MOTHERING On-Line Magazine: interest in incarcerated pregnant women grows!

I love how the conversation about incarcerated pregnant women and mothering in a prison nursery keeps spreading. Thanks to writer, Sheramy Tsai for doing such a thorough write-up.

This mother told me the story about getting her tattoo at a point in her life where she had hit rock bottom. Shortly afterwards, she learned she was not only pregnant but sentenced to prison. She explained, "After the birth of my daughter, I now kno…

This mother told me the story about getting her tattoo at a point in her life where she had hit rock bottom. Shortly afterwards, she learned she was not only pregnant but sentenced to prison. She explained, "After the birth of my daughter, I now know I have everything to lose." The prison nursery program has helped her discover another side of her self involving the love and care of her child.

Midwives and Obstetricians: Complementary, not Competitively

Way back in 1975 when I met Al, my future husband, in the L&D unit- he was an intern and I was a new RN - we had a conversation about how midwives and obstetricians should work together. We both recognized each other's strengths to bring to birthing women and newborns. One of the things I loved about him was that whereas so many of the other OB residents were threatened by the rebirth of professional midwives, Al completely embraced it. Well, obviously. We did marry, after all, and are still together.

This post expresses the ideal working relationship between midwives and obstetricians so well: https://burningtheshortwhitecoat.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/midwives-rock-confessions-of-an-obgyn-physician/

Fast forward FORTY YEARS LATER! and, it seems like this conversation still needs to take place. I simultaneously shake my head and feel glad that maybe, just maybe, a truce may be in sight.