My first stop, after checking in, was to catch the last half hour (I was running late) of the talk about Unassisted Childbirth, featuring Lynn Griesemer. I think midwives can learn a lot from listening to women who choose unassisted birth. There are reasons women choose to birth unassisted, and while it isn't a choice I would make, I think midwives, by listening to UC moms can improve our care. Just as midwifery clients choose midwifery over OB care so that they can feel empowered and respected, UC moms choose to UC because they feel they won't get that empowerment and respect from midwifery care. I disagree with some of the things that were said in the session, but overall thought it was good.
Second stop was to watch an audience-led performance of Birth: A Play, by Karen Brody. I had been wanting to see this play for a long time now, so it was great to be able to see it today. The cast included Robbie Davis-Floyd, Debra Pascali Bonaro, Vicki Elson, and several others. It was so great to see this play, and I could see how it would be such a powerful experience for teens and college students to learn about women's experiences of birth. So glad I got to see it.
Next, I went back to the Harris Theater to see Robbie Davis-Floyd speak about Birth Models that Work. I got to hear about how other countries, whose outcomes are much better than the US model, go about doing births. I am so used to seeing the American model that it was really helpful for me to think out of the box a bit to consider how we might go about integrating these other countries' models into our own. We have a lot to learn from how other countries manage normal labor and birth.
After this, I got to see Shafia Monroe speak about Birth as a Social Justice Issue. Shafia is so eloquent, and she helped me learn more about how race and racism affects birth outcomes. I also got a small taste of the heritage of midwifery amongst black women. Black midwives have a very different heritage than white midwives. For example, black midwives were not victims of the burning times (witch hunts). Black midwives practiced in Africa and in the US South as respected healers in their communities. I also got to learn about ICTC's Sistah Care Program, where girls age 13-17 learn basic midwifery skills and learn how to care for each other and for their community. I was so inspired that I feel like maybe I will pursue starting a Sistah Care Program here in Northern Virginia.
Next, I learned more about the legal aspects of birth and about informed choice. The discussion was facilitated by Tabare Depaep (Co-Chair of CIMS, doula, and lawyer) and Lisa Pratt (a law student at the University of D.C. who is active in supporting reproductive justice and VBAC rights). I came away from that one with a great idea for a project. I am going to put together a VBAC birth plan document with some very specific language to help VBAC moms get the birth they want. Tabare suggested having the doctors and nurses sign that they had read your birth plan. So, I plan to include the signature part, but also include a statement that the doctor will provide intrapartal care for the client at a hospital that will accomodate her wishes and respect her informed choice to have a VBAC.
After this discussion, I got to see Henci Goer's moving presentation about abuse of women in the hospital environment. Being a survivor of abuse myself, it helped me understand how I need to do some inner work to better serve women when we transfer to the hospital. Because of my own history of abuse, I find myself feeling very intimidated by the powerful male presence at a hospital birth, as well as feeling intimidated by the male-oriented medical model of care. Normally, I am very assertive, but I find myself losing my voice when I deal with doctors and feeling very much like I did when I was abused as a child. I fight it, but it is an ongoing challenge for me.
The last event I attended was a rountable discussion about birth practices and reproductive rights. The panel included Juliana Fehr, Robbie Davis-Floyd, Lisa Pratt, Debra Pascali Bonaro, Barbara Stratton (VBACtivist), Marjorie Brahms Signer (President of Virginia NOW), Shel Lyons (Birth Survey, CIMS, Mother's Rights Network), and Shafia Monroe, and was moderated by Jessica Clements. A lot of great ideas were discussed, but an empassioned plea from a woman in the audience got the panel to pull together a plan to move forward to begin work on legislation to protect the rights of childbearing women. A strategic planning committee was formed, and several members of the audience (myself included) volunteered to be a part of this strategic planning committee.What an INSPIRING day I had! I feel so moved to do work to support mothers' choices. I wish everyone in the birthing community could have been there today.
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3 comments:
What a wonderful day. Thanks for the run down. I'm bummed I wasn't able to make it. I hope they do it again.
Sounds like a fulfilling day!
I think you might like joining the yahoo group unassistedchildbirth. These women have been a priceless source of inspiration and education to me throughout my pregnancy and up until now. I'd say the group of about 500 is a pretty even mix of Ucers, HBers, and midwives from all over the world.
I joined their Yahoo Group and have been reading through their posts. It looks like a really active list! I hope to learn a lot from them and their experiences of birth.
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