Forwarding this on Gemma's behalf. Jodie Miller
---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Hello, My name is Gemma-Rose Turnbull and I am a third year photography student at Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. I�m contacting you because I had two experiences of birth last year that motivated me to do something about how birth is perceived in our society and I believe that you may be able to help me. I was very fortunate to attend and photograph a water birth at the RBH Birth Centre last year and came away in awe of the beautiful experience that I had witnessed. However I was shocked at the reactions of people when I described this beautiful experience and realised that lots of people, and most scarily many women that I spoke to, have the idea that birth is neither beautiful, nor achievable without medical intervention. A few months previously I had good friend go through a particularly traumatic birth experience and was shocked when she told me her story that she blamed herself and her body for the unplanned caesarean rather than thinking, as I immediately did, how wrong it was that she was put in a situation that a caesarean was the only option. I was a home birth baby and thought that everyone was born at home like my sister, and myself until I got to school and realised that we were the exception rather than the rule. But it wasn�t until I experience the reaction to my photographs, and my own reaction to the traumatic birth story that I realised how unusual my assumptions about birth were. Thus the idea was born that I wanted to celebrate and educate people about birth, and the achievability of natural birth. So I have started an eight month long project photographing the way that women give birth and I am writing to you because my interest cannot replace the wisdom and contacts gained through real life experience. I need help with two things, firstly I need to find women who are due to give birth between now and the beginning of November (the project is due in the early weeks of November) and who would be willing to have me there photographing through the labour and birth (they would get a full set of the photos for their albums). And secondly I need recommendations of books, articles or people that I can read or who I can contact to help me understand birth better; the different ways and techniques, and why it is the way it is in Australia. If you can help me in any way I would appreciate it very much, if you know anyone or are pregnant yourself and would be willing to help me with my project send me an email or give me a call (I am rarely by the phone but I am good at returning messages!) Thanks for your time, Gemma-Rose Turnbull Mobile: 0438163388 Home: 0734115777 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ===== Be glad of life for it gives you the chance to live, work, love and laugh... -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
