Just spoke to a friend, separated from her husband during her pregnancy, whose massage therapist became her primary support during birth this year. She felt touch was the only thing that helped her stay grounded during labor, and afterward in postpartum times--it let her know she was not alone. I teach about touch, and as a former labor and delivery nurse, and current doula, perinatal massage instructor, filmmaker, I'd like to find ways to encourage more nurturing touch by nurses in hospitals ... Even a hand on a shoulder can reduce the level of stress hormones circulating in a laboring woman's body, and help her feel more grounded so she can birth safer, easier, faster. Do any of you see nurses touching anymore (aside from doing procedures and strapping on monitor belts?!). I would like to find a hospital where touch is incorporated into their care and interview nurses who do touch... Ultimately, making a film for hospital birth centers about the benefits of touch--supporting nurses to touch more, and hospitals to encourage the use of doulas. Please let me know if you know of a good hospital for this! I have already made MotherTouch: Nurturing Touch for Birth and instructional video Touch Techniques for Birth about touch and birth too.. but more for couples and doulas/midwives, not directed to hospital staff. You can check out at previews of them at [url]www.touchforbirth.com[/url]