Baby shower

Cong(r)atulations its a girl!

My Mum, my daughter and I celebrated with my cousin's girlfriend who is due with their first child.

My daughter loved the food and talking as well as the games which she did well at, winning a few prizes. It was so nice to hear how informed the Mum -to-be is on birth and that she wants for a natural birth.

She appreciated the gifts I made which is always nice to see.

Orgasmic Birth

 

  

Orgasmic Birth - The Best Kept Secret 

I mentioned orgasmic birth to my mum the other day. And she was taken aback, people don't think birth can be enjoyed. It reminded me of this film. I hadn't seen it but as it was mentioned a few times and I had the opportunity to see it in Warrnambool, we decided to take the trip there. Its about 3.5 hours from where we live.  I found the film shocking. Not because I don't think birth is sexual. But because of the interventions in the hospital births shown in the film. I found it traumatic to watch. I have seen babies taken from the womb on TV and I always find it distressing. But aside from that I found it an elightening film and when Dr Sarah J Buckley said something to the effect that society doesn't want women to own their birth experiences, to feel empowered, imagine what that may do to `our (patriarchal) society that is the crux of it I reckon. They took an intimate experience from the bedroom and put into a medicalised situation. Sometimes hurting 90% to help the 10% that may have problems.

Warrnambool is a beautiful place. It was my first time visiting. We took a walk around the coast and J loved it. He walked most of the time, even climbing over rocky parts. The sand was firm and a grey white colour, the water a lovely blue. It was a beautiful area.

Menstrual cup pouches

I made one (uterus shaped) for me and the berry one for my daughter for when her time comes. The uterus shaped one is fantastic, fits my mooncup snugly. Not that I need it at the moment, but its nice to be prepared.

Crocheted in 1824 cotton and the green is Anchor Magicline.

My Birth, My Choice

 Just a few things on the latest in regards to the amendments that will affect homebirth and therefore birth choices in Australia.

Greens-rally-in-support-of-midwives

Amendment controls women

Doctors-to-be-in-charge-of-midwives-homebirthing-and-of-course-women



My husband, the 2 youngest boys and I supported the rally which took place in Werribee at Julia Gillard's MP office. We are in this video at about 40 seconds.

It was a good turn out on a rather warm day. I am feeling quite bitter and let down about the Goverment's lack of understanding of what this will mean for women and society. I am concerned for my daughter in particular, she deserves to choose for herself.

Every woman, every choice

Birth belongs to women

This is the banner we painted for the Rally. Couldn't use it in the rain.

Standing together

Empowering Birth Blog

First they came for the unassisted birthers, but I did not speak out, because I do not free-birth.
Then they came for those who birth at home with lay midwives, but I would would not speak out, because I would not have a home-birth with a lay midwife.
Then they came for those who birthed with Certified Professional Midwives, and I would not speak out, because I would not have a home-birth with a CPM.
And then they came for those who birthed in birth centers and with Certified Nurse Midwives, but I would not speak out because I would not have a birth in a birth center or with a CNM.
And then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

2009 -The year of Birth Trauma Awareness

2009 – The year of Birth Trauma Awareness

Enough is enough.

We will no longer stand by while our sisters, partners, friends and babies are mutilated and traumatised.

The silence ends now.

What can you do to be part of this community effort?


Follow your passion in this three stranded project. We need to talk about:


How to avoid birth trauma.

How to heal from birth trauma.

How to raise awareness about birth trauma.

* put a birth trauma awareness sticker on your car, pram, bicycle helmet, letterbox, gate, fence, front door
* sew a birth trauma awareness patch on your sling or wrap
* put your traumatic birth pics on youtube with appropriate captions raising awareness
* drop off JB pamphlets and info on normal physiological birth to your local medical centre
* tell someone about your birth trauma
* write a letter to your daily, local or national newspaper
* talk to your community group, ABA group, mothers' group however casually you like
* tell your GP if you have one
* tell your natural therapists and give them some JB brochures
* write and share your own traumatic birth stories as well as your beautiful birth stories
* work at healing yourself - you're worth it!
* take a few pamphlets everywhere just in case the need arises
* say “Birthrape is real" on mainstream internet forums
* change your sig to something supportive of BTAY on mainstream forums
* put a link to JB on your website, blog, community group website or anywhere else you can
* host a showing of BOBB in your local area and invite the newspapers
* go to anything women-related and talk about birth trauma - WEL, CWA, IWD.....
* do some community-minded graffiti or even a mural!
* write stuff on toilet walls in maternity hospitals
* do some Wiki edits
* put a birth trauma quote in your email sig
* ring the radio when talkback time is on and talk about your experience of traumatic birth
* do an essay at uni about it if you can, or a tutorial presentation
* Join forces! Get involved with your other local homebirth and maternity groups. Volunteer your time, and bounce ideas off others


Use these slogans, or write your own.


Birth trauma happens. Has it happened to you?

Birth trauma happens. It happened to me.

Birth trauma happens - deal with it!

Birth trauma happens. So does healing.

Break the silence around hospital violence

Avoid birth trauma - birth at home

Hire a surgeon, get surgery.

Women have human rights too.

Birth trauma deserves our attention.

Birth trauma deserves your attention.

Does birthrape offend you? Good.

Yes means yes, no means no,
However we dress, wherever we go -
And that means in hospitals too!

Did your rapist wear a mask and gown? Mine did.

Episiotomy is genital mutilation.

Doctors, what do you do when a woman says no?

Midwives, what do you do when a woman says no?

I own my body and I give birth.

Epidurals are a pain in the back.

Fingers, forceps, hands, ventouse, baby - which one belongs in a vagina?

Did you feel your caesarean? I did.

Women say no to birth intervention and yes to powerful birthing!

Better a yummy mummy than a numb mummy. Say no to epidurals.

Drugs in birth? Just say NO!


Healthy babies deserve healthy mothers.


Health means more than alive.

Avoid birth trauma - manage your own birth.

Birth trauma is not a baby's choice.

Birthrape on demand, a surgeon's right to choose.

My body, my birth, my choice.

Birthrape - happening at a hospital near you.

Birth trauma - coming to a woman near you.

You deserve a great birth so stay home.

Unwanted interventions = birth trauma.

Vaginal exams without consent are rape.

Birth is not a medical condition. Leave women alone.

Birth is not surgeons' business.
Birth is women's business.

Consent is not consent when it’s obtained by lying or coercion.

The “dead baby” card does not obtain consent. It coerces women.

Did you know birth trauma can make women suicidal?

Did you know birth trauma happens?

Have you heard of birthrape?

Coerced surgery is human rights abuse. Women and babies deserve respect.

Forced caesareans are the ultimate violation of women’s human rights.

Doctors are not gods. Midwives are not gods.
Women can run their own lives.



Posters:

If We Say No....




Stop Birthrape!



Birth trauma resources on our website: http://www.joyousbirth.info/birthtrauma.html


Birth trauma area on our forums: http://www.joyousbirth.info/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=93

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