I stood on a beach.  Dogs galumphed and trotted, wagging tails and lolling tongues.  Blissfully enjoying the freedom of an off leash frolic with their human companions.  
Not so long ago, this scene would have had me in a state of fear.  Near panic and disbelief would have overcome me, and I would not have stepped foot on that beach. 
I existed in a fearful Stage of Being for nearly 30 years.  The source of this fear was a black Labrador pup named Vada.  My earliest memory haunting me, this black dog looming over me.  But I married a dog person.  Who decided the time had come, and Mr Pooey Doddy Jet Houdini Englebert Sprocket Donkey came to live with us.  This rescue bitzer was a good dog.  My rational brain knew this.  But there was no telling my fearful being.  I was angry, so very angry. 

​​Many women don’t seem to realise they CAN question the doctor, let alone seek another opinion or change care providers.
Part of this is the power play that occurs when visiting the doctor: 

• The act of waiting - makes you unimportant.
• The act of being called - makes you submissive/obedient
• Entering the doctor’s room - you become a visitor
• The way the doctor launches into the procedures, types little notes or avoids eye contact - dehumanises you
• The way you are ushered out before you can ask your questions - devalues you

…and before you know it, you have paid your fee and leave wondering what happened. Some people are satisfied as long as they have a script or a test to do (something to show for the consultation).  Others leave feeling powerless and confused.

​
​Birth, for the modern human, is not without difficulty. 

Does it all come down to luck,
​or is it a matter of Good Management?

or could it be something else?

Kim Lock is the author of three novels, and is currently working on her fourth.  She is a long time advocate of women's rights - particularly in breastfeeding.
Explore more about Kim on her author website (with links to her editorial writing), or rare-to-post but very awesome blog and her facebook page.  Send her some love, buy her awesome books and tell her I sent you!

What follows, Kim originally wrote as a facebook post. It is shared here, with permission.  Thank you Kim - your words are wise and need to be spread far and wide!

This is the speech given at The Book Launch.