skills  [ 9:00 am – 10:00 am ] Learn new things about blood pressure, pulse, lab tests, assessing reflexes and general health observation skills.
		Carol Gautschi and Tine Greve How Is the Baby?  [ 10:00 am – 11:00 am ] In this age of technology, do we remember how to use our hands? Workshop focuses on developing and improving hands-on techniques to determine fetal position, station and cephalic prominence, assessing fetal heart with a fetascope or pinard horn in prenatals and labor.
		Carol Gautschi Preventing Complications with Prenatal Care  [ 11:15 am – 12:30 pm ] Identify and evaluate the clinical, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of prenatal care to nurture the well-being of pregnant and birthing women. We will explore unique ways to identify problems and facilitate great outcomes.
		Debra Pascali-Bonaro Labor Support for Doulas and Midwives  [ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm ] Debra will describe the 3 Rs (Relaxation, Rhythm and Ritual); comfort measures for labor; techniques for second stage; supporting women in difficult labors, and strategies to make birth more positive for mothers and babies. Registrants raved about this course, calling it fun and informative!
A2		Ina May Gaskin, Michel Odent and Cornelia Enning Breech Workshop
		Ina May Gaskin and Michel Odent Breech Skills  [ 9:00 am – 12:30 pm ] This class will help develop breech skills such as palpation, assessing fetal weight and amniotic fluid levels and version techniques. Frank, footling and complete breech and complications will be covered. Breech birth is not for the beginning midwife though everyone is welcome in this class (you never know when a breech birth will surprise you).
		Cornelia Enning Breech Birth in Water  [ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm ] Join Cornelia in this part of the breech workshop to learn the special circumstances of breech waterbirth. Breech birth in water improves fetal oxygenation by increasing uterine blood supply during immersion. Mobility of the mother in water allows better interaction of the baby through the pelvis. Fine-tune your skills at this important workshop.
A3		Verena Schmid The Three Dimensions of Labor Pain In this class we will see why labor pain is important, how it functions on different levels, and how to find an “entering door” for every woman through the three neurological dimensions of pain evaluation and perception. We will learn about the three dimensions and find specific tools for preparation and training before birth and for specific support and non-pharmacological methods of pain relief during labor.
A4		Naolí Vinaver Mexican Techniques for Labor and Birth (Bilingual) We will be immersed in traditional Mexican techniques for pregnancy, birth and postpartum including herbs and massage, from this brilliant Mexican midwife. Learn how to use a rebozo, a useful tool in all parts of the childbearing cycle. Discover simple techniques that promote healthy pregnancy and birth. Learn how midwives work with both normal birth and problems that arise. Learn ways to manage breech, move stalled labor and much more. Naolí will share a wealth of ideas that can be applied directly to your practice.
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Open to all registrants
		Facilitated by Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos and Carol Gautschi. Christian Midwives Meeting All are welcome.
Thursday, 30 September 2010 • Pre-Conference
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Choose one: B1–B4 (Full-day class)
B1		Two half-day classes (You must sign up for both.)
		Naolí Vinaver Preventing and Managing Birth Complications at Home (Bilingual)  [ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ] Learn how to deal with irregular fetal heart rates, meconium, asynclitism, long and exhausting labor, shoulder dystocia, hemorrhage, floppy babies that need stimulation and much more. This class packs a lot of information for the homebirth midwife, though all midwives will benefit from Naolí’s presentation.
		Martine De Nardi Natural Birth and Parenting (Bilingual)  [ 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm ]
		1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Right to a Physiological Birth We will talk about how women must be the most important part of their birth by facilitating body and psycho-emotional integrity, confidence and independence. We will discuss how to relieve tension of tissues from lumbar, pelvic and stomach areas with a special kind of touch called tactilo-kinesthesical, which uses the sense of touch, the body’s inner movement and the mutual relationship between the two.
		3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Right to a Relationship with Parents The basis of a sensitive parent/baby relationship starts with a consciously received and felt relationship from the beginning of the pregnancy. Sensorial Perinatal Gymnastics (SPG) uses the latest scientific research on fetal awareness to help parents integrate the newborn into their lives, building skills for a lifelong relationship.
B2		Natural approaches in birth and parenting (Bilingual)
		Michel Odent From Physiology to Practice  [ 9:00 am – 12:30 pm ] Although the cesarean has become easier, faster and safer than ever, there are serious reasons to try to rediscover the basic needs of laboring women and newborn babies. After thousands of years of cultural interference and half a century of wrong messages transmitted by different schools of “natural childbirth,” we must rely on the physiological perspective.
		Tine Greve Breastfeeding Is a Human Right  [ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm ] Midwives sometimes put the woman’s right not to choose to breastfeed, over the child’s human right to obtain the optimal nutrition as a baby. Has the mother actually been given the information needed to make an informed choice, or is her decision to not breastfeed based on myths and misinformation? In this class we will learn the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child, and gain tools and information to help women prepare for the breastfeeding period.
B3		Elizabeth Davis, Carol Gautschi and Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos Hands on Midwifery Skills – Part 2 (Bilingual)
		Elizabeth Davis Holistic Complete Exam  [ 9:00 am – 10:00 am ] Learn to make the exam a valuable experience for both client and practitioner. A “holistic” exam assesses how the woman is doing physically, emotionally, and in her life as a whole. With this as a background, we review the Complete Exam, system by system, with particular focus on obstetrical and gynecological functioning.
		Carol Gautschi What Do You Do in a Birth?  [ 10:00 am – 11:00 am ] Carol discusses how the midwife “tunes in” at the initial interview to read the needs of motherbaby, artistically supporting one of life’s most momentous rites of passage. She is not fearful, yet is ever vigilant; evaluating normal vs. abnormal—nudging positive direction without judgment. Birth is not a technological event, but is a sacred space to be held, embraced and released at the baby-appointed time.
		Elizabeth Davis Suturing Overview  [ 11:15 am – 12:00 pm ] Elizabeth will discuss how to evaluate the need for suturing or when it is better to allow natural healing. We will discuss the use of alternative healing techniques such as tissue adhesives and seaweed.
		Carol Gautschi Labor and Birth Complications  [ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ] Learn to identify complications before they become major, handle problems as they occur, and how to care for women during—and after—transport for emergencies.
		Carol Gautschi Helping the Slow-starting Baby  [ 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm ] The connection between motherbaby and loving, calming caregivers plays a part in successful resuscitation. Remembering the humanity of the newborn is a hallmark of the midwife. Carol will share ways to help the baby receive its breath without unnecessary interference of bulbs and/or over-management. She’ll also teach how to resuscitate with gentleness.
		Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos Trusting Birth  [ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ] What forces shape our approach to birth? Do we bring confidence and positive expectations or fear and apprehension? Learn how we can develop the trust necessary to allow the patient unfolding of the birth process.
B4		Gail Hart, Ina May Gaskin and Elizabeth Davis Labor and Birth Complications
		Shoulder Dystocia  [ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm ] Our teachers will explain and discuss the mechanical, physical and emotional causes of shoulder dystocia. They will describe symptoms and signs used to predict it and analyze tools and methods used to overcome panic reactions; demonstrate effective treatments; and use mnemonics and the latest research to look in-depth at more than fourteen maneuvers.
		Presentations and Fetal Positions in Birth  [ 1:30 am – 5:00 pm ] Learn to identify fetal presentations and positions, the factors associated with them, and discover techniques for assessing and dealing with them. You will learn many tips for helping with non-LOA presentations. Bring your techniques to add to this body of midwifery knowledge.
5:15 pm – 6:30 pm Open to all registrants
		Jan Tritten, Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos and Naolí Vinaver International Issues (Bilingual) Denying women their choice in birth is a basic human rights violation; one of the many forms of oppression women experience in the world today. Women are sometimes coerced into undergoing unneeded medical procedures against their will and then being left to deal with the resulting pain and trauma. How can we help women gain their rights to respect and independence?
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Open to all registrants
		Facilitated by Debra Pascali-Bonaro European Doula Meeting
Friday, 1 October 2010 • Conference Day One
9:00 am – 11:30 am Opening general sessions (Bilingual)
		Jan Tritten and Harriette Hartigan Birth Is a Human Rights Issue  [ 9:00 am – 9:30 am ] Every mother and baby has the right to be treated with reverence and respect during the birth process including pregnancy and beyond. We welcome you to this conference as we seek solutions to the problem of overmedicalization of normal birth. Safe and humane birth is a basic human right. Harriette adds to the opening with the beauty she captures in photographs. Join her as she carries you deep into the womb of life, giving you a visual reminder of that deep trust in birth with her photo presentation, “First Home—Body Itself.”
		Verena Schmid, Martine De Nardi and Naolí Vinaver Mother’s Birth Rights, Babies’ Birth Rights  [ 9:30 am – 11:00 am ] Each baby, and each mother, has a right to as joyful and healthy a birth as possible. Each mother needs this for a good beginning of the mothering she will do over her lifetime. We need to speak out for a widespread and radical change in the way we approach birth. We need to review our own practices and protocols and make sure we are putting motherbaby first. Join us as we propose and consider together the many different ways we can be with women: Giving them respect, dignity and informed decision. “First, do no harm.”
		Gail Hart The First Hour Belongs to MotherBaby—It Is a Human Right  [ 11:00 am – 11:30 am ] Gail will share her brilliant insights and findings on the emotional states of mother and baby and the interaction that occurs at birth. She will cover how we can facilitate the process without disturbing motherbaby. Gail’s teaching on this subject makes it a fascinating class.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Choose one: C1–C4
C1		Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos Massage for Midwives and Doulas Eneyda will explain why massage is essential for pregnant and birthing women and show practical application. She will discuss the importance of healing touch as a preventative tool and safe remedy for pregnant, laboring and postpartum women. In this hands-on class you will practice massage, something valuable to take to the women you serve.
C2		Gail Hart Hemorrhage and Third Stage Difficulties (Bilingual) Many instances of excessive blood loss are either preventable or can be controlled with non-pharmacological methods. Learn techniques to facilitate the normal delivery of the placenta and render the need for pharmaceuticals rare. Learn how to deal with bleeding, placenta retention and other third stage problems.
C3		Michel Odent Alternative Methods of Pain Relief (Bilingual) In 1975, at a time when births became more and more difficult, Michel published a paper in La Nouvelle Presse Médicale about intracutaneous injections of sterile water in the lumbar region to treat intense back pain associated with failure to progress. Also in the 1970s, for the same reasons, Michel introduced the concept of birthing pools. This is how a review of alternative methods of pain relief will start.
C4		Debra Pascali-Bonaro and Elizabeth Davis Orgasmic Birth: Myth or Reality? Debra and Elizabeth will present suggestions for preparing for an orgasmic birth, including physical, emotional and mental aspects, as well as cardinal decisions that impact this potential in any setting. They will also share an approach to the postpartum period that allows for continued realization of the empowering experience in breastfeeding and parenting. Share your stories—we welcome your revelations!
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm Choose one: D1–D4
D1		Ina May Gaskin Twins Ina May has extensive experience with twin birth. She will discuss strategies for safe twin birth, including positioning, time of delivery, premature delivery and avoiding postpartum hemorrhage, as well as special aspects of prenatal care. The telling of amazing birth stories is one of Ina May’s gifts.
D2		Agnes Keller Power of Sounds in Pregnancy and Birth (Bilingual) Learn why sound is important in the birth year, and how sound affects the baby, mother and whole family. Learn how to intentionally use sound as a tool to help labor progress. This is a groundbreaking class, presenting information new to the midwifery knowledge base. Agnes has been conducting this research for many years.
D3		Michel Odent New Criteria to Evaluate the Practices of Obstetrics and Midwifery (Bilingual) According to highly plausible extrapolations, within some decades the majority of human beings will be born by the abdominal route. Among the remaining cases of vaginal births, the replacement of natural hormones by pharmacological substitutes will be almost the rule. In other words, human ingenuity will make “love hormones” useless in a highly critical period of reproductive life. This pessimistic future is probable if we do not introduce new criteria to evaluate the practices of midwifery and obstetrics.
D4		Elizabeth Davis, Tine Greve and Gail Hart Posterior Presentation: Roundtables Many cesareans occur due to persistent occipital posterior position. Avoid cesareans by understanding how to detect, prevent and fix posterior positions. Intimate roundtables allow participants the chance to talk with each teacher individually. This fast-paced fun class will give you the tools you need for dealing with posterior labors!
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm General sessions (Bilingual)
		Jan Tritten and Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos Tricks of the Trade  [ 4:30 pm – 6:00 ] Share the techniques you’ve perfected in your practice or bring your burning questions to this roundtable of pertinent tips on a wide variety of birth topics. Previous sessions have included facilitating effective contractions, dealing with prolonged labor, preventing perineal tears, helping the slow-to-start baby.
		Ina May Gaskin Maternal Mortality  [ 6:00 pm – 6:20 ] The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution recognizing maternal mortality as a pressing human rights concern. Ina May will discuss this issue and show the beautiful quilt she is making to commemorate each maternal death.
		Harriette Hartigan Photo presentation: “Mona Lisa Moments”  [ 6:20 pm – 6:30 pm ]
Saturday, 2 October 2010 • Conference Day Two
9:00 am – 11:30 am General sessions (Bilingual)
		Harriette Hartigan Photo presentation: “Exquisite Truth of Birth”  [ 9:00 am – 9:10 am ]
		Robbie Davis-Floyd Models That Work  [ 9:10 am – 10:15 am ] Come and listen to Robbie present the criteria she developed for identifying birth models that work. She will describe some effective models from all over the world. She will also describe low-cost, immediate ways to humanize birth in current hospital settings in the developing world—rapid ways to create new “models that work.”
		Verena Schmid A New Approach to Midwifery Care  [ 10:15 am – 11:30 am ] Salutogenesis is the knowledge of how to create and conserve health. With salutogenesis it is possible to improve and facilitate the social adaptation to childbirth. Tools to improve the coping capacities are given by creativity, supplementary knowledge and competencies, support and body awareness. It is the right to optimal health.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Choose one: E1–E4
E1		Robbie Davis-Floyd Open and Closed Systems: A Challenge to Health Care Practitioners The goal of this workshop is to empower health care practitioners to deal with the ever-growing number of diverse beliefs and styles of practice in the health care field and to examine and assess their own practices and beliefs in the interests of continued learning and professional growth.
E2		Naolí Vinaver Preserving the Midwifery Model A midwife who is deeply concerned about the trends toward inappropriate medicalization of midwifery discusses how to preserve it in practice and teaching. Without a keen awareness of the forces that impact and alter midwifery, midwives can unwittingly conspire to make birth a technological event.
E3		Verena Schmid Special Massage for Restarting Stalled Labor (Bilingual) You will wonder how you practiced without this fantastic tool. “I saw this work at a birth in Mexico where Verena and I were present. This labor had stopped entirely at about 7 cm. Verena did this massage and the labor restarted. The woman had her baby a couple hours later,” says Jan Tritten.
E4		Cornelia Enning Managing Labor and Complications in Waterbirth Waterbirth is not only an option for a woman to give birth undisturbed and with dignity; it has medical advantages for mother and child as well. Breech births, OP births and twin births benefit from waterbirth. Cornelia will address concerns, research and models as well as share her hands-on experience. This class covers many types of births in water and equips the midwife to recognize and manage complications.
2:45 pm – 4:15 pm Choose one: F1–F4
F1		Naolí Vinaver Hands—Our Treasured Tools (Bilingual) This class will affirm the knowledge and the power we contain and express through our hands. It will remind you that the essence of midwifery is, after all, its hands-on approach to providing care, support and education. Many techniques and ideas from Mexico will be included.
F2		Ina May Gaskin and Carol Gautschi Freedom to Practice the True Art of Midwifery Around the World Let us be with the women we serve, united in focus, committed to their ultimate experience. We are more than aides or observers. Let us be careful to avoid controlling or intrusive management. Heart-centered midwives walk in the very footsteps of the generations of women who have tread before them. Join us as we ponder what midwifery really means.
F3		Verena Schmid Physiology of Second Stage (Bilingual) Verena will discuss ways of pushing and the transformation of the perineum. She will include maternal positions and effects on the mechanism of labor. She teachers this in a clear and comprehensible manner that helps you truly understand the baby’s path through the pelvis and out into the world with the least resistance.
F4		This class has been cancelled. Harriette Hartigan Speaking Your Way: Women’s Stories Every woman’s life is an epic journey. Each woman is the story of her own life. Let’s speak, and listen to one another’s journey and commitment to attending women and birth as midwives, doulas, teachers, writers, artists.
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm General sessions (Bilingual)
		Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos and Jan Tritten Solutions for Changing Birth Practices  [ 4:30 pm – 5:25 pm ] Mothers’ Rights, Babies’ Rights: What have we learned? Where do we go from here? We will put up a board and list solutions and who would be willing to work on which idea. Let’s change the world.
		Verena Schmid, Naolí Vinaver and Elizabeth Davis Birth Is Sexual. Are We Afraid of This Truth?  [ 5:25 pm – 6:20 pm ] Learn how undisturbed birth is inherently sexual in nature and how even our well-intended assistance can interfere. Develop a deeper understanding of oxytocin and its relationship to adrenaline by seeing how these hormones function at other times in the lifecycle, including the postpartum period.
		Harriette Hartigan Photo presentation: “Worthy of Our Sight”  [ 6:20 pm – 6:30 pm ]
8:30 pm – 10:30 pm Open to all registrants
		Robbie Davis-Floyd and Michel Odent, MCs Cabaret and Potlatch The cabaret is for everyone to show their many talents whether in song, dance or whatever you do that you would like to share. A “potlatch” is a traditional giveaway practiced by Northwest Native Americans. Our potlatch plan is to have each conference participant bring a gift to give to another participant. We suggest something for midwifery practice or something from your heart or country. Bring a gift if you want to participate.
Sunday, 3 October 2010 • Conference Day Three
9:00 am – 11:15 am General sessions (Bilingual)
		Harriette Hartigan Photo presentation: “Into the Essence of Creation”  [ 9:00 am – 9:10 am ]
		Cornelia Enning Sharpening Your Observations at Birth  [ 9:10 am – 9:50 am ] Learn from amazing video footage about the subtle reflexes the mother and baby exhibit in birth and shortly after when born naturally in water. This class will help you sharpen your powers of observation.
		Carol Gautschi Faith in Birth  [ 9:50 am – 10:30 am ] Faith—it’s what we believe. We impart it to our clients and families even if we don’t realize it. Our faith is part of us and affects how we see the world and the birthing woman. Carol shares how midwives can act in ways above words and actions—working intuitively—combining heart and spirit. Let’s lay claim to this powerful tool.
		Robbie Davis-Floyd Promoting a New Model of Midwifery  [ 10:30 am – 11:15 am ] Women and birth providers are reacting to excessively high c-section rates in traditional hospital settings by resurrecting midwifery care. Exchanging midwifery knowledge with midwives from other countries is the key to women’s rights.
11:30 am – 1:00 pm Choose one: G1–G4
G1		Debra Pascali-Bonaro Labor Support Techniques (Bilingual) We will explore the art of being a relaxation specialist for labor. Comfort measures for labor such as hydrotherapy, massage/touch, focal points, movement, toning and the birthing ball will be discussed. Learn comforting and calming techniques to support your clients through all stages of labor with confidence, resources and hands-on skills.
G2		Gail Hart Prolonged Labor (Bilingual) How do we get a long labor to progress? Long labors may be associated with complications ranging from social or emotional issues to physical problems. We will learn different reasons for prolonged labor, as well as methods for helping women move along in labor. Analysis of myth and reality will also be discussed.
G3		Carol Gautschi and Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos Homebirth Is a Human Rights Issue Explore the human rights aspect of homebirth as well as the many benefits for mother and child. Carol and Eneyda will discuss skills required to be a homebirth midwife and how to provide the homebirth client with the highest standard of care. They will explore the homebirth model, why it is best for mothers and babies.
G4		Robbie Davis-Floyd Authoritative Knowledge Authoritative knowledge forms the basis for decision and action. The sources and styles of authoritative knowledge about birth vary from culture to culture. Robbie examines systems of authoritative knowledge in various societies, analyzing each system as an expression of the beliefs and values of the culture that generates it.
2:30 pm – 4:15 pm General session
		Cultural and Clinical Roundtables In this well-loved Midwifery Today format, you’ll sit in on three interesting roundtables of your choice. Roundtables will include:
		The Farm Midwifery — Ina May Gaskin
		Prolonged Pregnancy — Carol Gautschi
		Photographing Birth — Harriette Hartigan
		Cultural Diversity Is Strength in Midwifery — Robbie Davis-Floyd
		Midwifery Education—Becoming a Midwife — Elizabeth Davis
		The Doula Profession — Debra Pascali-Bonaro
		Evidence-based Midwifery — Gail Hart
		Birthing Women, Sacred Ground — Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos
		Healing with Placenta Medicine — Cornelia Enning
		Tear Prevention (Bilingual) — Tine Greve
		Practice Sounds for Moving Labor Forward (Bilingual) — Agnes Keller
		The Prime Inconvenient Truth (Bilingual) — Michel Odent
		Physiological Birth (French) — Martine De Nardi
		Rebozo Practice (Bilingual) — Naolí Vinaver
4:15 pm – 6:00 pm Closing general sessions (Bilingual)
		Midwifery Today Short Video Contest Viewing  [ 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm ] View the winning films of the Midwifery Today Short Video Contest, “Birth Is a Human Rights Issue.” More information here: midwiferytoday.com/conferences/Strasbourg2010/MTShortFilmContest.asp
		Debra Pascali-Bonaro The International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative (IMBCI)  [ 4:45 pm – 5:15 pm ] Debra will share with us The International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative (IMBCI). It carries many of the solutions we need and gives us a document in many languages that we can use in our effort to change birth practices.
		Jan Tritten, Eneyda Spradlin-Ramos, Debra Pascali-Bonaro, Tine Greve and Harriette Hartigan Changing Birth Practices; It Is a Human Rights Issue  [ 5:15 pm – 6:00 pm ] We will wrap up the conference with powerful words and images that we hope you will carry with you as you take up your calling to make birth better for motherbaby, father and our world, including a photo presentation from Harriette Hartigan: “For the Eye of Our Soul.”

Midwifery Today, Inc., P.O. Box 2672, Eugene, OR  97402-0223, U.S.A. E-mail: conference@midwiferytoday.com • Fax: +1 541-344-1422 Phone: +1 541-344-7438 • Toll-free [U.S. & Canada]: 1-800-743-0974

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