More about Birthworks

“With all the medical technology that’s available we have forgotten that women are very good at giving birth.”

It’s late in the evening. After much searching the cat has found itself a safe dark place in the cupboard, soon it will start giving birth to it’s kittens…The dog has made itself comfortable in the quiet dark corner at the back of the garage; puppies will soon be entering the world.

We, the human onlookers, pause in wonder. We are quiet. We wait. We know not to disturb. For when it comes to animals – even a cow in the field – we have not forgotten; we are still somehow aware that something greater than us is about to happen. An unknown process is unfolding. Life is being created!

But when it comes to ourselves, to a woman about to give birth to her child, society has somehow forgotten, in fact women themselves have forgotten these things…

Not only do they routinely choose to find themselves a very sterile, very busy and very brightly lit place in which to birth, but they also more often than not accept advice that leads to them having an operation rather than giving birth. Birth has become medicalised. The excitement and mystery of this unknown process has been replaced with fear – generally the idea of a homebirth; of finding a comfortable and safe-feeling cupboard is regarded as “very brave” – and the idea of natural birth has been replaced with operative delivery.

The World Health Organisation recommends a Cesarean section rate of no more than 15%. In a country where the private hospital cesarean section rate is 60-80%, one of the highest in the world, we clearly do need to be reminded that the birth process is a very special thing, that labouring women should not be disturbed, and most importantly, that women are indeed very good at giving birth.

This is a website for expectant mothers and new parents as well as for midwives and doulas, that will provide them ALL with an excellent platform to exchange ideas, get advice and purchase mother and baby-friendly and enviro-friendly supplies for themselves and their babies.

For the expectant mother and parent

For the Midwife

For the Doula

	Log in / register