TORONTO, November 12, 2001 -- York University’s Association for Research on Mothering (ARM), in association with Doula CARE, is hosting a conference -- Body and Soul: Reintegrating the Spiritual, Emotional, Physical and Psychological Dimensions of Birth -- examining holistic approaches to childbirth and the strategies necessary to bring them about.
The conference, which will take place on Friday, November 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will bring together leaders in the field of alternative childbirth including: doulas (women who provide support to the mother before, during and after childbirth), educators, midwives, nurses, researchers and physicians. They will discuss how the cultural, spiritual, emotional and psychological dimensions of birthing can be better balanced with dominant medical and scientific approaches to childbirth, and what supports and what hinders a more holistic approach.
"This will be an opportunity to hear and discuss a selection of papers presented by a truly multidisciplinary group of experts involved in the care of pregnant and birthing women," says conference committee member and ARM Director Prof. Andrea O’Reilly. "As we continue to birth our children in the western model of predominantly medical care, questions are raised about how to care for the whole health needs of the women and her family."
The conference will be held in the Harry Crowe Room (room 109), Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies building, York University, 4700 Keele Street. A list of presentations follows:
- "Providing Human Perinatal Care" Prof. Beverley Chalmers, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Science Centre, UofT.
- "The ALPHA Form: Helping us to better understand the psycho/social needs of pregnant women" Anne Biringer MD, Primary Care Obstetrics program, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto.
- "More Than Just Urine Dips! Building a circle of birthing women"
Bonnie Annis, doula, and facilitator, Birthing Circle / International Caesarean Awareness Network of Ontario."Birthing Our Future: The Visions of a New Generation"
"Embracing Risk: Bringing the Body and Soul to Prenatal Classes"
"Evidence-Based Care in Pregnancy and Birth"
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"Embodied knowing: Nurses’ education in being-with women experiencing childbirth" Prof. Gail Lindsay, Nursing program, York U.; Faith Smith, public health nurse, Family Health Program, Toronto.
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"Intuiting Care: Listening to Spiritual Energy" Shawn Gallagher, midwife, certified hypnotherapist, Toronto.
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For more information, visit: www.yorku.ca/crm or contact:
| Prof. Andrea O'Reilly | Cheryl Dobinson | Ken Turriff |
| Director, ARM | Administrative Coordinator, ARM | Media Relations |
| York University | York University | York University |
| 416-736-2100, ext. 60366 | 416-736-2100, ext. 60366 | 416-736-2100, ext. 22086 |
| arm@yorku.ca | arm@yorku.ca | kturriff@yorku.ca |
YU/125/01
