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© 2008 BirthNet
Press Room
BirthNet is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public about maternity care in order to improve it. Childbirth is a normal, healthy, and profound event in a woman's life that affects families, communities, and our whole society. Maternity care should be supportive, respectful, and address each woman's individual fears and concerns.
BirthNet's goal is to encourage all women and families to learn about their rights and about the choices and options available during the childbearing year. Women need to know what they are choosing, including risks, benefits, and options. They need to have complete and accurate evidence-based information.
BirthNet works to improve maternity care for women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, races, religions, sexual orientations, abilities, and socio-economic circumstances. We see birth options, such as where, with whom, and how to give birth, are reproductive rights.
BirthNet has endorsed the evidence-based Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative, developed by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services. BirthNet also supports the Midwives Model of Care.
Main Contacts
- Carolyn Keefe – (518) 482-2504 or carolyn@birthnewyork.org
Carolyn Keefe, MLS is a co-founder of BirthNet and consumer advocate with a Master's degree in Library Science. She researches and produces many of BirthNet's materials, helps to coordinate BirthNet's activities and events, and has spoken in a number of venues on maternity care issues. Carolyn is also a member of the Board of Citizens for Midwifery[link], a national consumer advocacy organization, and has worked with the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, including appearing on a panel at their First Mother-Friendly Childbirth Forum.
- Tisha Graham – (518) 584-6619 or tisha@birthnewyork.org
Tisha Graham, BS, ICCE, ICD has a degree in education and is a Certified Childbirth Educator and a Certified Doula through the International Childbirth Education Association. Tisha is also the co-coordinator of New York Friends of Midwives, a statewide consumer advocacy organization. Since the birth of her first baby over twenty years ago, Tisha has been an advocate of birth options and midwifery care. Her subsequent four children were all born into the hands of midwives. Tisha speaks in high school and college classes, teaches childbirth classes, and supports families in her community, as well as presents on topics related to birth for regional, statewide and national audiences.
- Maureen Murphy – (518) 465-5087 or maureen@birthnewyork.org
Maureen Murphy, BA, CA, CCE, is a co-founder of BirthNet and a Certified Childbirth Assistant and Childbirth Educator with a degree in Political Science. Maureen is also State Co-Coordinator for New York Friends of Midwives, a statewide consumer advocacy group. She has been a midwifery advocate since 1996, is a guest lecturer at the State University of New York at Albany in Sociology and Women's Studies courses, and has organized and lobbied at the local and national levels concerning midwifery issues.
- Betsy Mercogliano – (518) 449-5759 or betsy@birthnewyork.org
Betsy Mercogliano, CCA, RN is a co-founder of BirthNet, a Certified Childbirth Assistant, and a Registered Nurse. Betsy also runs the Family Life Center, a Capital Region resource for pregnant women and their families during their childbearing year with a weekly pregnancy support and childbirth education program, a video and book lending library, and a doula service. Betsy has been helping families prepare for and welcome babies for over 25 years.
Primary Issues
Childbirth is a normal, healthy, and profound event in a woman's life that affects families, communities, and our whole society. Maternity care should be supportive, respectful, and address each woman's individual fears and concerns.
Unfortunately, the care that most women and babies receive is neither evidence-based nor individualized, and few women or their families are aware of this. Nearly all women entering hospitals for birth are subjected to some level of medical or technological intervention, many of which can cause more harm than good. We also spend far more on maternity care in the US than in other developed countries with better outcomes that rely more heavily on midwives and treat birth as a normal physiological process.
Outcomes in the United States are far worse than in other developed countries. We have high infant and maternal mortality rates, high maternal morbidity rates, low rates of breastfeeding, and high rates of both postpartum depression and posttraumatic stress among new mothers. Our rates of cesarean section, induction of labor, preterm birth, and low-birthweight babies are all at very high levels. (Fact sheets on these topics)
Because most childbirth takes place in a hospital, we do not live with birth in this country. Removal of birth from the home and community has left several generations of Americans with little or no understanding of normal birth.
Resources for Research about Maternity Care Issues
BirthNet fact sheets
Coalition for Improving Maternity Services – www.motherfriendly.org
Citizens for Midwifery – www.cfmidwifery.org
Childbirth Connection – www.childbirthconnection.org
Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth -- www.lamaze.org/institute/
Press Coverage
Media coverage of maternity-care issues in the Capital Region