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See below for some of our current activities, and visit In the News for when Childbirth Connection is cited or featured in articles, and Old News for older but important news. 90th Anniversary Symposium: Transforming Maternity CareTransforming Maternity Care: A High Value Proposition (April 3, 2009; Washington DC) is an unprecedented, invitation symposium bringing leaders from across the health care system to develop a Blueprint for Action to improve maternity care in the United States.Go to Transforming Maternity Care Symposium 
Seeking applicants for the first Maternity Quality Matters AwardAt its 90th anniversary symposium, we will present the first Maternity Quality Matters Award to an organization or agency that demonstrates improved maternity care quality through strategies such as performance measurement, evidence-based practice and responsiveness to needs of childbearing women and families. Application deadline is January 16, 2009.Learn more about the award, and get the application
Childbirth Connection Presents the 2007 Carola Warburg Rothschild AwardOn Tuesday, May 1, 2007, Childbirth Connection recognized Betsy Gotbaum, Public Advocate for the City of New York and Choices in Childbirth for their outstanding contributions to childbearing women. The evening included our thought-provoking and informative panel discussion on an important subject: Women and Childbirth: Choice, Control, Knowledge and Decision Making.Click here to learn more "Giving Birth in the Dark:" Childbirth Connection's Executive Director Speaks at NYC Public Advocate's 2nd Press Conference on Failure of NYC Hospitals to Comply with the Maternity Information Act Public
Advocate for the City of New York, Betsy Gotbaum, held a press
conference to announce the repeat failure of New York City hospitals to
provide legally mandated maternity information to consumers. Below is a
description of the events of the past two years leading up to this
press conference, as taken from the Public Advocate's December 2006
report titled "Giving Birth in the Dark: City Hospitals Still Failing
to Provide Legally Mandated Maternity Information:""In July 2005, the Public Advocate released a report detailing the failure of New York City hospitals to comply with a New York State law known as the Maternity Information Act (MIA). The MIA requires that hospitals provide site-specific statistics on delivery procedures to all incoming maternity patients and all members of the public upon request. In 2005, the Office of the Public Advocate determined that none of the 44 hospitals providing labor and delivery services in New York City were in compliance with the MIA; most did not provide any information, and the one hospital that did attempt to comply provided a pamphlet containing information that was eight years old. "The Office of the Public Advocate further determined that the cesarean section rates among hospitals in New York City were striking. Overall, public hospitals had lower cesarean rates than privately operated facilities; however, with the exception of New York University Downtown Hospital, all hospitals had cesarean rates well above the 15 percent maximum rate recommended by the World Health Organization. "In July 2006, the Office of the Public Advocate conducted a follow-up investigation to determine whether compliance with the MIA had improved in the year since the initial report. The results of the investigation indicate that hospitals continue to fail to provide site-specific maternity information to prospective patients and the general public. Furthermore, the citywide cesarean section rate continues to be well above the goals established by the medical community." The report also noted, "In 2004, the average cesarean rate in New York City was 28.6 percent, a 2 percent increase over 2003, when the rate was 26.6 percent. Many New York City hospitals now have a c-section rate over 30 percent." Childbirth Connection's Executive Director, Maureen Corry, was invited for a second time to discuss results from our 2004 systematic review of best research comparing outcomes of vaginal and cesarean birth. (See our consumer booklet, What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know About Cesarean Section.) She also reported on women's cesarean views and experiences from our newly released second national Listening to Mothers survey. Maureen Corry's remarks from the press conference
Giving Birth in the Dark: City Hospitals Still Failing to Provide Legally Mandated Maternity Information (12/2006 PDF) Press release from the Public Advocate for the City of New York Choices in Childbirth Childbirth Connection Releases Results of Listening to Mothers IIChildbirth Connection has released Listening to Mothers II (LTM II), a follow-up to our groundbreaking Listening to Mothers survey released in 2002. The next step in our research will be to go back to mothers who participated in LTM II, with a new Postpartum Mothers survey to learn more about their physical and emotional health and other experiences during this critical time in family development. These landmark surveys will help ensure that women's voices are included in the dialogue about how to better support and care for mothers and families at this important time.Go to the report National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) Celebrates 25th AnniversaryHMHB is marking this milestone with an event this fall, Promoting the Best from the Beginning...And Throughout the Lifespan, which will showcase how their network has impacted countless families. It gives HMHB a chance to highlight current needs for moms, dads, and parents-to-be with some of the nation's most respected authorities on health. The mission of HMHB is to improve the health and safety of mothers, babies and families through education and collaborative partnerships of public and private organizations. Childbirth Connection is a longtime supporter of HMHB.Visit National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition's Website  Comforts of Home Gala Was a Success |
News and Features
New VBAC Guidlines
ACOG has just issued new Guidlines for VBAC. What changed? What continues? We've Moved!
On July 1, 2010, the Childbirth Connection office moved to 260 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016. All other contact information is unchanged. New Pregnancy Video Library Available
Our new Video Library features links to a wealth of resources for health professionals as well as for women who are planning pregnancy, are pregnant or are new mothers. Visit the Video Library  "2020 Vision" and "Blueprint for Action" Reports Available Learn about Transforming Maternity Care project Read the "2020 Vision" Read the "Blueprint for Action" Read the Consumer Workgroup report Help implement Blueprint recommendations Listen to report release event audio, 1/2010 eNews Sign Up
Help Transform Maternity Care! Rising Maternal Mortality
Updated Maternity Care Statistics Available
US Cochrane Center (USCC)/Consumers United for Evidence-based Healthcare (CUE) Evidence-Based Maternity Care Report Released New Mothers Speak Out National Report Released New Content!
 Journey to Parenthood Full Book Available Online! A family-friendly book covering the trimesters, pregnancy resources, and the latest information on baby's first year of development. Available online (free) and for purchase in the Bookstore. Browse through Journey to Parenthood  Buy this book and learn more
Popular Pages
"I never realized how much support a birth mother needs before, during and after delivery."
Every woman has the right to health care before, during, and after pregnancy and childbirth.
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On
November 2, 2006, Childbirth Connection hosted Comforts of Home at
the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. Comforts of Home is our
signature fundraising event, which brings together well-known fashion
and interior designers, celebrities and style-setters to share their
concepts of comfort with gala guests. The event celebrates home,
children and families, and life filled with all the things that make us
feel good. Katy Sparks, Culinary Vice President at Great
Performances, was our celebrity chef for the event, which was chaired by
Kira Wilson Gould, Editorial Director of Elements of Living
magazine, and Ashleigh Banfield, Court TV Anchor and International
Correspondent. Comforts of Home raises awareness of Childbirth
Connection's mission and raises funds for our programs. 
