There for the Birth

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 09:21:37

There for the birth

Teen mom Rochelle Rockamore cries for her baby, photo: Loretha Weisinger

The number of teens having babies has dropped dramatically in the last decade, but one out of every three American girls still gets pregnant before age 20. That's at least four times the rate in France, Germany and Japan, and it's the highest rate in the industrialized world.

The idea of women assisting other women during birth is as old as human history, but in Chicago, the practice has taken on a new twist. A movement started there a decade ago to help at-risk, low income teen moms cope before, during and after the birth of their babies. The program trains and employs birthing coaches called doulas.

Doula Loretha Weisinger comforts a teen mom, photo: The Kindling Group

Dick talks with Loretha Weisinger, a doula, and Rochelle Rockamore, 15, a young mother she helped.

Find out more about Chicago's doula program
Learn more about a program to help families in Chicago

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The Man with the wave

Ricky Moses outside of Yates Grocery and Farm Supply, photo: Denise Schreiner

Recently, a guest told Dick about a man named Mr. Moses, who stands by the side of a rural road in North Carolina and waves at the cars passing by. Angie Anderson drives by Mr. Moses every day on her way into work, and she was so moved by the friendly gesture she eventually stopped to say thank you.

The interview drew a big response from listeners, who weighed in on whether Dick should go out to meet Mr. Moses himself, or let the reasons for his simple gesture remain a mystery.

Most listeners voted to find out more, so Dick traveled to Yates Store Road near Apex, N.C., to meet Mr. Moses, and learn why he waves.

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Song heard in today's show: "Wave Hello" by Tim Booth, for the album, Wave Hello.

- There for the Birth

There for the Birth

There for the birth

The Man with the wave