Ah - so many tears.... I birthed our beautiful, healthy little boy at home in NZ earlier this year, in the early hours of one summer morning, after several hours of labouring in the loving support of my husband, two caring & competent homebirth widwives and a friend. The experience was empowering & amazing; one that I understand is difficult for some people to understand, and absolutely one that I demand to have the choice to repeat for our next baby. We are so incredibly lucky in NZ, in that homebirth is seen as a woman's birthright and is supported.... however, I'm filled with despair that our Australian neighbours don't share this same view. If this situation touches you at all, see a fabulous documentary 'The Business of Being Born'... http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/trailer.php
As a mother of two beautiful children, I would like to offer my children a choice on how they wish to deliver. I was unable to deliver at home for medical reasons and although I do not regret having my children in hospital, I believe that where possible, women should have a choice on how they wish to deliver and with whom. I personally had a brilliant and competent midwife who along with others should be able to work independantly for women in a home birth senario.
RALLY RALLY RALLY!!!! I am taking my family to Canberra to rally on parliament to save my right to birth at home! Thank you for the slide show. I will share it around.
Thats a good video. Unfortunately I prob won't ever have that choice (even if it stays as legal) due to only having one kidney and complications that could arise from that. but power to others i guess.
I am deeply touched, brought tears of joy and despair. I am a student midwife who cannot comprehend a future without the choice of having a homebirth and being a midwife at homebirths. This is a basic human right. We need to focus our energies on making this accessable to all women!!!
The birth of our third child was almost perfect. The problem was I could not have a homebirth as I could not afford a Private Midwife. I laboured at home with my husband and doula and transferred for the last 2.5 hours of an uncomplicated 9 hour labour. The obstetrician and 3 of 4 of the midwives I met in hospital were horrible. I birthed my son with a former homebirth Midwife we were blessed to have, I birthed him as a high risk patient after having c-sections with both my daugthers. The only way my birth could have been any easier is if I had been able to stay home avoiding the narrow minded, controlling medical professionals I met. If I have to freebirth in the future to avoid hospital I shall, that puts myself and my babies 'at risk' but not as 'at risk' as being in a hospital with 'well meaning' obstetricians.
It is such a strong feeling of the power of nature! I think that the whole world is supporting you.
I am a midwife and would like to use that beautiful song in my antenatal classes, to empower woman. But where can I buy, download it?
Annemieke, Belgium
I bawled my eyes eyes watching this video knowing that my husband and I also enjoyed a beautiful, natural homebirth, finding it incomprehensible to think that this option may no longer be available. I am absolutely gutted, devastated to even fathom such an awesome experience for women and families being at risk and our right to birth wherever we choose to may be taken away. The love, care and support we received from our midwives far surpassed anything we would have received birthing elsewhere. You only have to do some research to know the FACTS. Homebirth with a midwife is THE SAFEST, not to mention most empowering, magical and pure birthing experience PLUS we keep hospital beds free!! It is truly disturbing to hear this is under threat.
The heart connection of the women and families within these photos fills me with ache and I too am crying. The utter perfection of those tiny infant bodies sprung from our wombs. The warm mouth on the swollen nipple. The self doubt of transition when we cry out for our mothers, willing Divinity and flesh to move together. I never considered anything but a homebirth for both my babies. They were born 13 years apart and each time homebirth has been under threat. I absolutely agree with Melissa. I would freebirth before I allowed any system to steal my choices from me. And I know I am not alone. My rage is equal to my love. My love for my children. My love for my family. My love for myself. It is in our hearts to protect the brilliance of our intimate moments on this earth and I can think of no more intimate or powerful moment than birth or death.
What a beautiful video, it really captures the essence and beauty of homebirth and the relationship formed between the parents and the midwife. I had a VBAC homebirth for my second child after a disappointing first experience in hospital with all sorts of unnecessary intervention that ultimately ended in an emergency c-section. At 36weeks in my 2nd pregnancy i decided my OB's insisting on elective c-section and not waivering with all my questions and requests for a natural birth, I sacked him and first employed a lovely doula and then a wonderful midwife. Our homebirth experience was truly amazing, empowering, perfect (as my husband descibed it). We cant let this craziness regarding IM's continue! Womenn deserve the right to choose where and with whom they have their baby.
WOW!!! That was truely beautiful!
I am a Doula, I have supported women through homebirth for the last 2 years, and there is no setting that is more beautiful, safe and homely, than being and birthing at home! WE as WOMEN, must take a stand, we must stand together to keep homebirth in Australia alive, even if homebirthing isnt for you, please support the rights of the women that do want to homebirth... if there is no midwives for homebirth, more people are going to freebirth!
I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat - those that have not experienced it cannot possibly understand it but I wish to attend the homebirths of my daughters babies and I want someone there with the knowledge and love they had at their births. We've stood up and said 'no thankyou' to the system once before, we are doers, we can save our birthright. Husbands and partners need to be heard too, they will be big losers if their power is taken from them - loved to see all those Dads in there in their own space, supporting the woman they love - more tears :)
I've shared this with my friends and many have asked "where do I sign the petition" - go to www.homebirthaustralia.org and select "resources & petition".
The strong connection between the midwives and the birthing women is so apparent in this gorgeous video. Never will you find that in a hospital setting. We owe it to all women and babies (and their families) that home birth will always be a legal option!
I sat watching this beautiful video with my eldest daughter. After experiencing homebirth with my second child, I know just how amazing the experience is. I could not have the birth I wanted in hospital first time around, and I wasn't prepared to sacrifice how and where i wanted to give birth. I have been so upset about the recommendations in the MAternity Review, but more so because it overwhelms me with grief, fear and loneliness that there is a possibility that I will not be able to birth my baby from my body in the way that I want, and that is abuse I'm afraid. We cannot let homebirth go, if only all women could have the opportunity to experience the joy and life changing experience that homebirth can bring!
This is so beautiful. The energy in my bedroom after I birthed my 4th child so powerful, my friend, who is very religious and spiritual, described it later to me in a letter after she came to visit our family 1 hour after the birth as "experiencing heaven on earth". xxxx
SAVE PRIVATE MIDWIFERY
by
Jo
:: 13045 views
added 3/9/09 :: last modified 3/10/09
Rey - Apr 29, 2011 12:09 AM
h?
Michelle - Jul 16, 2009 1:00 PM
Ah - so many tears.... I birthed our beautiful, healthy little boy at home in NZ earlier this year, in the early hours of one summer morning, after several hours of labouring in the loving support of my husband, two caring & competent homebirth widwives and a friend. The experience was empowering & amazing; one that I understand is difficult for some people to understand, and absolutely one that I demand to have the choice to repeat for our next baby. We are so incredibly lucky in NZ, in that homebirth is seen as a woman's birthright and is supported.... however, I'm filled with despair that our Australian neighbours don't share this same view. If this situation touches you at all, see a fabulous documentary 'The Business of Being Born'... http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/trailer.php
Michelle - Jun 26, 2009 10:26 PM
As a mother of two beautiful children, I would like to offer my children a choice on how they wish to deliver. I was unable to deliver at home for medical reasons and although I do not regret having my children in hospital, I believe that where possible, women should have a choice on how they wish to deliver and with whom. I personally had a brilliant and competent midwife who along with others should be able to work independantly for women in a home birth senario.
Sandra - Jun 26, 2009 12:09 PM
I am very touched as a woman, a mother and a independent brazilian Doula. Thank you.
astra - Jun 25, 2009 10:43 PM
RALLY RALLY RALLY!!!! I am taking my family to Canberra to rally on parliament to save my right to birth at home! Thank you for the slide show. I will share it around.
Kerrilynn - Jun 25, 2009 10:21 PM
Thats a good video. Unfortunately I prob won't ever have that choice (even if it stays as legal) due to only having one kidney and complications that could arise from that. but power to others i guess.
Jessica - Jun 21, 2009 5:45 PM
I am deeply touched, brought tears of joy and despair. I am a student midwife who cannot comprehend a future without the choice of having a homebirth and being a midwife at homebirths. This is a basic human right. We need to focus our energies on making this accessable to all women!!!
Bernard - Jun 14, 2009 7:19 PM
Power to the women, the mothers of our children, the future. Thanks for your stand. This is a moving touching piece. You have my full support.
Sarah - Apr 25, 2009 10:39 PM
The birth of our third child was almost perfect. The problem was I could not have a homebirth as I could not afford a Private Midwife. I laboured at home with my husband and doula and transferred for the last 2.5 hours of an uncomplicated 9 hour labour. The obstetrician and 3 of 4 of the midwives I met in hospital were horrible. I birthed my son with a former homebirth Midwife we were blessed to have, I birthed him as a high risk patient after having c-sections with both my daugthers. The only way my birth could have been any easier is if I had been able to stay home avoiding the narrow minded, controlling medical professionals I met. If I have to freebirth in the future to avoid hospital I shall, that puts myself and my babies 'at risk' but not as 'at risk' as being in a hospital with 'well meaning' obstetricians.
annemieke - Mar 15, 2009 3:38 AM
It is such a strong feeling of the power of nature! I think that the whole world is supporting you.
I am a midwife and would like to use that beautiful song in my antenatal classes, to empower woman. But where can I buy, download it?
Annemieke, Belgium
Fiona - Mar 13, 2009 5:53 AM
I bawled my eyes eyes watching this video knowing that my husband and I also enjoyed a beautiful, natural homebirth, finding it incomprehensible to think that this option may no longer be available. I am absolutely gutted, devastated to even fathom such an awesome experience for women and families being at risk and our right to birth wherever we choose to may be taken away. The love, care and support we received from our midwives far surpassed anything we would have received birthing elsewhere. You only have to do some research to know the FACTS. Homebirth with a midwife is THE SAFEST, not to mention most empowering, magical and pure birthing experience PLUS we keep hospital beds free!! It is truly disturbing to hear this is under threat.
Katrina - Mar 13, 2009 4:37 AM
The heart connection of the women and families within these photos fills me with ache and I too am crying. The utter perfection of those tiny infant bodies sprung from our wombs. The warm mouth on the swollen nipple. The self doubt of transition when we cry out for our mothers, willing Divinity and flesh to move together. I never considered anything but a homebirth for both my babies. They were born 13 years apart and each time homebirth has been under threat. I absolutely agree with Melissa. I would freebirth before I allowed any system to steal my choices from me. And I know I am not alone. My rage is equal to my love. My love for my children. My love for my family. My love for myself. It is in our hearts to protect the brilliance of our intimate moments on this earth and I can think of no more intimate or powerful moment than birth or death.
Amanda - Mar 13, 2009 4:13 AM
What a beautiful video, it really captures the essence and beauty of homebirth and the relationship formed between the parents and the midwife. I had a VBAC homebirth for my second child after a disappointing first experience in hospital with all sorts of unnecessary intervention that ultimately ended in an emergency c-section. At 36weeks in my 2nd pregnancy i decided my OB's insisting on elective c-section and not waivering with all my questions and requests for a natural birth, I sacked him and first employed a lovely doula and then a wonderful midwife. Our homebirth experience was truly amazing, empowering, perfect (as my husband descibed it). We cant let this craziness regarding IM's continue! Womenn deserve the right to choose where and with whom they have their baby.
Melissa - Mar 12, 2009 5:04 PM
WOW!!! That was truely beautiful!
I am a Doula, I have supported women through homebirth for the last 2 years, and there is no setting that is more beautiful, safe and homely, than being and birthing at home! WE as WOMEN, must take a stand, we must stand together to keep homebirth in Australia alive, even if homebirthing isnt for you, please support the rights of the women that do want to homebirth... if there is no midwives for homebirth, more people are going to freebirth!
Jackie - Mar 11, 2009 9:36 PM
I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat - those that have not experienced it cannot possibly understand it but I wish to attend the homebirths of my daughters babies and I want someone there with the knowledge and love they had at their births. We've stood up and said 'no thankyou' to the system once before, we are doers, we can save our birthright. Husbands and partners need to be heard too, they will be big losers if their power is taken from them - loved to see all those Dads in there in their own space, supporting the woman they love - more tears :)
Maria - Mar 11, 2009 12:00 AM
I've shared this with my friends and many have asked "where do I sign the petition" - go to www.homebirthaustralia.org and select "resources & petition".
Tonje - Mar 10, 2009 8:08 PM
The strong connection between the midwives and the birthing women is so apparent in this gorgeous video. Never will you find that in a hospital setting. We owe it to all women and babies (and their families) that home birth will always be a legal option!
Faye - Mar 10, 2009 2:07 PM
I sat watching this beautiful video with my eldest daughter. After experiencing homebirth with my second child, I know just how amazing the experience is. I could not have the birth I wanted in hospital first time around, and I wasn't prepared to sacrifice how and where i wanted to give birth. I have been so upset about the recommendations in the MAternity Review, but more so because it overwhelms me with grief, fear and loneliness that there is a possibility that I will not be able to birth my baby from my body in the way that I want, and that is abuse I'm afraid. We cannot let homebirth go, if only all women could have the opportunity to experience the joy and life changing experience that homebirth can bring!
tara - Mar 10, 2009 4:24 AM
This is so beautiful. The energy in my bedroom after I birthed my 4th child so powerful, my friend, who is very religious and spiritual, described it later to me in a letter after she came to visit our family 1 hour after the birth as "experiencing heaven on earth". xxxx