title: A call to action and a challenge to use a standard to measure mother-friendly birth classes.
abstract: In spite of the efforts of numerous organizations and individuals to offer mother-friendly birth information and care in the United States, the nation remains a highly technical, low-touch birth culture with a decline in positive maternal-fetal outcomes. A number of organizations and individuals came together to form the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services and to create the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI). The MFCI is a wellness model of maternity care that offers 10 evidence-based steps of care that will improve birth outcomes and reduce costs. Birth educators can use this self-assessment tool to provide the same evidence-based information.
authors.affiliation: B arbara H otelling is an independent birth educator and doula living in Rochester Hills, Michigan. She is past president of Doulas of North America, current chair of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, and member of the Lamaze International Board of Directors.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hotelling