by Tammi Chaney

Plans are being finalized for this year's Healthy Birth Conference in Chamberlain, SD,September 21-22, and it promises to be oneyou will not want to miss. Are you thinking, "Chamberlain?? It's so far away!" Yes, the center of the state is probably a drive for most of us, but it is only "half-way" for everyone. It's meeting in the middle, and it's on the interstate. I know the sessionswill bewell worth the drive.

A pre-conference training session on Emergency Childbirth Skillsis scheduled for Friday afternoon. This session is being offered to parents and professionals alike. See the article on page 2 for more details.

It will be thrilling to have Sue Rooks, CNM with us Friday evening to talk about current midwifery issues in South Dakota. She will bring her experiences as a CNM, evidence-based standards of care, and more to her talk. We look forward to hearing from Dr. Heather Margaret, as well, who will share information about Birth Emergency Management Skills Training being offered around the state and about the website Docs For Midwives. On Saturday, she and Alaina Kerkove will be co-leading an exciting session that focuses on attachment parenting and breastfeeding,highlighting baby wearing and the nursing wardrobe.

Mary Nelson, past Chair of SDSCO, will take us on a continental tour looking at birth in America. You will need to pay attention as she will be traveling rather quickly in her short amount of time. Throughout the conference we will hear from Paul Levijoki, SDSCO's own lobbyist, MC-ing the event with his good-natured and animated style. He, along with Mike Schacht and myself, will facilitate a breakout session Saturday afternoon, focusing on the important role of fathers in the birth process. Men, you are such a key piece of the family formula. We hope you will join us for the conference!

Friday night will conclude with an exciting panel discussion of families with a wide variety of birthing experiences sharing their insights on birth in South Dakota.

Saturday kicks-off with Tiffany Knight, leading an optional stretching exercise, before beginning the morning session on Infant Massage & Aromatherapy. Babies won’t be the only ones to start the morning refreshed, so be ready! Ruth Siem, PA, will share
with us with her story about breastfeeding through food allergies and intolerances, current research, and the path that led her to seek out more information on this dramatically increasing trend. Jenny Vollmer, who is a former labor & delivery nurse, will be leading a roundtable discussion on physical and emotional preparations for birth that will get everyone involved. This important topic is so easily overlooked in the pre-birth rush, but has such long-lasting impact. Come prepared to participate!

Nurit Day will show us how to improve the nutrition of family meals and share how she began her journey to better health. Brule County Food Club is donating items for Nurit’s talk, and more contributing members will be providing the noon meal! We have added Nurit to the afternoon session in hopes she will let us sample some of her treats.

Debbie Pease, SDSCO Chair, will finish the conference with a legislative strategies brainstorming session with Paul, our lobbyist, perhaps the most important session of the conference. Plan to bring your thinking capsto this crucial discussion. We’ve worked hard to plan for your visit to “meet in the middle.” Please make plans now to attend. Send in your early registration, invite your legislator,and bring a friend to the 2007 Healthy Birth Conference. See you there!