Just wanted to share with you how excited I am that I have been selected to review an advance copy of Elizabeth Pantley's new book The No-Cry Nap Solution. I should be getting my copy in early December and I look forward to reading it and sharing my thoughts with you. It's especially timely for me as I have been struggling with a few nap issues with my children so I really can't wait to get my copy.
From the publisher:
The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems
Bestselling parenting author brings her solutions to your naptime dilemmas
Will your child only nap in your arms, in a swing, or after elaborate rituals? Does your child take cat naps--or none at all? Let world-renowned, trusted parenting author Elizabeth Pantley help you. She'll guide you with the same sensitive expertise and gentle approach used in her other No-Cry bestsellers.
Research shows that naps improve health, mood, growth, and well-being. Yet children often resist the naps they need. The results are fussy, crying babies and cranky, grouchy kids who also have trouble sleeping at night!
In The No-Cry Nap Solution Pantley explains to parents of children ages newborn to kindergarten the importance of napping to both behavior during the day and sleeping during (and through!) the night. She then shares with you her gentle, loving techniques--tested on families of all sizes and circumstances--and shows you how you can customize her solutions for your own family. Pantley addresses issues such as children who resist naps, dealing with schedule changes, turning short naps into longer ones, helping a child go from needing motion to sleep to "stationery"� sleep, nursing at naptime, solving daycare napping problems, and more.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Birth & Breastfeeding News
Dr. Jack Newman's Clinic Needs Your Help
Dr. Jack Newman is a pediatrician, former consultant to the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, and world renowned breastfeeding advocator. His books, handouts, videos and consulting at the clinic have helped countless mothers achieve long-lasting breastfeeding relationships despite challenges,conflicting advice and unsupportive health practitioners.
As of September 30, 2008, the clinic will no longer be receiving any private funding. (Government funding ceased in 2005). They need immediate donations to keep the clinic open and their website (with all of their educational resources) online. For a charitable tax receipt, please send your donation to www.canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org. Please direct your donation to NEWMAN BREASTFEEDING CLINIC. You can also call 416-498-0002.
Alberta Midwifery Receives Government Funding
In October, the Alberta government announced that midwifery will finally be funded. Though regulated by the government since 1998, families have had to pay out of pocket for midwifery care. As of April 2009, families will now be able to choose midwifery care and their birth place with the service covered. This is great news for midwifery and home birth. Click here for more information.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Dr. Jack Newman is a pediatrician, former consultant to the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, and world renowned breastfeeding advocator. His books, handouts, videos and consulting at the clinic have helped countless mothers achieve long-lasting breastfeeding relationships despite challenges,conflicting advice and unsupportive health practitioners.As of September 30, 2008, the clinic will no longer be receiving any private funding. (Government funding ceased in 2005). They need immediate donations to keep the clinic open and their website (with all of their educational resources) online. For a charitable tax receipt, please send your donation to www.canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org. Please direct your donation to NEWMAN BREASTFEEDING CLINIC. You can also call 416-498-0002.
Alberta Midwifery Receives Government Funding
In October, the Alberta government announced that midwifery will finally be funded. Though regulated by the government since 1998, families have had to pay out of pocket for midwifery care. As of April 2009, families will now be able to choose midwifery care and their birth place with the service covered. This is great news for midwifery and home birth. Click here for more information.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
It's been a very long time...
The reason bloggers often don't blog is because they are too busy. You know, IRL - in real life. I am no exception. Life intervened for a while. At the end of June, we welcomed our daughter Noa in a beautiful, speedy, midwife-assisted home birth. And two weeks later we moved to Vancouver Island. The last few months we've been focusing on our family, on discovering who this newcomer is and on helping our three year old son adjust to the major changes.
But I'm back, at least on light duty, after a long hiatus. There is a lot of news to catch up on.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
But I'm back, at least on light duty, after a long hiatus. There is a lot of news to catch up on.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Dr. Phil Looking for Home Birth Horror Stories for his show.
Dr. Phil has a page on his website asking for people to share their stories of having a home birth and regretting it.
Please click here to add your POSITIVE story. Maybe he'll be flooded with stories of good outcomes and have no material for the story of regret he's looking for.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Please click here to add your POSITIVE story. Maybe he'll be flooded with stories of good outcomes and have no material for the story of regret he's looking for.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Home Birth Under Attack in America
ABC News reports that the American Medical Association is supporting proposed legislation that would effectively ban home births. Resolution 205 supports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' position that home births are not safe.
Read the story...
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Savvy Mom Baby Shower Gift Guide
Our Baby Bath Box was chosen as a SavvyMom Pick for the Dream Baby Shower Gift Guide. If you live in the Greater Toronto area you can enter to win all of the items in the guide. And if you live elsewhere, you can pick up one of our Baby Bath Boxes in the SHOP for the next baby shower you have to attend!
The Baby Bath Kit is 100% natural just like your baby. Everything you need to keep your baby clean, sweet smelling and cozy. All products are natural or organic.
Contents:- 1 Bamboo hooded towel
- 5 Bamboo washcloths
- 1 Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash - 160mL
- 1 Angel Baby massage oil - 30 mL
Why Bamboo? Find out the benefits of bamboo.
Find out why you should choose natural skin care products.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Until next year...
We had a great time at Birth Fest this year. There were even more vendors, great music and storytellers for the kids and lots of prizes! It sure is exciting to see how much local talent we have in Vancouver.
Thought I'd share the photos of our display for those who didn't make it.
Click to Enlarge
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Thought I'd share the photos of our display for those who didn't make it.
Click to Enlarge
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Midwives Now
Some vocal Pomegranate midwifery clients from the Sea-to-Sky Corridor are demanding that midwives become integrated into the maternity care services there. They have put together a website for their cause: www.midwivesnow.com. On the site there is a letter they have written to send to their MLA as well as some prominent members of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to expedite the integration of midwives. Please sign this letter in their support.
Pomegranate has been accepting patients from communities such as Squamish and Pemberton since they opened their doors two years ago, and many of these woman have to drive long hours and traverse natural obstacles to get the care that they rightfully deserve to have close to home. There are midwives who are eager to set up their life in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and offer comprehensive maternity care to women and families.
Please forward the weblink to others who agree that solving the maternity care crisis in BC includes integrating midwives across the province.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Pomegranate has been accepting patients from communities such as Squamish and Pemberton since they opened their doors two years ago, and many of these woman have to drive long hours and traverse natural obstacles to get the care that they rightfully deserve to have close to home. There are midwives who are eager to set up their life in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and offer comprehensive maternity care to women and families.
Please forward the weblink to others who agree that solving the maternity care crisis in BC includes integrating midwives across the province.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Friday, February 22, 2008
We'll See You at BirthFest!
We are exhibiting at BirthFest again this year. The second annual celebration of bellies, birth and babies is co-sponsored by Birth Lounge, Britannia Community Centre and Eastside Family Place. This free event is for the whole family – live music, local maternity care services, local vendors and more.
Last year we had so much fun. The gym was packed despite the downpour outside. Kids were dancing, parents were chatting, prizes were won and there were great vendors showcasing their wares. We are really looking forward to being a part of it again this year.
Britannia Community Centre
Gym D
March 8th from 10am – 3pm.
For more information visit www.birthlounge.com
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Voices: What Story is Your Birth Story Really Telling?
I recently had the opportunity to share the story of my son’s birth with a university class on Child Development during Infancy (conception-3 years). The students are in their early twenties and many had never seen a birth before nor had any prior exposure to the basics of childbirth.
As I wrote out my story, I became increasingly aware that I couldn’t just tell it the way I remembered it. I had to bear in mind that the students would be forming impressions about childbirth from my words. I had an opportunity to cut through the noise of birth as pain and talk about what else it can be, beyond just a physical experience. I realized that to be taken seriously I would need to acknowledge that birth IS painful but I also decided to focus on the experience itself: preparations, perceptions, emotions. I spoke about why I chose to have a homebirth in a rational way so that my words would not be brushed aside as those of someone “brave” or “radical.”
I had to make very calculated decisions about what to say and what not to say and I got to thinking about the stories our birth stories really tell. Is it a story of fear, pain, control, joy, courage, triumph, peace, dignity, sorrow? Do the details we give and the words we use convey what we intend? Are we aware of our audience when we casually explain about the day we gave birth? Do we pay attention to the fact that there might be a young pre-teen girl there who is soaking it up? What do we want listeners to take away from our tales?
In a culture where birth is a medical event, we owe it to future families to tell a positive empowering story if we can. Young women today are bombarded with stories on tv and in the media of childbirth as being so painful and dangerous that the only way they will get through it is by putting their trust in the authorities, giving up the power in their bodies and taking the multitude of drugs offered to manage their birth safely. We can help shape future mothers’ perceptions of birth by carefully choosing our words when we talk about ours. Regardless of the circumstances—whether it was a blissed out waterbirth or a cesarean for breech presentation—we are the ones who tell our stories. We can choose to be positive and inspiring or to instill fear and dread. It’s your story.
If you are interested, you can read my story here.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
As I wrote out my story, I became increasingly aware that I couldn’t just tell it the way I remembered it. I had to bear in mind that the students would be forming impressions about childbirth from my words. I had an opportunity to cut through the noise of birth as pain and talk about what else it can be, beyond just a physical experience. I realized that to be taken seriously I would need to acknowledge that birth IS painful but I also decided to focus on the experience itself: preparations, perceptions, emotions. I spoke about why I chose to have a homebirth in a rational way so that my words would not be brushed aside as those of someone “brave” or “radical.”
I had to make very calculated decisions about what to say and what not to say and I got to thinking about the stories our birth stories really tell. Is it a story of fear, pain, control, joy, courage, triumph, peace, dignity, sorrow? Do the details we give and the words we use convey what we intend? Are we aware of our audience when we casually explain about the day we gave birth? Do we pay attention to the fact that there might be a young pre-teen girl there who is soaking it up? What do we want listeners to take away from our tales?
In a culture where birth is a medical event, we owe it to future families to tell a positive empowering story if we can. Young women today are bombarded with stories on tv and in the media of childbirth as being so painful and dangerous that the only way they will get through it is by putting their trust in the authorities, giving up the power in their bodies and taking the multitude of drugs offered to manage their birth safely. We can help shape future mothers’ perceptions of birth by carefully choosing our words when we talk about ours. Regardless of the circumstances—whether it was a blissed out waterbirth or a cesarean for breech presentation—we are the ones who tell our stories. We can choose to be positive and inspiring or to instill fear and dread. It’s your story.
If you are interested, you can read my story here.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Reflection
- What story does your birth story tell?
- Is your birth story always the same?
- Do you adjust the details of your story depending on who you are talking to?
- Does your story focus on positive emotions?
- Could you make your story more inspiring?
- Does answering these questions bring up any unresolved feelings that you might need to work through?
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
On The Shelf
Birth Stories
by Katrina O'Brien
From natural birth at home to unexpected birth in the outdoors to planned Caesareans, these touchingly personal and funny tales illustrate how the method of arrival is less important than the love the child finds when it finally arrives.
The Colors of Birth: Shared Stories
by Ellyn Stanek Hutton
After childbirth, a woman joins the largest sorority on our planet: women who are mothers. Each mother makes her choices: hospital birthing room or water birth at home, obstetrician or midwife, epidural or natural childbirth-often forsaking all plans when unforeseen variables threaten her or her child. But enduring such a trial to bring a new life into the world provides a life-changing experience for the new mother, as exemplified by the women who share their stories in Ellyn Stanek Hutton's new compilation. The Colors of Birth contains stories that represent a rainbow of experience through color imagery chosen by each contributor. Each woman was asked to tap her instinctual perception and choose a color that best represented her childbirth experience. The Colors of Birth creates community by reinforcing and refreshing the emotional bond that is motherhood. It will stimulate conversations with friends, family members, mothers, doctors, and midwives. A loving and thoughtful shower gift, it will help the pregnant woman sort through a full spectrum of birth stories as she identifies her own approach-and offer reassurance should her plans go awry.
Descriptions from the Publishers.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Birth 101
My son was born at home in Sept 2005 with my husband and two midwives in attendance. I chose to have a midwife because I had heard great things about the continuity of care offered by midwives and we are lucky enough in BC to have midwives covered by MSP. At the time I knew nothing about birth other than what I heard from my mom and my sister and what I saw on tv.
Midwifery & Home Birth
I didn’t know much about midwives either. I ended up being so glad that I chose midwifery care because I soon learned that midwives are specialists in birth and the newborn and that most have university degrees and have attended hundreds of births. Choosing a midwife meant that I would be able to choose my birth place as registered midwives in BC can attend births in hospital or at home. One of the best things about midwifery was that the Midwifery Model of Care views birth as a normal physiological process, not a medical event, and midwives believe that in most cases, birth is best managed by letting it unfold naturally. This mindset allowed me to place a lot of trust in my body, in the process of birth itself and in my caregivers. And that is why I chose to have a homebirth.
Another reason I chose homebirth was that I knew that labour and birth were going to be a lot work and that I would need to really focus – I felt that I would be able to do that best in an environment that I found safe and familiar.
Preparation
In preparation for birth I read almost every book I could get my hands on, I did prenatal yoga and I went to prenatal classes. You hear a lot about Lamaze style breathing or distraction methods for pain coping and we practiced a lot in my prenatal class by holding ice in our hands until it .Once labour got really intense, I didn’t remember any of that. The one thing that I felt helped the most was the psychological work I did ahead of time to face my fears about birth. This helped to keep me from panicking when the little breathing and relaxation tricks stopped working and I’m so grateful for that.
Labour
I was lucky to have an 8 hour labour – not so long as to be totally exhausting and not so short as to be totally intense and overwhelming. I laboured through the night and as the contractions got closer together and more painful I definitely felt like giving up. It’s pretty common to say things like “I can’t do this” or “I changed my mind.” I was tired and wanted to go to sleep. I was so tempted to say “let’s go to the hospital for that epidural!” but I found the shower really helped to dull the pain of contractions and I would stay in until we ran out of hot water and had to wait for it to replenish.
Relax!
It also helped to remember to relax and not tense up the rest of my body. Between contractions you feel completely normal, no pain whatsoever, so it’s very important to rest then even if it’s only for a minute or two. The more you relax the more you allow your body to release its own pain medication: endorphins. The more tense, stressed or frightened you become the more your body produces adrenaline which can slow labour and block endorphins. I really wanted to let my body work naturally with labour but it took a great amount of determination and encouragement from my husband and midwives.
Transition
As I approached transition, I went into what some people call Labourland, a sort of out of body experience. At this point you have to focus completely on the physical task at hand and you kind of leave your rational thinking brain behind. It’s difficult to talk or communicate with others in the room as you just disconnect and pay attention to your body. You really don’t even notice what’s going on around you.
When my niece was born, she came so quickly that my sister barely made it to the hospital. I was 16 at the time and when my sister told me about laying down in the middle of the hospital lobby, I couldn’t believe she would do something so embarrassing. I understand now that you really don’t care where you are or what people might think!
Pushing
I found the second stage of labour to be the most painful. Thankfully this stage only lasted about 40 minutes (which I thought was about 35 minutes too long!!). The amazing thing about the pushing stage is how invigorated and alert I became. Only half an hour before I had been totally exhausted and out of it but now, knowing that baby and the end of this ordeal were close at hand, renewed my energy. I remember talking to the midwives between pushes about how much I liked the song that was playing. And there is absolutely nothing that can compare with the feeling of the last push when baby slipped out and the midwife placed him, with cord still attached, in my arms! It is pure relief and joy and strength and love.
Rewards
Giving birth can be an amazingly empowering experience. It’s really hard work and it’s painful and tiring and when you realize that you did it, you really feel like you can do anything. For a lot of women it shows them that they are a lot stronger and more capable than they thought they were! 300,000 women do it every day and they definitely have something to feel proud of.
For about 2 or 3 days after my son’s birth, I thought I never wanted to do it again. But I am going to do it again in July and to be honest, I’m actually looking forward to it. Birth is so much more than the pain and swearing they show on tv
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Midwifery & Home Birth
I didn’t know much about midwives either. I ended up being so glad that I chose midwifery care because I soon learned that midwives are specialists in birth and the newborn and that most have university degrees and have attended hundreds of births. Choosing a midwife meant that I would be able to choose my birth place as registered midwives in BC can attend births in hospital or at home. One of the best things about midwifery was that the Midwifery Model of Care views birth as a normal physiological process, not a medical event, and midwives believe that in most cases, birth is best managed by letting it unfold naturally. This mindset allowed me to place a lot of trust in my body, in the process of birth itself and in my caregivers. And that is why I chose to have a homebirth.
Another reason I chose homebirth was that I knew that labour and birth were going to be a lot work and that I would need to really focus – I felt that I would be able to do that best in an environment that I found safe and familiar.
Preparation
In preparation for birth I read almost every book I could get my hands on, I did prenatal yoga and I went to prenatal classes. You hear a lot about Lamaze style breathing or distraction methods for pain coping and we practiced a lot in my prenatal class by holding ice in our hands until it .Once labour got really intense, I didn’t remember any of that. The one thing that I felt helped the most was the psychological work I did ahead of time to face my fears about birth. This helped to keep me from panicking when the little breathing and relaxation tricks stopped working and I’m so grateful for that.
Labour
I was lucky to have an 8 hour labour – not so long as to be totally exhausting and not so short as to be totally intense and overwhelming. I laboured through the night and as the contractions got closer together and more painful I definitely felt like giving up. It’s pretty common to say things like “I can’t do this” or “I changed my mind.” I was tired and wanted to go to sleep. I was so tempted to say “let’s go to the hospital for that epidural!” but I found the shower really helped to dull the pain of contractions and I would stay in until we ran out of hot water and had to wait for it to replenish.
Relax!
It also helped to remember to relax and not tense up the rest of my body. Between contractions you feel completely normal, no pain whatsoever, so it’s very important to rest then even if it’s only for a minute or two. The more you relax the more you allow your body to release its own pain medication: endorphins. The more tense, stressed or frightened you become the more your body produces adrenaline which can slow labour and block endorphins. I really wanted to let my body work naturally with labour but it took a great amount of determination and encouragement from my husband and midwives.
Transition
As I approached transition, I went into what some people call Labourland, a sort of out of body experience. At this point you have to focus completely on the physical task at hand and you kind of leave your rational thinking brain behind. It’s difficult to talk or communicate with others in the room as you just disconnect and pay attention to your body. You really don’t even notice what’s going on around you.
When my niece was born, she came so quickly that my sister barely made it to the hospital. I was 16 at the time and when my sister told me about laying down in the middle of the hospital lobby, I couldn’t believe she would do something so embarrassing. I understand now that you really don’t care where you are or what people might think!
Pushing
I found the second stage of labour to be the most painful. Thankfully this stage only lasted about 40 minutes (which I thought was about 35 minutes too long!!). The amazing thing about the pushing stage is how invigorated and alert I became. Only half an hour before I had been totally exhausted and out of it but now, knowing that baby and the end of this ordeal were close at hand, renewed my energy. I remember talking to the midwives between pushes about how much I liked the song that was playing. And there is absolutely nothing that can compare with the feeling of the last push when baby slipped out and the midwife placed him, with cord still attached, in my arms! It is pure relief and joy and strength and love.
Rewards
Giving birth can be an amazingly empowering experience. It’s really hard work and it’s painful and tiring and when you realize that you did it, you really feel like you can do anything. For a lot of women it shows them that they are a lot stronger and more capable than they thought they were! 300,000 women do it every day and they definitely have something to feel proud of.
For about 2 or 3 days after my son’s birth, I thought I never wanted to do it again. But I am going to do it again in July and to be honest, I’m actually looking forward to it. Birth is so much more than the pain and swearing they show on tv
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Sweet Home Featured in Shared Vision
We are excited to share with you that Sweet Home has been featured in Vancouver's February issue of Shared Vision under the ENVISION section. Check it out!
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Mother Me Valentine's Contest
Celebrate your sweet cherub's arrival with Mother Me home support and be mothered yourself, at the same time, by a Mother Me postnatal doula.
Why give flowers to a new mom when you can give a qualified Mother Me doula?
Mother Me is offering a contest for new moms, to win 16 hours of home support, valued at approx. $400.
Mother Me Doulas:
They want to know:
What is the most outrageous or comical advice you have been given about parenting?
Submit your answer by email with your name and contact information.
Please send your answer to motherme@shaw.ca by February 14th.
Winner to be announced by email on February 15th, 2008.
Who Can Enter?
Anyone having or has had a baby from January 14th, 2008 to March 14th, 2008.
Also, friends or family wanting to give this as a gift to a loved
one who has had or is expecting a baby during this time period.
All new moms will love this gift!
You Can Win:
The winner will receive a gift certificate totaling $400 that must be used by July 2008.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Why give flowers to a new mom when you can give a qualified Mother Me doula?
Mother Me is offering a contest for new moms, to win 16 hours of home support, valued at approx. $400.
Mother Me Doulas:
- Are certified to take care of both you and your newborn
- Provide home support for you and your family performed in a respectful and sensitive manner
- Offer newborn care, bathing, feeding, massage and comfort techniques
- Provide breastfeeding education and emotional support
- Assist with your day to day household tasks
- Are specialized to care for twins and triplets.
They want to know:
What is the most outrageous or comical advice you have been given about parenting?
Submit your answer by email with your name and contact information.
Please send your answer to motherme@shaw.ca by February 14th.
Winner to be announced by email on February 15th, 2008.
Who Can Enter?
Anyone having or has had a baby from January 14th, 2008 to March 14th, 2008.
Also, friends or family wanting to give this as a gift to a loved
one who has had or is expecting a baby during this time period.
All new moms will love this gift!
You Can Win:
The winner will receive a gift certificate totaling $400 that must be used by July 2008.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Waterbirth International needs your help!!
The following was posted on the Waterbirth International website last week. Please note this week's update at the bottom of this post as well.
For twenty plus years Waterbirth International and Barbara Harper have been guiding mothers and their providers, offering education and birth pools all over the world. Waterbirth International is facing the very difficult truth that the Gentle Birth World Congress - a fabulous success in every way for international and local attendees - drained all of our resources. With the help of those around the world the doors will stay open while we reorganize and seek new volunteers and board members.
We still need to raise $175,000 in donations to cover the debts from the Congress.
With such a large sum to raise, we need each of you to support this cause. When you support waterbirth, you are making a statement that you want and need options, choices and more control.
Can you help us stay open to take the next phone call?
How much is it worth to see waterbirth become the norm in the US, like it is in the UK? I think we only need a few more years to make that happen. Women really do want waterbirth to be an available choice in every hospital. They need choices now, more than ever.
If we need to call every single waterbirth parent personally, we will. We don't want 25 years of pioneering work to end and the vision of safe and beautiful waterbirth to go away.
Please do the following:
UPDATE:
World community rallies support.
Midwives, parents, doctors, doulas, childbirth educators, grandparents, business owners - all send letters of support along with donations, membership and orders in the Waterbirth International eStore!! In just one week enough donations came in to pay bills, wages and taxes for Waterbirth International staff. There is still a long way to go, but many groups are hosting fund raisers in all parts US and around the world. The statement was loud, clear, strong and demonstrative - Waterbirth International MUST stay open to help millions more women and families.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
For twenty plus years Waterbirth International and Barbara Harper have been guiding mothers and their providers, offering education and birth pools all over the world. Waterbirth International is facing the very difficult truth that the Gentle Birth World Congress - a fabulous success in every way for international and local attendees - drained all of our resources. With the help of those around the world the doors will stay open while we reorganize and seek new volunteers and board members.
We still need to raise $175,000 in donations to cover the debts from the Congress.
With such a large sum to raise, we need each of you to support this cause. When you support waterbirth, you are making a statement that you want and need options, choices and more control.
Can you help us stay open to take the next phone call?
- to convince an obstetrician to incorporate waterbirth into his/her practice
- to work with the nurse midwives to install pools in their facilities
- to educate an entire hospital on the benefits of allowing women freedom of movement in the water
- to continue our resource services for parents and professionals
How much is it worth to see waterbirth become the norm in the US, like it is in the UK? I think we only need a few more years to make that happen. Women really do want waterbirth to be an available choice in every hospital. They need choices now, more than ever.
If we need to call every single waterbirth parent personally, we will. We don't want 25 years of pioneering work to end and the vision of safe and beautiful waterbirth to go away.
Please do the following:
- DONATE any amount you can
- Become a MEMBER of Waterbirth International
- Buy a birth pool for your local midwives
- Buy a birth pool for yourself
- Buy a birth video and donate it to your local library
- Spread the word around the world: Post this message on other sites and blogs
UPDATE:
World community rallies support.
Midwives, parents, doctors, doulas, childbirth educators, grandparents, business owners - all send letters of support along with donations, membership and orders in the Waterbirth International eStore!! In just one week enough donations came in to pay bills, wages and taxes for Waterbirth International staff. There is still a long way to go, but many groups are hosting fund raisers in all parts US and around the world. The statement was loud, clear, strong and demonstrative - Waterbirth International MUST stay open to help millions more women and families.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Business of Being Born
This isn't exactly new news, the buzz about this film has been growing for a few months now, but I wanted to be sure to share it with you. Ricki Lake, actress and former talk-show host (remember?), has produced a new film on birth in the United States called The Business of Being Born which is in limited release around the US right now.
Birth: it’s a miracle. A rite of passage. A natural part of life. But more than anything, birth is a business. Compelled to find answers after a disappointing birth experience with her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to examine and question the way American women have babies.
The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal.
Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?
The film is getting rave reviews within the birth community: the film was screened at the Gentle Birth conference (hosted by Waterbirth International) in Portland, OR in September 2007 and Ricki Lake is on the cover of the most recent issue of Mothering Magazine. Mothering Magazine online also has an interview with Ricki Lake which you can listen to right now.
The film includes amazing birth advocates like Ina May Gaskin, Robbie Davis-Floyd, Dr. Michel Odent and Dr. Marsden Wagner. I really can't wait to see this film. The trailer is incredibly inspiring and I am overjoyed to see someone who has the possibility of reaching so many people spreading the message that birth is normal and natural.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Happy New Year!
Finally, I am back after a long hiatus.
Where have I been?
Primarily, I've been quite consumed with a major project for Sweet Home - our new naturals line (sourcing products, costing, having an internal shopping cart built to make shopping on our site more friendly for you, getting images together). More about Sweet Home Naturals in the next post.
There was of course also Christmas and all of the illnesses of fall and winter for myself and my family, lots of family visits during the fall, my dive back into University to finish my degree.
I also had the pleasure of exhibiting at the Canadian Association of Midwives annual conference held in Vancouver this past year from Nov 1-3. The conference was in Vancouver to celebrate 10 years of legalized midwifery in BC. There were a host of events for this major milestone held throughout the month and across the city, from a big party to open houses at the midwifery clinics.
The conference itself was a real treat. Midwives seem to be amazingly friendly, approachable, laid-back and of course, knowledgeable. The energy at the conference was upbeat and friendly. I was also fortunate to be able to take breaks from manning my table to sit in on a few of the sessions of the conference including some amazing new studies on home birth and on the attitudes of university students towards birth. I can't wait for these studies to be published to share the findings with you.
With the Naturals project wrapped up for now it means I will be able to devote more time to blogging and our newsletter. I've been looking forward to it. I hope to hear more from you too.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
Where have I been?
Primarily, I've been quite consumed with a major project for Sweet Home - our new naturals line (sourcing products, costing, having an internal shopping cart built to make shopping on our site more friendly for you, getting images together). More about Sweet Home Naturals in the next post.
There was of course also Christmas and all of the illnesses of fall and winter for myself and my family, lots of family visits during the fall, my dive back into University to finish my degree.
I also had the pleasure of exhibiting at the Canadian Association of Midwives annual conference held in Vancouver this past year from Nov 1-3. The conference was in Vancouver to celebrate 10 years of legalized midwifery in BC. There were a host of events for this major milestone held throughout the month and across the city, from a big party to open houses at the midwifery clinics.
The conference itself was a real treat. Midwives seem to be amazingly friendly, approachable, laid-back and of course, knowledgeable. The energy at the conference was upbeat and friendly. I was also fortunate to be able to take breaks from manning my table to sit in on a few of the sessions of the conference including some amazing new studies on home birth and on the attitudes of university students towards birth. I can't wait for these studies to be published to share the findings with you.
With the Naturals project wrapped up for now it means I will be able to devote more time to blogging and our newsletter. I've been looking forward to it. I hope to hear more from you too.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
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