Guess Who is Working in Our Office Now?
In February, we welcomed back Rachel Kiene as office support staff. Many of you know her, but for those of you who don't, Rachel joined Birthstream as a student in 2007. She attended National Midwifery Institute and was licensed in 2012.
The cute blonde pictured on her lap is the reason she went on maternity leave in May 2019. He still isn't quite ready for her to go on overnight midwifery adventures, but occasionally he grants permission (reluctantly as all toddlers do) to go out for postpartum visits! Mostly, Rachel is in the office and if you receive something in the mail from "the Other Rachel" it is her handiwork that got it there!
Recently Published: Pivoting to Childbirth at Home or in Freestanding Birth Centers in the US During COVID-19: Safety, Economics and Logistics
Birthstream like many midwifery practices and free standing birth centers experienced an increase in demand for services during this past year. Families who came to us interested in home birth cited many reasons for their choices, but ultimately all could be categorized as choosing home birth for safety concerns. Just like all of us who chose home birth in BC (before COVID) times, families sought physical and emotional safety by choosing to birth with midwives.
This recently published article explores the intersections of safety, economics and logistics of Out of Hospital birth during unprecedented times. Their economic analysis suggests that having an additional 10% of deliveries take place in private homes or freestanding birth centers could save almost $11 billion per year in the United States without compromising safety. Read full article here
Front. Sociol., 26 March 2021, Betty-Anne Daviss, David A. Anderson and Kenneth C. Johnson