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Our Mission To improve the culture of birth in Virginia by promoting an evidence-based model of maternity care and supporting care providers who practice mother friendly care.
Who We Are We are a statewide organization with local groups of parents and professionals who share information, offer support, and affirm the rights of women and families to make informed choices throughout the childbearing years.
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National Video Contest Winners
Have Been Announced!!!
Congrats and thanks to all who entered. We are excited to announce the winners of Birth Matters Virginia's nationwide video contest!
Click here to find out who won!!
Judges for the video contest include:
Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, acclaimed producers of The Business of Being Born.
Sarah Buckley, M.D., international birth expert and author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering.
As a step toward our goal of educating women about their choices and options during the childbearing years, Birth Matters Virginia solicited short videos about evidence-based maternity and delivery care. With our nation ranking 41st in maternal mortality and our cesarean rate surpassing 30%, it is more important than ever for women to be educated about their options.
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Birth Matters Virginia is Collecting Birth Stories
Whether you had a hospital, home, or birth center birth, we would like to hear about it! Birth stories are powerful. Through our shared experiences we help other women and build stronger communities of birth.
Click here to learn how you can share your story as well as read others' birth stories
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A Blog for Birth Matters Virginia!
Stay current on the latest birth related events and issues. You can also submit your birth story through the blog! Check it out at:
www.BirthMattersVa.typepad.com
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National Vital Statistics Report (March 18, 2009):
Births: Preliminary Data for 2007
The cesarean section has risen to a new all-time high of 31.8% according to this just released report. Preterm and low birthweight rates have thankfully fallen. The report is long, but is full of interesting and relevant statistics about birth and birth outcomes.
Click here to read the full report
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Time Magazine (Feb 19, 2009): The Trouble With Repeat Cesareans
"For many pregnant women in America, it is easier today to walk into a hospital and request major abdominal surgery than it is to give birth as nature intended."
"Much ado has been made recently of women who choose to have cesareans, but little attention has been paid to the vast number of moms who are forced to have them."
"Not so long ago, doctors were actually encouraging women to have VBACs, which cost less than cesareans and allow mothers to heal more quickly."
Click here to read the article
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BBC News (Dec 2, 2008): Caesarean Increases
Asthma Risk
"Babies born by Caesarean section are more prone to developing asthma, say Dutch researchers. In a study of almost 3,000 children, birth by Caesarean was associated with an 80% increased risk of asthma by age eight compared with vaginal birth. "
Click here to read the article
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Virginia Department of Health
(Nov 12, 2008): State Health Commissioner Appoints Working Group on Infant Mortality
Infant mortality claims the lives of seven times more children in Virginia each year than does motor vehicle accidents yet receives far less attention and focus, State Health Commissioner Karen Remley, M.D., MBA, said today in announcing the appointment of a working group of medical and health professionals and community and civic leaders to address the problem.
In 2007, 839 infants died in Virginia, with premature births accounting for more than half the total. Earlier today, the March of Dimes released its first national “Premature Birth Report Card,” giving the United States a “D” grade for its preterm birth rate of 12.7 percent.
Click here for the whole story
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 Join Birth Matters Virginia in supporting The Transparency in Maternity Care Project by completing The Birth Survey.
This is an ongoing database of women's experiences with their maternity care, birth place and birth professionals. Their goal is to give women a mechanism that can be used to share information about maternity care practices in their community while at the same time providing practitioners and institutions feedback for quality of care improvement efforts.
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Birth Matters Virginia speaks out on behalf of homebirth consumers
Women’s Options for Childbirth Being Challenged Again. With all of the excitement over finally joining the other states where having licensed homebirth midwives (CPMs) at your birth is an option, it’s easy to think that the fight is over. But, sadly, it’s not.
Click here for more of the story
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