American College of Nurse-Midwives

Join the November Surgical First Assist Workshop! Registration closes on Nov 4. This course is designed specifically for midwives and addresses the promotion of vaginal birth, shared decision-making and informed consent, and functioning as an active member of the perioperative team. Attendees learn how to perform immediate pre-op preparation of the client for surgery, and during surgery provide optimal surgical exposure, participate in tissue dissection, ensure hemostasis, perform or facilitate wound closure, and perform other intraoperative functions to assist the surgeon in carrying out a safe operation that optimizes outcomes. Enroll now: https://lnkd.in/gN5-SQmA

Join us for a free webinar hosted with @nateragenetics all about the value of carrier screening! On Thursday, October 31st at 1 PM ET, Dr. Amber Shamburger, MD, OB/GYN and Medical Director of Women’s Health with Natera will share: ✅ An overview of carrier screening and the latest guidelines ✅ The clinical utility of carrier screening from preconception and pregnancy to after birth ✅ How screening can change the trajectory of a baby’s health outcomes for conditions with treatments such as gene therapy ✅ An approach to discussing carrier screening from Dr. Shamburger, an OB/GYN with 15 years of experience Register now: https://lnkd.in/gN5e-eNv

This panel taught me so much about the support and care provided in community birth. It also was an amazing insight into the business of community birth and why more information and resource sharing is imperative for birth centers across the US to grow and thrive. Check it out on www.pathlms.com/acnm to hear from two greats!

Another simply AMAZING panel from National Midwifery Week with these innovators! This panel explores how community-led thinking and bold strategies are showcasing what’s possible in maternal and reproductive care. From leveraging social media and digital tools to creating inclusive community birth models that address inequities, this panel dives into real-world solutions and fresh ideas that are exploring the boundaries of the healthcare system. Panelists share thoughts on midwifery education programs incorporating more home birth preceptors or incorporating home birth in clinical rotations, providing patients with digital apps and resources that support their birthing process, along with their visions for the future of midwifery. Access the panel on-demand here: https://lnkd.in/gZaQQp2V

ICYMI: Go check out this incredible panel from National Midwifery Week with Nikia Grayson and Ebony Marcelle, both experts on the topic of community birth with experience leading birth centers and comprehensive reproductive health centers! This panel highlights the community, love, and support that families receive when choosing community birth and dives into the business and administrative side of birth centers with information you're going to need. Watch the replay now: https://lnkd.in/gveVgZHt

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Sister Angela Murdaugh FSM, CNM, FACNM, a trailblazer in midwifery. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on September 15, 1940, Sr. Angela dedicated her life to improving maternal care and empowering women through compassionate, skilled midwifery. She passed away peacefully on October 11, 2024, after transitioning to hospice care for congestive heart failure. Sr. Angela's leadership extended beyond the clinic. She was president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives from 1981 to 1983 and co-founded Texas’s first ACNM chapter in 1974 alongside several other midwifery leaders. Her work in legislative and administrative arenas was equally groundbreaking. She played a key role in defining the legal basis for midwifery practice in Texas, helping to author the Texas Birth Center Rules and Regulations in 1986. Her advocacy led to nurse-midwives being recognized as Medicaid providers, and she proudly received the first Medicaid provider number issued to a certified nurse-midwife in Texas. Her commitment to education was a hallmark of her career. Sr. Angela developed one of the first midwifery fellowships in the United States, mentoring over 100 nurse-midwives and fostering a legacy of clinical excellence. Sr. Angela’s influence on midwifery and healthcare will be felt for generations to come. Her unwavering dedication to serving marginalized communities and advancing the profession of midwifery has left an indelible mark on Texas and beyond. It was Sister Angela's wish that if people desired to donate money in her honor, she wanted the donations to be directed to 3 selected midwifery organizations: Holy Family Services, ACNM Foundation, and AABC Foundation. Rest in peace, Sr. Angela Murdaugh. Your legacy lives on in the countless lives you touched.

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! The National Office is closed today in observance of the holiday. We will get back to you tomorrow!

Our Midwife of the Week is Amy Romano, MBA, MSN, CNM, FACNM. Amy is a maternity care leader focused on care model innovation, community-integrated care, and quality improvement. With a clinical background as a nurse-midwife, she has spent her career working to improve maternity care and has particular expertise in primary prevention of cesarean and preterm birth, midwife-led and collaborative care models, shared decision making, and quality improvement. Amy is the Founder and CEO of Primary Maternity Care, a consulting services company focused on strengthening community-based care models to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce disparities. Amy also co-authored Optimal Care in Childbirth: The Case for a Physiologic Approach, which was named Book of the Year by the American College of Nurse-Midwives in 2013. Members can learn more about Amy in the Weekly CEO Update email.

This presentation will examine emerging evidence about potential epigenetic effects of care practices and interventions in childbirth. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis poses that there are critical windows of development both in utero and childhood which are associated with development of disease later in life. For example, poor nutrition of the fetus and infant during early development programs gene expression and the metabolic profile of the offspring to anticipate a life of starvation. The programming, meant to be protective, becomes hazardous later in life and can be passed onto future generations. The EPIIC hypothesis posits that eustress during the window of the actual labor and birth is protective by assuring that the hormonal physiology is supported and undisturbed. Register now and see the entire National Midwifery Week schedule at: https://lnkd.in/eGzqbKpx

The 2024 election reflects a stark crossroads in the investment in women's health, maternal child health and health information technology. The speaker will highlight the policy and funding gaps in the Office of the National Coordinator (now Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy) federal policy framework for pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. The speaker will provide non-partisan recommendations on practical HITECH policy and funding that would benefit federal, state, and employers, while centering women's self-determination and privacy. Register now and see the entire National Midwifery Week schedule at: https://lnkd.in/eGzqbKpx