An overview of best practices for mothers and babies

CIMS: Coalition for Improving Maternity Services promotes its "10 Steps of Mother-Friendly Care" -- "a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs. This evidence-based mother-, baby-, and family-friendly model focuses on prevention and wellness as the alternatives to high-cost screening, diagnosis, and treatment programs." See their free downloads, including "Having a Baby? Ten Questions to Ask."

The International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization works with birth organizations and experts throughout the world to improve maternity care; it offers the "10 Steps to Optimal MotherBaby Maternity Services" information in many languages. It is associated with both CIMS and Childbirth Connection.