Position Papers

ICEA is a world leader in Childbirth Education and in training doulas to assist families. ICEA believes strongly in evidence-based decision-making and respectful care for all. Due to ICEA's strong convictions, the organization has taken a stance on certain perinatal topics. The Position Papers listed below are a reflection of those stances. These are core to ICEA's mission and vision. These papers are public-facing. All ICEA certifying candidates should be familiar with these papers and anyone can purchase a post-test (one for each paper) to earn CEUs. The post-test is worth one CEU and costs $30 USD.

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Pregnancy, birth and postpartum are times of significant changes for a woman and family. Hormones, loss of sleep, changes in family dynamics and stress/inflammation may contribute to mood and anxiety disorders. International Childbirth Education Association…

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Safe Infant Sleep

All expectant parents should be given evidence-based information on normal maternal and infant physiology, behaviors surrounding feeding and sleep, and on naptime and nighttime safety in order to make informed decisions about where their  babies…

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Harmful Environmental Substances

The International Childbirth Education Association recognizes the need to provide evidence-based education and information to expectant and new parents on strategies to minimize the effects of harmful environmental chemicals and toxins to the developing fetus,…

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Water Labor and Water Birth

It is well established in the research that maternal relaxation during labor reduces the perception of pain, shortens the phases of labor and may reduce the need for medical interventions such as analgesia and anesthesia….

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Comfort Measures

The laboring woman’s perception of labor events and her response is a priority concern for healthcare professionals. Labor management to include the promotion of comfort measures must be available to all laboring women within an…

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Social Media, Internet Presence, & Privacy

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) believes the internet and social media are valuable and important communication and marketing tools. When used wisely, social media expands communication and connectivity. When used improperly or unwisely, it…

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Skin-to-Skin Contact

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) recognizesthe benefits of early and frequentskin-to-skin care in the first hours and days after the birth of a baby. Decades of research demonstrate the benefits of skin-to-skin care for…

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Infant Feeding

All expectant mothers should be given evidence-based information about breastfeeding in order to make an informed decision as to how they will feed their infants. Further, we believe that breastfeeding is affected by events in…

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Cesarean Childbirth

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) recognizes that cesarean childbirth, a surgical procedure for delivery of a baby(ies) through the abdomen, can be a life-saving operation. In conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), The…

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Delayed Bathing

International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) encourages evidencebased information for decision making around pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and new parenting. Recent research has shown that delaying the first bath after birth can have significant impact on the…

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Episiotomy

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) agrees with the World Health Organization (WHO) and major medical organizations that routine performance of episiotomy is not supported by the evidence to decrease perineal damage and may lead…

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Optimal Cord Clamping

The International Childbirth Education Association recognizes that the first minutes after birth are crucial to both mother and newborn. Best care practices for the mother-baby dyad should include the following: optimal umbilical cord clamping, skin-to-skin…

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Induction

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) finds that spontaneous, physiologic labor provides benefits to babies and mothers. Induction of labor is a process utilizing various chemical and mechanical methods to initiate uterine contractions before the…

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Role and Scope of the Postpartum Doula

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) recognizes the evolving and changing needs of the family who has just experienced the birth of a new baby. Awareness of the eleven domains of postpartum care enable the…

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The Role and Scope of Birth Doula Practice

The concept of companionship during labor is well-documented from ancient times to the present. Today research overwhelmingly confirms that the presence of someone trained in labor support (a birth doula) benefits the laboring woman and…

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Role and Scope of the Childbirth Educator

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) defines childbirth educators as professional sources of information, with skills to support those preparing for pregnancy, labor, birth, and parenthood. ICEA believes that childbirth educators positively impact birth outcomes…

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Physiologic Birth

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) recognizes that birth is a unique and synergistic process between mother and fetus. While the use of technology in maternity care worldwide increases, maternal/infant morbidity/ mortality rates have not…

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Family-Centered Maternity Care

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) maintains that family-centered maternity care is the foundation on which normal physiologic maternity care resides. Further, family-centered maternity care may be carried out in any birth setting: home, birth center,…

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