feminism

Humanised Birth: the minimal standard

Our current approach to maternity is far short of what the minimal for maternity should be. In a society that values mothers, we would see a minimal standard based on compassion, connection and confidence. We would be celebrating and honouring the transformation, and doing everything we could to ensure women transition whole and powerful. We …

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The Maternity Crisis in Australia is worsening:

why the silence? One in three Australian mothers experience physical and emotional birth trauma.  One in 10 emerges with post-traumatic stress disorder. For many it begins with induction.  From there women are at risk of the cascade of consent.  First time mothers have over 40% chance of induced birth.  Between 2000 and 2016 induction of labour …

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Birth beyond Leboyer

The Year was 1975.​It was International Women’s Year.  Colour TV came to Australia and The Netherlands won Eurovision with ‘Ding-a-dong’.It was the year Frederick Leboyer published Birth without Violence. In the led up to 1975, women fought to be heard. In the 45 years since, the fight continues.Whilst gains have been made, some very fundamental needs have been neglected.  And not for lack of voices.By 1975, the way we were born had changed dramatically.  Fr […]

Autonomy in Childbirth – Why it Matters

Many women don’t seem to realise they CAN question the doctor, let alone seek another opinion or change care providers. As a society, we have been groomed to unquestionably trust the doctor. This patriarchal model of medical care works very efficiently and assumes everyone has the same values, needs and abilities. This patriarchal model places …

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Birth – is it a matter of luck

Birth, for the modern human, is not without difficulty.  Does a positive birth come down to luck,​or is it a matter of Good Management? or could it be something else? We are high-level thinkers and social beings…this impacts our ability to birth.  Some women experience birth without the need for assistance.  And some women are …

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