Tag Australian Homebirth

Videos and Pictures from the Australian “Our Bodies” Rallies

Jenny Marie Hatch Leave a comment

Thinkbirth: exploring birth, midwifery and related topics

On the 18th February, 2010 in 14 locations across Australia, 1000’s of people rallied to register their protest at the Rudd Government policies that threaten to restrict options for women.

Jane Palmer’s wonderful video montage of the rallies for women’s right to choose what happens to their bodies in childbirth

And some media on the ‘issue’

The Sunrise piece that seems to have stirred up the Government

http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/play/-/6819641/

a TV piece from Chan 7 yesterday

http://www.facebook.com/l/64996;www.mybirth.com.au/19-02-2010/women-rally-at

Nicola Roxon’s response to collaboration agreements.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/19/2824133.htm

Roxon says: “I’m unapologetically on the record as saying let’s encourage people across the health services spectrum to work together and make sure that women can safely choose options that are good for them and suit them..” 

That’s great in theory and obviously something that sounds very reasonable. 

The question then has to be asked: So why not restrict doctors work unless they collaborate – they are the ones who make things difficult! 

In reality, Roxon’s ‘encouragement’ is only fueling the power imbalances and women are caught in the ‘rip’.

My Birth dot Com

Posted by Michelle Meares on February 19th, 2010 in Blog
 Women and their families protest across Australia in 15 different locations to tell PM Kevin Rudd and Minister Roxon what they think of his maternity reforms – Photo Credit Miriam Ackroyd 

facebook-mybirthJoin the Facebook group to get involved in organising or leave a message of support. 

What will it take for Kevin Rudd to listen to women, and put the needs of Australian families ahead of the Australian Medical Association?

A National Day of Action was held yesterday at 15 different locations Australia wide as women and their families across the country joined together to send Minister Roxon and PM Rudd a clear message – we say NO to your maternity reforms which take away our right to self-determination in health care. 

The news laws currently in the Senate will remove a woman’s basic right to make decisions about the type of birth she has, the place of birth and her care provider. 

Women have been protesting against this new legislation which puts power in the hands of the medical profession, instead of placing women at the centre of decisions made about their care during pregnancy and birth. The Australian Medical Association has lobbyed the Federal Government hard for changes to this legislation and women say NO – you must place our rights ahead of the Dcotor’s pay packets. 

Gosford Rally outside MP Belinda Neals office - Member for Robertson
Gosford Rally outside MP Belinda Neals office – Member for Robertson (Credit: Tracy Beveridge) 

Women will not give up on this issue and our elected MPs must listen to the voices of women in their electorates who believe that while women may seek advice from their doctor ultimately they have the right to make decisions about their bodies and their babies. 

We ask our politicians:
How is it that a Doctors opinion or advice (however learned) will be able to override the long established legal rights of a woman to informed consent and right of refusal?

LINK TO MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION 

MEDIA

Government Response 

National Coverage 

Newcastle/Hunter 

Ballarat 

Sunrise Channel 7 - map of rally locations Sunrise Channel 7 – map of rally locations 

Sydney 

Gosford 

  • NBN News
  • Express Advocate
  • SEAFM

Darwin 

Coffs Coast 

Cairns 

Hobart 

The National Day of Action was covered by newspapers, radio and tv stations Australia wide. Thank you for the support and helping inform the Australian public about this important issue.

Homebirth in Australia

Jenny Marie Hatch Leave a comment

For the past few months I have been hearing reports of an increasingly totalitarian approach to Homebirth in Australia.

One of the blessings of the web is that I have been able to make friends all over the world with those who share my lifestyle.  From Veronika in the UK to Leilah in Canada to Sarah in Australia, these sisters who also live the Primal Mothering Life have been a source of inspiration and pure friendship as I have worked as a birth activist all of these years.

I have several friends on Facebook who live in Australia and I have been extremely alarmed  by the stories that I have been hearing from them about what is going on.

Mothers are mobilizing.  Several protests have already taken place, few have been covered by the Media, and the Politicians and AMA are stomping down hard on Homebirth in that great country.

The other day I emailed my friend Kym and asked if she would help partner in writing some articles for the internet that would help share the story of what has been happening and how the Mothers of Australia are taking to the streets to protest.

A huge nationwide Protest is being organized for next week

This is the email I had from Kym yesterday:

“I am willing to help anyway I can. I really appreciate that you want to get involved, we need that support and its much appreciated. It seems at the moment that the media are not picking up this issue much at all. At least, not in Victoria or too much in the mainstream media. I wonder if its the AMA keeping them quiet. I find it hard to believe more women/ people are not shocked about this or do they not realise how important this is? I agree this is a dangerous way of controlling women and controlling birth. I can see it will start with “standardising”/controlling homebirth then lead to making it a nightmare for freebirthers (some who have no other real choice) and then making hospital birth even more risky, because who keeps them honest?

At the moment it looks like there will be quite a few rallies happening next Thursday (18th) around Australia. We will be attending in Ballarat where Kevin Rudd PM will be attending. This is personally my 4th protest rally and they are all on this one issue. We have travelled and made our opinion known yet we are mostly ignored. It is very frustrating to say the least.
The AMA president Andrew Pesce is not particularly intelligent as he has no idea how to read studies or understand evidence based theories. He wants the public to believe that homebirth is dangerous and deadly. He turned an inconclusive study into his argument. I can get this information together if you like.

All the best
Kym”

Kym has contacted several homebirthing mothers who are also planning to attend the protests.  She has sent along my request for video, photos, signs, quotes, radio interviews, and information about this issue.  I plan to write a series of articles to be posted on this blog and around the web at various locations to help shine the light of day on Birth Tyranny down under in Aussieland.

I am absolutely revolted that a pathetic attempt to control all aspects of childbirth is being played out in our modern world.  And will do whatever is in my power to help these families retain their rights to holistic childbirth.

Jenny Hatch

PS You PharmaWhores who call yourselves journalists in Australia better cover that protest, and you better cover it well, or you will have ZERO credibility with the people.