Contact: Liz Poston 386-481-2990

On June 18th, the Bethune-Cookman University School of Nursing will join with midwife Jennie Joseph to bring her campaign for healthy babies to Volusia County. The community education event will address growing concerns about black infant health in the state of Florida, specifically the high infant mortality rates in the black community.

The event will include a viewing of “Bringing’ in Da Spirit,” a documentary chronicling the history of African-American midwives and their contribution to the health of communities across the nation narrated by actress Phylicia Rashad. The film will be followed by a presentation and discussion of the state of black infant health in Central Florida.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Wednesday, June 18 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Bethune-Cookman University School of Nursing, Lucille O’Neal Lecture Hall, 739 W. International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach. Individuals interested in attending the event can call 407-654-9900 for more information.

Jennie Joseph has been developing a maternity healthcare system over the last ten years which has finally come to fruition and is currently being launched in the health care arena. Her system combines elements of the Midwifery Model of Care but also encompasses her own special brand of healthcare delivery, aptly named The JJ Way™. The JJ (Jennie Joseph) Way™ has become renowned for its ability to bring forth optimal pregnancy outcomes and has established that no matter what the health status or situation of the mother, her best possible outcome can be achieved using this method. A recent study (download the study) conducted on 100 of Jennie’s Birth Place clients, who might have been considerd to be at risk for a poor pregnancy outcome such as low birth weight or prematurity , revealed unparrelled results including 81 babies weighing between six and eleven pounds at birth. Even in the absence of any particular risk factors Jennie’s method has impacted the level of enjoyment, confidence and satisfaction during one of the most pivotal times in a family’s life.

In 2006 Michael Odent, a French obstetrician known for his pioneering work in researching and developing birth centers, said: “Unfortunately, the role of the obstetrician has never been to help women give birth. There is big difference between the medical discipline we call obstetrics and something completely different, the art of midwifery. If we want to find a safe alternative to obstetrics, we must rediscover midwifery. To rediscover midwifery is the same as giving childbirth back to women and the midwives, instead of controlling them".

We all know that when we are pregnant, we need to reduce our stress, exercise, get plenty of rest and eat right – but living a healthy lifestyle is not always easy or practical. Many cultures have their own system of medicine and it is this philosophy of alternative medicine - chiropractor, acupuncture or massage therapy - that has been moving into the mainstream for years and is now widely accepted as a form of treatment.

By Jennie Joseph

Midwifery is a finely tuned balancing act, an ability to provide a helpful human service, practice a medical profession, meet emotional and spiritual needs for all involved and all the while appear as a humble, yet significant partner in this amazing journey to life. The Art of Midwifery is in and of itself practically indescribable.

There are certain universal tenants that hold true no matter what; they are that every pregnancy will eventually come to an end and generally speaking the baby will indeed come out. Now add the fact that in 95% of the cases things will happen so smoothly and straightforwardly that even a five year old could handle it and ultimately all would still be well! (Within the last year or two you have probably heard of such a story in your local news).

By Jennie Joseph

I often get a surprised response from people when I tell them I am a midwife. “Midwives are still around? I had no idea!” It seems that African Americans especially look at midwives as ‘old-fashioned’ relics of the past and certainly not necessary in today’s technological age. Well, after arriving in Orlando from London nearly seventeen years ago, I can attest to the fact that midwives are here and are becoming more and more necessary every year. We have seen a tremendous increase in the death rate for Black babies as far as prematurity and low-birth weight are concerned. A Black infant is 2 -3 times more likely to die before its first birthday than its white counterpart. African American women are less likely to be healthy before and/or during pregnancy and therefore have higher risk pregnancies and an increased death rate as well. Something is very sad about a situation like this in the most developed country in the entire world.

By Jennie Joseph

There are two events in May that are dear to me, Mothers Day and International Midwives Day. Of course, we all know and celebrate Mothers Day every year. International Midwives Day, May 5, on the other hand is little known in the United States. For example, most Americans are still not aware that midwives deliver the majority of the world’s babies. In fact, midwives are the guardians of normal birth and have been so since Bible times.

As I think about my "Mum" far away in the UK this year, I realize how deep the bond between mother and child truly is. As a mother myself I know that the experience of childbirth awakened in me profound feelings of joy and love which continue to grow to this very day. The bond that is formed for most women as they see their newborn for the first time is never broken. I have worked with women from all walks of life, both in Europe and the United States. Most have been thrilled at the prospect of a new life; many have been stressed, unsupported or scared. One constant remains however, that no matter what – deep down inside, every single one of them wanted a healthy, happy baby.

Delivering Healthcare Services to Central Florida’s Neediest Mothers

Orlando, FL – November 2006 – The Birth Place, a unique birthing center and midwifery practice, today announced funding from the Winter Park Health Foundation, an organization dedicated to making a positive difference in people’s lives by creating the healthiest community, to improve birth outcomes through prenatal care in Central Florida. The funds will help The Birth Place offer uninsured and under insured pregnant women access to preventative healthcare and overall well-being for both the mother and expectant child.

When midwife Jennie Joseph first arrived in Orlando in 1989 she had no idea that the word "disparity" could apply to medical care or health outcomes. A product of the British National Healthcare System, Joseph expected that all citizens would have access to healthcare whenever they needed it, no matter what their financial status. Sixteen years later, and still trying to come to terms with the "American Way" of health, Joseph has launched Nubian Health Network- a women's resource database, information and support network with an emphasis on reducing racial disparities.