Birth Network promotes the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative, developed by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services. Birth Network gathers research, and reports on the care that women and families in Santa Cruz County receive during the childbearing year.
Issues of interest include:
- Differences in insurance coverage and benefits
- Duration and quality of contact with care providers
- Access to midwifery care, labor support, breastfeeding and post-partum assistance
- Involvement of families in decision making
- Access to culturally appropriate care and information
- Rates of intervention in birth
Birth Network offers accurate, independent information on a variety of topics. You might be surprised to know that much of the routine care pregnant and birthing women receive in the United States is based more on convention than research. Hospitals, obstetricians, insurance companies, even your mother and your best friend, all have ideas about how you should give birth. Take some time to explore your options in: choice of place of birth, who will provide your care, pain relief in labor, common procedures including epidurals, episiotomy and other interventions.
