Dear Oz Listers The small group was effective on Monday but please we need your support and more to get on the front pages so the NSW politicians will really look at what NMAP is saying rather than offer a bandaid to placate us! So one and all and friends come down to Darling harbour this Friday Denise hynd ----- Original Message ----- From: Jan Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: ozmidwifery <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 7:44 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] SUNDAY AND MONDAY's GOOD NEWS
Dear List Just giving you the lowdown of what is happening in my personal life and within the expanding Maternity Coalition NSW. Sunday began at 3am with my daughter rupturing her membranes. I went over to her place to check out the baby and as nothing was happening in way of contractions we both lay down to rest for a while. My rest was not to last as my mobile rang and Scott told me that Rachel had been labouring well for a few hours and now needed me. (I am using their names as many of you may have been present at the last HBA conference when this couple presented their paper on the stillbirth of their first baby Stella, at home last year.) Rachel and Scott's baby boy, Alejandre was born through water around lunch time into the arms of both parents where he stayed until his placenta was born and gently collected (a lotus birth again, as was Stella's) Births don't come much more special than Alejandre's, and Kerrie and I were overwhelmed by being honoured to be in attendence for Rachel and Scott once again. Once the Carrea family were settled I went back to my daughter who had been holding off I'm sure. Janelaboured at home durintg the afternoon leading on to the second joyous event of the day later that evening. In the deep water of the pool at KGV/RPA Natural Birth Centre emerged my latest grand-daughter Nell Emily Robinson Zarrella, into the loving hands of her mother and father. Oh, what another marvellous feeling! So although I still felt exhausted after a night's sleep, I was elated enough to get to Camden Hospital next morning in time to sing Justine Cains' song �Bob the Premier � he can fix it!� while Bob was officially opening the new refurbished Camden hospital at 1000 h. I proudly joined with the other MC women with their babies and children who came along from the beautiful Blue Mountains (where they are trying to stop women birthing in their local hospital) and as far away at Canberra and Goulburn to support the Camden women in their efforts to be able to give birth in the beautiful Camden Birth Centre that is CLOSED TO BIRTHS! The Area administration insists women must give birth in Campbelltown some twenty minutes away! A few of the MC women got into the marquee where the official opening ceremony took place but were not allowed to take their posters inside. The rest of us were locked outside the wire fencing with Security presence standing close by as we undid the lock on the gate and tried to get in. However, I�m sure this locking of the MC outside looked even better on the TV! Women with children and babies LOCKED OUT of the hospital opening ceremony! Our song, sung to the tune of �Bob the Builder� drowned the Premier out throughout his speech, his tan getting tanner! A few of us went around to the back of the hospital where Bob's driver was waiting for his quick exit and we were able to "wave him off" with our placards in close proximity. We did not waste time around the back waiting for the Health Minister to get to his car. He is a lost cause according to the Democrats representatives who was with us. (Bob does not listen to his Health Minister as much as he does to his Treasurer, who should now be our target with the costings involved with medicalised care and midwifery care) Denise handed MC literature to all who walked out the back entrance and then we returned with the children to the front of the hospital where the rest of the women and the organiser Justine Caines and local women Joanne Westley were being interviewed by Channel Nine. Justine and Joanne made their points well. I can't say enough about the wonderfully patient babies (taking it all in for the future) and the articulate older children who fortunately were on school holidays and able to contribute to the loudness of the singing and provide great responses to some nearby school kids who called us a "bunch of weirdos" through their school fence. There was also a wonderful grand-mother all the way from Colorado USA who was pushing her daughters babies up hill and down dale so that she could wave and shout her message wherever appropriate. What a wonderful two days I have had ... And this week will get better and better as the lobbying is continuing throughout the country ... with midwives making every endeavour to work with their local women to achieve the midwife choice for all. Yours in solidarity with Barb, Justine, Tracy and all the other wonderful women of the Maternity Coalition. Jan Robinson __________________________________________________________________________ Jan Robinson Phone/fax: 011+ 61+ 2+ 9546 4350 Independent Midwife Practitioner e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 8 Robin Crescent www: midwiferyeducation.com.au South Hurstville NSW 2221 National Coordinator, ASIM __________________________________________________________________________ -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. 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