Janet Fraser

Weep as you read about VBAC in the US (and not too far off what it’s like here) Childbirth without choice

It would seem perfectly natural that a woman could give birth naturally if she wants to. Guess what? She can’t.

An increasing number of hospitals in this country are refusing to offer women the option of delivering the way nature intended, if she had a cesarean section the first time around (and guess what — chances are she has because the 31% of all births are now C-sections — up 50% in 10 years).

I wrote an article in this week’s issue of Time magazine called “The Trouble With Repeat Cesareans” on the subject of women’s diminishing patient’s rights. I won’t repeat the story here, since you can link to it here, but will give some of the back story for those who want more:

Finally a breastfeeding product I can advertise!

Tru-Breast is here! Huzzah!

Mary Wollstonecraft.

Meet Emily Burns, PhD student at the University of Western Sydney’s Centre for Cultural Research. Looks like a great thesis in the making and sorely needed! Good luck, Emily!

This post is to ask if anyone here would be willing to participate in my PhD project on home birth and free birth experiences in Australia. This project is aiming to gain a better understanding of the role individual and collective spirituality plays on the pregnancy and home birth experience, as well as the effects of birthing outside medicalised birthing norms.

I’m looking for women who:

- are professional home birth attendants, such as a midwives or doulas, or

- are pregnant and planning a home or free birth in Australia, or

- have recently (last 3 years) had a home or free birth in Australia.

Participation will involve an interview, and if you have had a home birth, will include sharing that experience with me (I love birth stories!)

If you would like more information on the study, or would like to participate, please contact me, Emily Burns, for an information sheet. My email address (in anti-spam fashion) is emily dot burns at uws dot edu dot au.

Should you not wish to participate, no further action is required.

The interviews will be recorded, and transcribed, and all identifying information removed. In writing up the research all names will be changed, locations removed, and anything else that could identify you. All information is confidential, with only me having access to the information, with my supervisors having access only if I need help in the analysis phase, but even they won’t have real names.

So, if you have any questions or comments, you can email me. I have an info sheet to email out to anyone who is interested, but as per ethical guidelines, interested people need to contact me first, and I can respond with the info.

This study has been approved by the University of Western Sydney Ethics Committee and the confidentiality of all participants is assured.

—————————————————–

Emily Burns

PhD Candidate

Centre for Cultural Research

University of Western Sydney

ph: 0422 685 354

Head over to The Angry Black Woman to read a huge link fest on reproductive justice.

Wow. Just wow.

Further wowing to be had from Helen Razer who offered us some great tips on Vajazzling in time for International Women’s Day. Oh and a slamming for some playwright or other, whose work I once enjoyed. Onya, Helen.

I’ve been away in Adelaide attending the JB annual festival gathering. What a hoot! From henna and placenta talk to circus acts with participation, great food, wonderful women, lovely families, a chance to reconnect with other homebirthers working through what it’s like to be facing potential criminalisation, well it was just beautiful! I look forward to writing more and sharing some pics shortly!