Freedom of Choice - Take Action to Keep It Alive!

Media release 4 August 2009
Should women have the right to choose where they birth their own baby?
The Australian federal government is set to legislate mid next year that it will no longer be legal for a private practising midwife to deliver a baby at home. Effectively they will be taking away women’s choice to birth their babies where they want to, a choice that has been women’s since humans first walked the earth. This choice continues to be available to women who live in countries like New Zealand, The United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands, countries whose governments support homebirth as a safe and valid option.

Sarah James, midwife, antenatal educator, mother of four and author of Midwife Wisdom, Mother Love said ‘Homebirth is not about a group of women dressed in tie-dye, chanting while they birth their babies under the shade of a gum tree. It is not a radical left wing movement full of women who haven’t done their research. Homebirth is a choice that well educated middle class women around the world make everyday. They compare the statistics, reflect on the studies and then choose the best birthing option for them, in some cases homebirth.’ James said, ‘A woman has the best chance of having a natural, trouble free birth when she is relaxed. If that happens to be at home, the woman should be allowed to choose a midwife supported homebirth.’ James had three of her own babies in hospital but then chose to have baby number four at home. ‘I wanted the experience of birthing my baby in the privacy and intimacy of my own home. I did my research, found an extremely experienced and competent midwife and then proceeded to plan a homebirth. It was both beautiful and empowering, an experience I’m glad I wasn’t denied.’ ‘Women choose homebirth for many different reasons, fear of hospital, fear of intervention, not wanting to be parted from their children or simply because they know the place they will be able to relax and go with the birth process is at home. The Australian federal government appears to believe that women are incapable of making an informed choice when it comes to birthing options. So much so that the government is prepared to limit women’s choice,’ James said. It is important to realise that this debate is not about homebirth, but about simple human rights, a woman’s right to choose. It is debate that all women in Australia, whether they are passionate about homebirth or not, should be watching very carefully.
Midwife Wisdom, Mother Love
www.sarahjames.com.au
sarah@sarahjames.com.au
Phone: +61 7 5533 0011

Whether you support home birth or not, this isn't about home birthing at all -
it's about choice and freedom being eliminated! Whether you're a woman, mother,
parent, teenager or whoever - everyone has the right to choose!
This isn't the only basic human right that is being taken away from you, your family
and friends - worst of all, freedom of choice is being eliminated on a global scale!!!
- how many more choices will be taken from us before we stand up and take action -
be proactive!

The Australian Federal government is set to make homebirth illegal
from July next year. Come and help us beat the drum for homebirth and
raise money to get as many people as possible to
Canberra for the ‘Mother of all marches.’
‘Oshun’ - an all women’s djembe group will be performing live
and beating up a storm for homebirth.
When: 2pm, 23rd August 2009
Where: 1263 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Valley
BYO drinks and plate to share.
Children welcome
Entry free, all donations gratefully accepted.
Please feel free to pass this invite on.
Rsvp – sarah@sarahjames.com.au or 0423 923 747