of Birth

An information evening about

birthing options in Dunedin.

Please join us at Miracle, 17 St Andrew St

on Monday 7^th December, 7pm

This is the first of what will be regular information nights.  They will be held on the first Monday of every even numbered month.    An opportunity to learn about birthing options in Dunedin, find out more about home birth and meet the midwives from our collective.  Just come along or call Tracy on 03 478 0411 if you have any questions.

]]> http://homebirthmidwife.org.nz/2009/12/birthing-in-dunedin-information-night/feed/ 0 http://homebirthmidwife.org.nz/2009/09/homebirth-the-facts-and-the-face-of-it/ http://homebirthmidwife.org.nz/2009/09/homebirth-the-facts-and-the-face-of-it/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:27:37 +0000 tracyb http://homebirthmidwife.org.nz/?p=272 There are so many different ways to consider home birth.

A recent study out of Canada adds to the growing body of research that clearly supports home birth as a safe option. As well as helping women make their choice about where to give birth,  sometimes this information is helpful for showing uncertain partners or family and friends that may be concerned about home birth.   You can read the article here.

For others, the facts are a bit too dry and its easier to get the message from the look on peoples faces.  Make yourself a cuppa and sit down and enjoy this lovely song:

Started early – up at 5.30 for a morning shift in the post natal ward.  Channel 9 (Dunedin local TV) ring in the middle of the shift.  Can I do an interview  about our collective?  Sure.  Didn’t get away until an hour later than I’m supposed to finish as things got a bit intense right on change over time.  Starting to feel rushed.

Then off to see a 4 week baby – rushing to get there as they are  heading away.  Asked Dad if he knows that snow is forecast tonight.  Hope their car heater is working well! Oh, can I borrow a scarf please? – I’m about to go on TV and I only just found out.

Off to channel 9.  A few minutes to look at the questions.  Feel I’ve come up with some pretty good answers.  3 minutes live on air.  My tummy feels strange and suddenly my pretty good answers are quite average but no major stuff up so PHEW!   As I’m leaving I ask – how many people watch? About 40,000 she tells me .  Glad I didn’t ask that before hand!

Back outisde.  Ooh there’s a real storm brewing.  Off to my Te Reo lesson -just settling in and then goes the phone.

Through the hail to a lovely home birth.  Margaret comes as back up and only just makes it home again as the snow settles on her hill.  Mum and baby are doing well so I take my leave.  The Dad helps me load back into my car and we are both pummeled with hail.

On the drive home, midnight chimes – that was quite a day.

Cecil's puppet show

Activities at the launch included a delightful puppet show about giving birth by Cecil, a spiral dance to connect all the mothers and lovely face painting for the kids.

Deb and Ana singing

We also had some wonderful singing from the St Michael’s  Chorale of Dunedin Rudolf Steiner school, King Leo and  also Deb and her hapu daughter Ana with a great North American Indian chant.

The vessel ceremony was a lovely way to hear from everyone about what’s special

The Vessel

to them about home birth.  We were so honoured to have this special vessel from home birth Aotearoa with us.

The banner

Hands framing our banner

During the day we asked everyone to help us with the painting of a banner proclaiming “Peace On Earth Begins At Birth”.  We framed the banner with handprints from the people there.  We’re planning to join the Christmas Parade this year and use the banner on our float.  This slogan is also on our new bumper sticker which you may start to see around town.  If you’d like one for your car – email us.

It was great to have the Otago Daily Times there and to see a great photo and a wee blurb on page 2 the next day.  They only got a few minor details muddled and it was fabulous to see the following sentence in prominent media

We know there were many more who would  have joined us had the weather not been quite so abysmal so perhaps we’ll have another celebration for home birth week in October.

Overall we were really pleased with how the day went.  We’d love your comments too.

It’s a big full moon and most of our midwives have women due so it will be interesting to see if we can all get to the celebration tomorrow.

The weather forecast is for snow and cold southerlies with a high  of  5 degrees – that can’t really be called a high can it?

Anyway – luckily we have an indoor space as well so we will hope that people brave the storm and come and join us.

If you are reading this after having come along – thank you for being there!