[ozmidwifery] introducing "birthtalk"

[rem & melissa bruijn]

Title: introducing "birthtalk"

Hi - I have been lurking for a little while now, and after all the discussion on Birth Trauma and c/secs etc, I felt I must come out of lurkdom and introduce myself! Firstly, for all the women who have been sharing their traumatic experiences (Rhonda, Jo) - I am so very sorry for what you had to go through to meet your babies.  It breaks my heart.  I am grateful for your honesty - thank you. I, too had a traumatic caesarean,  three and a half years ago.  Actually, Cathy Cornack (who was interviewed on the Dimensions program) asked me to be interviewed with her for the show...but at that stage, I just couldn't do it. I was still too raw and grieving.  It took me 2.5 years to begin to grieve, and then it came out with a vengeance.  My story is so similar to Cathy's that we couldn't believe it when we sat and compared notes : our babies were born a month apart, planned Birth Centre birth in Sydney (we both have since moved to Brisbane), very long labours, OP babies, non-supportive carers, sectioned at around 9 cms, no post-natal support for the experiences, difficulties bonding, and breastfeeding, and even just surviving every day. I have since done a lot of personal research, and a lot of crying, and a lot of talking, and sharing on lists such as the ICAN (International Caesarean Awareness Network) list and the hbac (Home Birth After C/sec) lists.  It has been a long road to healing.  In fact Jenny Gamble, the midwife interviewed on NEw Dimensions, was instrumental in my healing, as I spent about an hour crying to her and sharing my story, in the early stages of my grieving.  She really helped me separate the grief from the trauma and made me aware that the trauma would not go away on its own - it must be acknowledged and dealt with. So, anyway, now I have come such a long way, I have wanted to share what I have learned, and help other women heal, or avoid what I went through.  So, along with my sister-in-law (a midwife and childbirth educator), and a mutual family friend (a homebirth vbac mum), we have decided to combine forces and start a positive birthing group. Our group is called "birthtalk : Sharing, Empowering, Celebrating Birth".  We aim to : * provide a forum for women to share their thoughts, expectations and experiences of birth * empower women by providing  access  to current  and accurate literature & information about their birthing  options *encourage an atmosphere  of celebration of birth, and of ourselves as women.  We had 10 women at the last meeting, 7 who have had caesareans, and 3 of those women have had two c/sec births.  All of these women have been traumatised by their experiences except one (who was arguing right up until theatre).  We had one newly pg first time mum, and 2 home birth mums (one was a vbac).  Actually, when we debriefed at the end of the meeting, the first-time mum said that she had felt out of place at the start of the meeting, then realised that she thought she could just be "taken care of" and let the Dr look after her...but now realises that she is going to need to read more, and take more responsibility, and be more informed.  That just sent a glow to my heart. Anyway - just wanted to say hello - and thank you to all of you for what you are doing to reform the way we birth, and for having the courage to ask the questions. Melissa Bruijn birthtalk meets monthly at Toowong, in Brisbane, Australia email us at : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Melissa : ph (07) 3356 7449 Debby : ph (07) 3379 7424 Karen : ph (07) 3720 1101