Links

At this time in history, women have more choices for childbirth than at any other time in history. We have less choices than women in some more progressive countries or states; and we have more choices than women in many other countries. Choice is a wonderful thing, but with it comes responsibility. I'm reminded of the saying, "If I don't know what my choices are, I don't have any." With responsibility comes a thirst for knowledge and wisdom. With knowledge, comes power. So it is that when we take back responsibility to become informed and to seek knowledge about how we want to bring our babies into the world, we grow in personal power and confidence.

The onus upon us to be 'informed' consumers can be quite overwhelming, I know. There is a vast body of knowledge out there, and there is considerable controversy as well. It can be tempting to just think, "Oh, whatEVER!" and just go with the flow of mainstream practice (which can also vary widely depending on which careprovider you choose.)

The following links will lead you to some of my favourite web-sites that have been significant for me in my journey of discovery. The knowledge and voices of experience I found at sites like these have helped me understand more about the awesome mystery of birth. They have been responsible for some of my 'light-bulb' moments and I hope that they may help light your path as well.

Birth

My Birth - "Know your rights in labour. Protect your baby and protect your body. Get informed." This unique Australian site provides statistics on every maternity hospital and midwifery service so that you can find out what the intervention rates and perinatal statistics are, to help you make the choice you feel is most appropriate for you.

Joyous Birth - The Australian Homebirth Network.

Dr. Sarah J. Buckley, MD - Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering - the best possible start.

Spinning Babies - Easier childbirth through foetal positioning.

Plus Size Pregnancy - Honest, accurate information without scare tactics or judgment,with real stories from REAL big moms.

Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond - a site by Midwife Jane Palmer, with a comprehensive list of Australian and International Links.


Gentle Birth Midwife Archives (USA)
Whatever you want to find out more about, just type the word into the site's search engine, and you will pull up a list of articles and research on that subject.

UK Midwife Archives
From Anaemia, Breech Birth and Caesareans through to Waterbirth, here you will find a long list of articles and information from the experience and research of the UK midwives.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby at Bellybelly

Pushed Birth - What to expect. Really.

the above directory can be found at Birthing Naturally

Birth Love - the revolutionary passion of mothering. Providing resources that will empower you to make informed decisions about your child birthing experiences.

I love this site. It is a treasure trove of wisdom, knowledge and experience about natural birth and parenting. In an age where increasing materialism, technologisation, institutionalisation and corporatisation threaten to eliminate the gentle skills of the feminine, it is vital to have sites and communities like this one, where the skills and arts we need for the nurture of ourselves, our families and our planet are valued, honoured and shared. Birth Love believes that women have the inherent right and intuitive intelligence to choose their own best way to give birth. On the site, you can read the "Declaration of the Rights of Childbearing Women" and then sign the "Petition for the Rights of Childbearing Women".

Birthing Sense - by Australian midwife and birth educator Leanne Cummings. Here you can access on-line independent pre-natal classes.

Charis Birth Support - empowering you for birth - by Australian midwife Claire Hall.


Big Baby - Perhaps you instinctively feel that your "little one" is not so little. Perhaps a health professional has suggested your baby feels large. Perhaps you have recently had a scan which suggests that your baby is likely to be Macrosomic. ("Macrosomia" is the medical term for a baby over 4.5kg or 9lb 15oz). This website is intended to provide you with some information to help you plan your birth with your big baby and to hopefully provide you with inspiration and confidence too.

Caesarean & VBAC

International Cesarean Awareness Network

Birthrites - Healing after caesarean. An Australian site.

The Unnecesarean - a US site.

Homebirth

UK Homebirth Reference Site

Homebirth Australia

Water Birth

Waterbirth International - Easier for Mums, Better for Babies

Unassisted Birth

Unassisted Pregnancy and Childbirth Australia - Pregnancy and Birth in their Purest Form

Born Free - Laura Shanley's Unassisted Childbirth Page

Breastfeeding
The International Breastfeeding Symbol

The Australian Breastfeeding Association

Dr. Jack Newman - Pediatrician and Breastfeeding Specialist (Canada).

kellymom - breastfeeding and parenting. This website was developed to provide evidence-based information on breastfeeding, sleep and parenting. Want to know which herbs help boost your supply? How/when to wean? This site has heaps of helpful info.

Parenting

Pinky McKay - Parenting, the Gentle Way

Earth Mamas Web - for Australia's natural parenting community. Earth Mamas Web provides information, resources, community connections and links for parents interested in natural, earth aware parenting.

Robin Grille - author of Parenting for a Peaceful World and Heart to Heart Parenting. Robin writes, "Since our childhood experiences so strongly influence our emotional health, the way we raise our children is of profound consequence."

Enjoy Parenting with Scott Noelle. Here you can sign up for Scott's Daily Groove - short, to the point, easy-to-read-and-digest emails that arrive in your inbox once a day - giving you hints, thoughts and positivity for your day. There's also a collection of articles to browse and heaps of other fine fuel for positive parenting.

All the Baby Mamas (Put a Sling on it) - if you never thought about baby-wearing and attachment parenting before, you'll be sold after viewing this video clip.

Peaceful Parenting Blog

Natural Parenting Your online guide to Parenting

The Second Nine Months Extrogestation and the need to be held

Sleep Training - mistakes baby trainers make - from Psychology Today. Good article to help us understand normal breastfeed baby behaviour and needs.


Fathers

David Vernon, author of Men and Birth and Having a Great Birth in Australia

Steve & Shaaron Biddulph, authors of Manhood, Raising Boys and The Secret of Happy Children

XY Online - men, masculinities and gender politics. A site by men, for men, to engage men in positive social change.

Christian Sites

Cascade Christian Childbirth Association


Maternity Reform

Maternity Coalition - Because Birth Matters

What Women Want - the political party for Australian Women

Australian Private Midwives Association - representing midwives, supporting women with continuity.

Reducing Infant Mortality - and improving the health of babies. This US site contains links for maternity reform groups such as The Big Push for Midwives where you can learn about the strategies employed by the AMA to eliminate midwifery as 'competition' to a complete obstetric monopoly in the US; and includes a clear explanation of the Midwifery model of maternity care.

Save Birth Choices - find out more about the campaign of the Australian AMA to copy the US example and eliminate midwifery and natural birth options for Australian women in order to secure an obstetric, billion-dollar monopoly over maternity services.