After a 14-year decline, home birth increased by 29%, according to National Center for Health Statistics on January 26.   We still have a long way to go to meet the statistics of other industrialized countries. 
In 2009, 1 in every 90 births for non-Hispanic white women were home births

90% of the total increase in home births from 2004-2009 was due to the increase among non-Hispanic white women
By contrast, the percentage of home births declined from 1990 to 2004, and remaine… Read More »

Check out this site.  It makes it very real that the other organs are “smashed” as the baby grows. 
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/you/the-exhibit/your-beginning/make-room-for-baby/interactive/

The State of Tennessee has adopted a law that requires health care providers inform their patients about cord blood donations.  Unfortunately,   I haven’t been able to find a facility that will accept cord blood from a home birth for the purpose of donation.   Of course there are cord blood banks that will take your money to store the cord blood. 
 Umbilical Cord Blood Banking
In accordance with state law (TCA 68‐32‐105) health care professionals who provide health care ser… Read More »

As I sit at my desk, the office quiet with the occasional bark of a dog, preparing the books for the end of the year,   I can’t help to think about the events of the year.   I have been blessed with the privilege to attend MANY births and work with my fantastic apprentices. 
We as a practice celebrate the holidays with an annual Christmas party.   My husband exhibits his gratitude to the staff by preparing PRIME RIB!  Good job Kemp!   We all enjoy the joy of the season together.  
I… Read More »

  Mary Anne Richardson is going out of the country for a Midwifery Conference:
Wednesday November 9th – Saturday November 12th
This will be a conference at Niagara Falls, Canada held by MANA, ACNM,  and CAM!!! Wow!
The office will be closed Wednesday 11-9 and Thursday 11-10
 
Daphne McIntosh will be the Licensed CPM supplying coverage and is happy to be catching babies for us.  Ladies please keep your legs crossed for me, I will only be gone 4 days!
 
Lindsey Carr-Ruck wil… Read More »

Can you belive it,…………Tender Beginnings will be celebrating 15 years of catching babies in 2012!  We want to have a gala celebration.   Let’s celebrate Moms, Dads, Babies and  Birthing, during  Midwifery Month.   Put it on your calendars  Saturday, May 12th  from 1:00 to 4:00.    We have booked a large space so we can have games, give aways, entertainment and reunite old friends. 
We will gladly take suggestions.  Some of the things we are thinking about are:  face painti… Read More »

Ava Grace McCollough Ruck, 4lbs 15 oz, was delivered by the loving hands of her strong amazing mother, Lindsey Carr Ruck this morning at 00:31. Ava had a cord incident where the cord was compressed/twisted and she had expired in utero a few days ago at 37 weeks gestation. Upon the discovery of her demise,  Lindsey was induced to delivery yesterday.  I will post funeral arrangements when they have been finalized.
Lindsey is a valuable member of our team.  We at Tender Beginni… Read More »

Because the Physicians that Mary Anne work with as the consulting physicians wants to schedule appointments on Wednesdays,   Mary Anne is going to move the “Day Off” to Tuesdays as of August 2.
Therefore, The office hours will be Monday,   Wednesday,  Thursday and Friday,   9:30 to 4:30
Have a wonderful summer.

Tender Beginnings will have a booth at the Williamson County Baby Fair.
Hope to see you there!
Williamson County Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Williamson County Health Department will host a Baby Fair on Saturday, Jun 18 from 2-4 p.m. at the Longview Recreation Center, 2909 Commonwealth Drive in Spring Hill.
This free community event for expecting parents will have educational booths with community resources, new parent and childhood development informa… Read More »

Yesterday was one of the hardest days and in my carrier as a midwife.  
I actually thought “Maybe I should just quit and be a nurse”.   
After 27 hours of assisting a Doula client, which turned out to be a C-Section, I grieved the loss of my best friend’s daughter.   I grieved for my friend who had been by partner in our midwifery practice and my client for three pregnancies.   I was with her when her tiny little girl was born.   We knew she had issues before the birth.   We just didn… Read More »

The two researchers from the CDC  and a Boston university professor published a study indicating “Home Births are up”.   Of course this is an upsetting statistic to ACOG after their smear campaign against home birth.   The report went nationwide on AP and attached is a link to the article on Yahoo News.   It is interesting that such a “Small Subculture” seams to be submitting such a large portion of the comments.    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110520/ap… Read More »

So often when sharing my passion, … Birth…I talk to people about home birth.  It saddens me when they are unaware that home birth is possible in Tennessee or that it is safe.   So it does my heart good when homebirth is featured in the media.    In the May addition of “Her”, a local magazine, the feature story was about a home birth that I had the honor to attend.   Check it out!
 
http://hernashville.com/feature-story/shes-here-new-dad-shares-story-his-first-child… Read More »

We at Tender Beginnings encourage breast feeding and love to see our parents bonding with other parents with like philosophies.   Therefore, it is our pleasure to share with you some of the different groups where you can be healthy and share time with people who understand the benefits of breast feeding, home birth, and  baby wearing.
This link was sent to us by one of our Mom’s.   She gave permission to post on our blog along with her statement:
“In one part of the video, I’… Read More »

Vermont requires insurers to cover home births
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS May 19, 2011, 11:43AM
By LISA RATHKE MONTPELIER, VT.

As a rural state with one of the higher rates of home births, Vermont will soon require private health insurers to cover the services of midwives who attend them, joining a handful of states with similar mandates.
Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the bill into law on Wednesday surrounded by mothers and their babies born at home, saying access to midwifery care a… Read More »

Unfortunately in the “Natural Birth World” we hear an abundance of negative statements about the medical community, the horror stories.  And I have a few to share too.   But, there are times when we need the expertise and skill of the physician.
I just spent time at Vandy two days in a row.  The day before that we had consults with specialists.  I was so pleased with the all physicians involved.  The “bed side manner” and knowledge of Dr Mary Anne Carroll and
Tiffanee Lenzi, M.D.,… Read More »

We can’t let private firms run midwifery
9:33am Wednesday 18th May 2011
IT is with a great deal of dismay that I read in the Globe that the Wirral Primary Care Trust being given the green light for One to One Midwives to offer their services to the borough’s mums-to-be.
I am struggling to comprehend how Andrew Lansley’s bill to open up the NHS to “any willing provider” can be incorporated without yet being passed through parliament.
For anyone w… Read More »

HAMILTON, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – May 16, 2011) – Midwives are urging all political parties to support the development of birth centres in Ontario. Birth centres, and other changes needed to better support maternal-newborn health, are the focus of this year’s 27th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM).
“Birth centres provide a safe, supportive environment where women can access prenata… Read More »

Many midwives around the world celebrate the ‘International Day of the Midwife’ o­n 5 May each year. The ICM established the idea of the ‘International Day of the Midwife’ following suggestions and discussion among member associations in the late 1980s, then launched the initiative formally in 1992. The aim of the day is to celebrate midwifery and to bring awareness of the importance of midwives’ work to as many people as possible. This is… Read More »

Taking Control – Homebirth: A safe alternative.  1999
“I don’t know why people would have a baby any other way,” was the response from Brett, my brother and best friend, after he witnessed and helped with the birth of my wife Suzanne’s and my second daughter, Aeyah Glenn Fisher-Miller. The birth took place at home with a midwife as we plan and was one of the most, if not the most, incredible experiences of my life.
We were often looked at like we we… Read More »

By Melissa Hodge Beard, Staff Writer
Vickie Lee is among a growing number of women choosing to give birth at home, rather than in a hospital.
Lee is the proud mother of three-week-old Isaac (10 pounds and 8 oz.), Noah, 3, Naomi, 5, and Darcie, 2.
Lee, a Columbia resident, said she wanted to find a Christian midwife who felt it was important to have the least amount of intervention as possible. She said she wanted to deliver her baby in the comfort of her own home, where her beliefs and… Read More »

Recently, Heather was interviewed by WSMV-TV Channel 4 Nashville.
View the full story here!

The increase popularity of midwives is revolutionizing the birth experience for woman looking for a more intimate and personal birth experience. Though a large percentage of births are still delivered by doctors, the use of a midwife is slowly increasing and the idea of homebirth is becoming more popular among women. Mostly, women want more control over their birth experience. The typical birth scenario in America can be somewhat impersonal for a new mother; while a homeb… Read More »

Midwives let women cut costs, have control

Recently, I was interviewed by the Tennessean about the benefits of hiring a midwife to a doctor. The article touched on a number of benefits of midwives including costs, fear of doctors, insurance policies, and a better personal birth experience.
Midwife costs versus doctor costs
To give birth the way she wanted, Priscilla Hofmann expected to pay at least $3,000 out-of-pocket after insurance paid its part. With a fear of doctors in white coats, needles and medical equipme… Read More »