Jodie said: My point is, we don't necessarily need formal childbirth education "classes" or "teachers" in order to disseminate helpful, good quality, up to date information to birthing women. Anyone can learn to facilitate a group discussion, check facts and details and report back, network new mums and mums-to-be, etc. If a formal association is formed the group can then be entitled to grants for resources (eg, a reference library, teaching aids, etc). Anyone with a particular interest can start a support group.
I agree Jodie that we learn best in an informal setting...however if you ask a first time 'standard issue' mum they would prefer the formal set up. I think it is derived from the masculine world we live in where there is structure, order and the idea that formal is superior. (Gee I wished I had done feminism at uni as I am sure there would be a term for what I am trying to describe). I think it is only when we become mothers that the benefits of the informal education we get from around the coffee table from peers, friends etc. I have two VERY good friends who are pregnant in Vic at the moment, both have been my friends since high school -they have witnessed my growth and interest in child birth heard all my rants seen what I do and yet they have still like zombies gone down the conveyer belt into the hospital closest to them (cause it has really nice decor...don't laugh I said the same thing with my first!), have gone into the mainstream clinics, and will be attending the child birth classes offered by the hospital. I have given tem Choices in Childbirth phone numbers, sent tem information about the workshops they do, sent them MC stuff, sent them stuff on the realities of cs I our society and so on....but blindly they still walk away. the classes I thought that might be a good idea would be 'packaged' as formal -no cost- with supper provided perhaps a personality or an offer or SOMETHING!!! to get them in and them structure it in the less formal gathering of knowledge thru broad experiences and so on.... then a little blue faerie will float down and wave a wand and my dishes will be clean the ironing done and the back yard tidy! lol Jo ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jodie Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2004 7:27 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Cheap community-based childbirth ed. > In light of Jo and Abby's (public ;) discussion on doula-ing and lack of > community access to cheap, quality childbirth education I thought it might be > helpful to find out what affordable childbirth ed occurs in others' > communities. Not all of us have the time and money to get the proper > qualifications to "teach" childbirth ed, however there are a few local (ie, > Brisbane) options that are both cheap and impartial and probably quite easy > to get off the ground in some form or other. I thought I would share so that > others with ideas might learn, or share what is available in their own > region. > Here, we're fortunate to have Active Birth Yoga with Jane Campbell-Kaye who > trained with Janet Balaskas in the UK. While yoga is fantastic for > body-awareness in pregnancy, half the class time is dedicated to discussing > pregnancy, birth and babies. The instructor shares a lot of information but > does not generally "teach" and women tend to network and find friends through > the group. I'm not sure of the cost but it couldn't be more than $15 per > class. (?) > > The other, even cheaper option is the Home Midwifery Assoc support group. For > a gold coin donation women can join the discussion and learn from the wisdom > others bring to the circle. More and more non-homebirthers are taking this > option and getting pregnancy support, finding a doula or midwife or just > gathering information with a local flavour. > > Friends of the Birth Centre have tried to get a peer-skills program (like HMA) > off the ground with little success so far - although it's a new project so > we'll keep trying. We hope to expand our post-natal morning teas to include > prenatal women and enhance the potential benefits of telling/hearing other > women's stories. > > My point is, we don't necessarily need formal childbirth education "classes" > or "teachers" in order to disseminate helpful, good quality, up to date > information to birthing women. Anyone can learn to facilitate a group > discussion, check facts and details and report back, network new mums and > mums-to-be, etc. If a formal association is formed the group can then be > entitled to grants for resources (eg, a reference library, teaching aids, > etc). Anyone with a particular interest can start a support group. > > "Peer-skills" was developed through Kids Help Line. > Some PDF fact sheets are available here: > http://www.peerskills.com.au/infosheets2.html > > Jodie > -- > 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.
