title: They said so on the news: parsing media reports about birth.
abstract: In this column, the authors reprise recent selections from the Lamaze International research blog, Science & Sensibility. Each selection discusses shortcomings in the news media coverage of childbirth issues. The authors demonstrate how to identify misleading claims in the media and highlight how childbirth educators can apply a common-sense approach and careful fact checking to help women understand the whole story.
authors.affiliation: AMY M. ROMANO is a midwife, author, and advocate for mother-friendly maternity care. She has analyzed, summarized, and critiqued research for the Lamaze International community since 2004 and is currently co-authoring the second edition of Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities with Henci Goer. Romano is also a practicing home- and hospital-based midwife in Connecticut. ANDREA LYTHGOE is a DONA- certified doula, hospital-based Lamaze childbirth educator, and instructor at the Midwives College of Utah. She is the author of the Web site UnderstandingResearch.com, where she aims to help individuals who are just beginning to read research to understand the language of research. HENCI GOER is the author of The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth and is currently at work on the second edition of Obstetric Myths versus Research Realities, her highly acclaimed resource for childbirth professionals. In addition to contributing to Science & Sensibility, Goer guides childbearing women and individuals who care for them through evidence-based decision making in Lamaze International's online Ask Henci Forum.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lythgoe
authors.forename: Henci
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goer