Here here Tania. I don't know what is going on in other states regarding birth support groups, in whatever role or title, but maybe an explanation of what we have in SA might be helpful, in return I would love to hear about everyone else.
SA has a lovely history of birth groups. Those on the list who know more than me about it, please add. We have the Homebirth Network which has been going for many many years, anyone in SA know how long? Many moons ago, we had MAMA (?), Mums and Midwives working together, I believe they successfully lobbied for a birth centre at one of our large teaching hospitals. This group is now part of our history. Name escapes me, but we have a group for our Ind Midwives too. Help on that one? CARES, a caesarean support group, established over 8 years ago by Jo, Caroline and Emma. Going strong and doing amazing work. Birth Matters, also established over 8 years ago. BM sees itself as a generic support group, they provide the information so as choice is available. Maternity Coalition, established a few years, more low key here. Our groups are well established and continue to function together as needed. When we join forces so to speak, we go under the title of "The Birth Networks of SA" or similar. A number of the women in these groups wear many hats, and work very hard for the cause. Always as a vounteer and nearly always with no previous experience. I too started off with 1 child, now with 4, as many of our families have grown and along the way dealt with all the wonders life offers, sad and happy. SA has become less present in the lobby arena, lack of time and burn-out. We seem to be focusing on support for now and getting out there to educate our birthing Mums and Dads. Next weekend Adelaide is hosting WOMAD, a world music festival, Birth Matters with Homebirth Network have been fortunate to secure a stall. We will have a wonderful oppurtunity to talk with thousands of people, delight them with our beautiful births and handout good information. We have been at Mothers and Baby expo a number of times, a tuff gig, to say the least. Sharing the most intimate moment of your life, only to have women loudly show there disgust at the video of a birth. Not the Grandmas or the men, but women due to birth. It's a very tiring 3 days of your life. Adelaides birth groups work independantly to and alongside each other. They say it takes a village to raise a child, well it takes many forms to educate our birthing community, AND WE ALL MATTER! SO, I look forward to reading about any birth groups out there, whatever you are called and in what ever capaticty your contribution is. A pat on the back to us all, Cheers Megan Resch Of -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tania Smallwood Sent: Saturday, 3 March 2007 8:40 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Re: Maternity coalition Can I just say that it would be terrible if this thread deteriorated yet again into a personal slinging match. Please can we all keep in our minds and our hearts that we are all doing what we can, with the time we have, to further the cause and help women...making comments on people's tone is not in my honest opinion called for, or constructive. A lovely friend of mine, one of the wisest women I know, has talked with me about the email thing and the problems that we as women in particular, encounter with it. Her take on it, and I agree wholeheartedly is that we must keep in mind that it was invented by blokes, and that it has no ability to convey the subtlety of emotion that we often use to soften or round off our comments. Its purpose initially was probably for the sharing of meeting minutes, and the like. We don't talk like that, we don't communicate like that, and when we attempt to use a medium that doesn't have the features we need to put across the whole of the message, not just the words, then something within that message can be lost. Please, please, can we keep our own agendas out of this. I have been a member of birth support and information groups for nearly 10 years and for the most part, it has been smooth sailing. I still don't have a handle on what the MC really does, even though I've been a member for sometime, and our consumer groups have been members. That doesn't mean I'm not interested, or supportive. It means I'm uninformed, and I thought for a minute there, with this thread, that I might become a bit more informed. This is a public list. Christopher Cain and other presidents of the AMA would be laughing their heads off if they were aware of the bitching and internal back biting that goes on between us all. As I've said before, with us behaving like this, they have nothing to worry about. Tania x -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.5/707 - Release Date: 1/03/2007 2:43 PM -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
