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  • Writer's pictureBrittany Edwards
    • Oct 2, 2023
    • 9 min read

CNMA Newsletter- October 2023

















Message from the President

Dear Community,

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our annual meeting last month. I know I’m not the only one who had a great time! Thank you to our Continuing Education Chair Jillian Cauley for lining up such a progressive group of presenters; the content was cutting edge. And the abortion workshops were a tremendous success. We’re getting lots of requests for another round of abortion training – hang tight! Ana Delgado and I are working on nailing down a date in January; more info coming soon!


Meanwhile, our election is just around the corner – and I mean it this time! We’re really hoping to get the ballot out to y’all in the next few weeks, so keep an eye on that inbox. In the meantime, if you can Imagine yourself as President-Elect, Secretary, Northern California Representative, Central California Representative, or as a Representative of an Under-Represented Community, please nominate yourself! Feel free to text me directly if you’d like to chat about it :)


Finally, SB 667 (our clean up bill) passed and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature! Be sure to read the Health Policy update below (thank you Holly Smith and Liz Donnelly) and check out the CNMA Advocacy Page for updates.


Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to join our team. As always, I’m available by email at parisbury@gmail.com and by text at (805) 415-2553.


In the spirit of service and solidarity,

Paris Maloof-Bury, CNM, IBCLC

President, California Nurse-Midwives Association



Happy National Midwifery Week! October 1-7, 2023

This week was created by ACNM to celebrate and applaud YOU! So find community, join an event, create a social media post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #MidwiferyWeek2023.



Free Virtual Events

Los Angeles Midwives

Food & Nutrition As Key Ingredients in Positive Birth Outcomes

October 3, 2023 | 11-12 noon

In celebration of Midwifery week, Los Angeles Midwives presents a FREE virtual, small-panel discussion on the importance of nutrition in pregnancy and the role it plays in shaping positive birth outcomes. In our practice, diet and nutrition are addressed during all parts of the pregnancy and postpartum journey. We carry multiple copies of "Real Food for Pregnancy" and "Functional Maternity" in our lending library to lend to our clients. Register Here


Empower 2023- Frontier Nursing

In honor of National Midwifery Week, Frontier Nursing University is celebrating by hosting an exciting virtual event dedicated to nurse-midwifery. Join us October 2nd -5th for Empower 2023 and four educational sessions, including FREE CEs: See info here!

 

Health Policy Updates

It’s time to CELEBRATE!

SB 667- Our clean up bill (after SB 1237) we are co-sponsoring to remove barriers and ensure we can practice to the full extent of our scope has PASSED both houses and is on the Gov’s desk!


AB 571 - Our co-sponsored bill to ensure that malpractice doesn't discriminate (by increasing rates) on providers who offer abortion care and gender affirming health care has PASSED both houses and is on the Gov's Desk!


SB 345 - Our co-sponsored bill to provide additional legal protections for California health care providers that offer services for abortion or gender-affirming care and strengthen the state’s “safe haven” laws by adding protections for people who come to California seeking refuge from out-of-state laws that criminalize abortion or gender-affirming care. Passed through both houses and is on the Gov's Desk!


And there's more – an entire package of abortion bills passed!

Follow these bills at cnma.org/advocacy for their current status.

 

Education, Trainings, and Webinars


SAVE THE DATE: Breech Without Borders is coming to CA in January!


Dr. Hayes will be heading west to bring our full day hybrid workshop to Fallbrook, Beverly Hills, Riverside, and Ukiah, California. These workshops have the bonus of the option of 2-hour advanced simulation sessions the following day, each limited to 3 students per block. We are hoping to see a mix of our CA alumni and new students in attendance. This will be our second time in Fallbrook and LA (Beverly Hills).



ACNM: Weight Bias in Healthcare: We Can Do Better

October 10, 2023 | 8 PM

Speakers: Signey Olson and Heather Bradford

Conversations that occur in healthcare settings call on the clinician's effective communication skills, empathy, professionalism and moral obligation to recognize the unconditional value of patients as persons. However, these clinical conversations (specifically those that address diet, exercise, weight and weight gain recommendations) have the potential to be harmful to the client if not conducted in an intentional way. Weight bias, defined as the societal devaluation of people in larger bodies, is prevalent among clinicians, and can have deleterious effects on the utilization of care, the clinician-client relationship and health outcomes. However, by learning to thoughtfully construct this conversation with a focus on health and not weight, clinicians can be change agents in advancing health and equity. Through self-reflection of implicit and explicit weight bias, anti-racist perspectives, intentional language, a respectful, step-wise, common ground approach and use of the Health at Every Size® model, clinicians can reframe the clinical conversation regarding their client's health. By understanding their own biases and critically reflecting on the research, clinicians can improve client outcomes and enhance shared decision-making. Register Here


ACNM: Promoting Vaginal Birth for Those with Obesity; Reducing Iatrogenic Harm

November 15, 2023 | 7 - 8 PM

Speakers: Cecilia Jevitt

This presentation will provide participants with research evidence to support holistic assessment of individuals of size and provide supportive care based on pre-pregnancy health, not solely body mass index (BMI) measurement. This presentation will review the definitions of obesity, its physiology, the multiple environmental and social contributors to obesity, including systemic racism and potential effects on perinatal health. A perinatal adaptation of the Edmonton Obesity Staging System will be used along with case studies to assess obesity-related risk to plan prenatal screening needs, place of birth and prophylactic treatments. Register Here

ACNM First Assist Workshops

ACNM has a full schedule of The Midwife as Surgical First Assistant (First Assist) Virtual Clinical Labs available in 2023! First Assist focuses on training midwives to participate and provide continuity of care for patients during a cesarean section.

The First Assist Virtual Clinical Labs fill up fast, so be sure to Register for the date you need NOW!

  • Tuesday, October 17 (10:00 AM EST) Registration deadline is Monday, Oct 2, 2023.

  • Tuesday, November 14 (10:00 AM EST) Registration deadline is Monday, Oct 30, 2023.

  • Tuesday, December. 12 (10:00 AM EST) Registration deadline is Monday, Nov 27, 2023.

ACNM CEO Conversations Every Wednesday at 4 PM ET

Michelle Munroe, our interim CEO, will be starting weekly online meetings with members to listen and discuss ideas and concerns. Each week, 10 people can register for CEO Conversations. Please email executiveoffice@acnm.org.


AWHONN: Read Between the Lines - Physiologic Logic: Evaluation & Management of Uterine Activity During Labor

October 10, 2023 | 2-3:30 pm ET | Live and Recorded

Expand your clinical skills during the FHM Live Strip Review Series featuring guidance and resources from thought leaders working in perinatal care. Join Lisa A. Miller, CNM, JD, for our latest session to discuss the required components of evaluation of uterine contractions in the context of labor stages and phases. We’ll explore the relationship between uterine activity and fetal acid-base and uterine muscle acid-base and converse about knowledge gaps related to uterine activity. As the recognized leader in fetal heart monitoring education, AWHONN offers convenient, evidence-based resources in each webinar in this series that help improve maternal care for high-risk patients. Price: $25 members | $39 nonmembers | 1.25 nursing contact hours

This webinar will be recorded and available in the AWHONN Store for those who cannot attend. Register here


HRSA: Preventing Gender-Based and Intimate Partner Violence

October 12, 2023 | 11am-12pm PT Join the HRSA Office of Women's Health (OWH), the Bureau of Health Workforce, and the Director of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health for an upcoming webinar. Attendees will learn about HRSA and HHS programs that address gender-based and intimate partner violence. This webinar is being held in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. View and download HRSA OWH's newly released Implementation Framework for Preventing and Responding to IPV. Register here


ACES: Science and Innovation Speaker Series: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Outcomes, and Interventions

October 12, 2023 | 12:30 – 1:30 PM

This webinar, part of the ACEs Aware Science and Innovation Speaker Series, will feature Dr. Rachel Gilgoff, who will present on the paper, “Adverse Childhood Experiences, Outcomes, and Interventions”. She will discuss how the science of stress physiology provides a window into therapeutic targets for treating toxic stress, and will examine how providers can develop their clinical response to Adverse Childhood Experiences. Register Here


Postpartum Support International

Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components Of Care

November 8th & 9th, 2023 | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm CT, via Zoom

This two-day course, taught by expert and engaging faculty, uses a thorough, evidence-based curriculum designed for psychiatrists, nurses, physicians, social workers, mental health providers, childbirth professionals, social support providers, and anyone interested in building skills for assessment and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. Your registration includes training manual, handouts, and certification of continuing education credits.

Cost: $425 (Click link below pricing for PSI Members and Students).

Registration ends 10/17/23. Register Here

 

Calling all BIPOC Midwifery students & recent graduates!

CNMA wants to hear from YOU. Take a moment to answer our student survey here and get a gift from us!


Help us build a community of midwives that can inspire change at the local, state, and federal levels! Those that complete the survey will receive a $20 Amazon gift card via email within 2-3 weeks. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, you may contact arrj@cnma.org.




 

Scholarships

HCAI

The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) is administering the Clinical Infrastructure scholarship and loan repayment programs to expand the number and type of health care providers offering abortion-related care and reproductive health services. HCAI is pleased to announce applications open on August 1, 2023, and close on October 31, 2023, for the following programs:

 

Job Opportunities

Full Scope CNM - Sutter East Bay Medical Group, Berkeley, California.

Join a collegial collaborative practice with CNMs, WHNPs, MDs, and RNs. We are one of the few medical groups in the state where APCs are eligible to be shareholders and therefore voting members of the medical group and to serve on the Board of the Medical Group. Generous PTO/CME and CME reimbursement.

For outpatient care, our CNMs are primarily based in Berkeley, with the option to work out of Richmond and Orinda. We offer Centering Pregnancy, facilitated by both CNMs and MDs. Our team includes triage/advice RNs. Full scope CNMs typically work 1-2 clinic days a week, with potential to flex more.

For inpatient care, we provide 24/7 CNM coverage at Alta Bates hospital with 24/7 in house MD backup. Each CNM typically works two 12 hour shifts a week. Alta Bates has a long legacy of CNM care, and we get to work alongside hospitalist CNMs and several private practice CNM groups. At Alta Bates, our patients are able to access labor tubs, telemetry, nitrous oxide, as well as medical staff that are well trained in responding to acute obstetric situations.

Experienced CNMs and new grads with experience in high volume/high acuity settings and are encouraged to apply!

For more information please reach out to Martina Chwascinska-Szarek, CNM martina.szarek@gmail.com

 

Medi-Cal Rx

Sign up for the Medi-Cal Rx Subscription Service to be notified when new information is posted!

See additional updates below:

 

Midwife Crush Mondays!

Do you know an amazing Midwife who is doing revolutionary work? We want to feature them on our social media platforms!


CNMA is looking for submissions for our new social media series “Midwife Crush Monday” where we highlight the stories of trailblazing midwives across the industry who are making a difference in the midwifery profession. You can even submit yourself!

Here’s what we’re looking for:

  • Midwife’s name (include pronouns)

  • Affiliated organization(s)

  • Why you became a midwife (and anything awesome you’d like to brag about)

  • Headshot/Photo if available

  • Bonus: Please include social media handles for tagging!

Please send submissions to sm@cnma.org for consideration!


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