Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions! In this Newsletter

• Catherine's Soapbox
• storytime: The Ordinary Princess 
• poetry corner
• getting together
• new blog posts (including my most popular one yet!)
• In response to the #waitforwhite campaign: All about The Cord
• awesome things that caught my eye 
• new in resources
• Circle of Birth Podcast: vote in the Australian Podcast Awards
• read to the bottom: there is something very awesome awaiting you!

CATHERINE'S SOAPBOXJust after the last newsletter went out, I wrote a blog post called 'The Trouble with Consent'.  My blog is a funny thing.  It is separate to bellabirth, because bellabirth is about you, about information and informed decisions.  My blog is about me.  My thoughts, my poems, a place to explore feminism and more broadly than pregnancy, birth and parenting.  I am used to very little traffic.  So I was flabbergasted to see over 2000 reads on this piece.  It obviously hit a chord with many.  For me it is the core of all I do.  It all comes down to INFORMED DECISIONS.
We need to rethink 'consent' and focus on 'decisions'. 
True autonomy lies with decisions

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On twitter this month, I felt the need to vent a bit.  This Thread was me making a series of statements after I got agitated by a passing comment, which in a new or more vulnerable mother could have been quite damaging. These comments and scenarios are so common, they are normal...this has to change.  Mothering is awesome.  It is INVALUABLE.  
But society has devalued it.  And many women do not experience it as awesome.  
Together we do Better.
 
Poetry Corner
On my twitter I felt a little silly, so wrote a few limericks (mostly aimed at political shenanigans).  This one, inspired by the #waitforwhite campaign, 'impressed' 686 twits (twits? tweeters? peeps?):

Did you know about #waitforwhite
You can even say 'leave it all night'
Or don't cut at all
It is your call
But clamping too soon is not right!

I also tweeted this one (but it wasn't as popular)

A birth plan is not about wishes or please
But decisions to put you at ease
Relaxed and supported
You've got it all sorted
Afterall, pregnancy's not a disease.

GETTING TOGETHER IN CANBERRA: March 23rd 

This gathering will begin with an easy walk: The Black Mountain Forest Loop. (see this PDF for details)
We will start the walk at 10:30 am (meet at the halfway Car park from 10).  I will head anti-clockwise around the mountain.  After the walk, estimated 11:30, we will have a picnic (BYO).  After lunch, you may feel up to trying a different walk, or heading up to the tower.  Perhaps the Botanic Gardens beckon you?  We shall see where the wind blows us (well..I hope it is not a windy day).  As usual, I will have all my squids in tow. This is an all ages gathering - from the 'carriable' to 'able-to-walkable' for the walking part, and the 'any one who enjoys a natter and a nice bush setting' for the picnic.  

Heads up: on April 20th the gathering will be at the Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens: it is school hols, so bring your older kids!  

NEW BLOG POSTS: 
The Trouble with Consent.  This was the post that saw over 2000 readers within a few days of posting it!  This is important!
Polite Ticks  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.  This is a conversation stater, I am still exploring this topic.  
Sex, fear and profit This one is a poem. (I told you I was in a silly mood!)

FROM THE ARCHIVE: 
For #waitforwhite I want to highlight The Cord posts on the Bellablog.  There are three.  
1. Cord Blood Harvesting
2. Delayed Cord Clamping
3. 'What about the Cord?' (particularly relevant in the event of an unassisted birth)

NEW IN RESOURCES: 
I added a PDF of a study published this week.  Fresh of the 'press':
'Born before arrival in NSW, Australia (2000–2011): a linked population data study of incidence, location, associated factors and maternal and neonatal outcomes'
 
This 'golden oldie' popped up in my feed, and I added it to the resources.  It is worth a read.  It is still valid 17 YEARS later.  #enough It is called 'fish out of water'.
 
Access the resources page here

I updated the FAQs on my website.
You  can click through, and read on one page, or you can click on a question to open it in a new page, which is easier to share....because I know you want to share!

ARTICLES THAT HAVE CAUGHT MY EYE

Belly Belly posted: Hospital Birth Class are Sabotaging Birth Plans

Listen to three powerful minutes on ABC radio with Hannah Dahlen

Watch this trailer. Get goosebumps. Roar. and do what you can to make it happen.  I made a crazy round trip to Sydney in late Feb to attend 'Feminism and Human Rights in Childbirth', a fundraising event for the documentary Birth Time.

This is a long read: 'Come Back, Ten Top Tips! Normal Birth needs you'  It address some recent matenty related media in the UK, and gives insights into how the system can support 'normal' birth.  

This blog post by birth well birth right doula Tanya Strusberg discusses the 'conveyorbelt' birth system.

Belly belly also address the 'normal' issue with Doctors Should Support Normal Birth, WHO Says

This video is a few years old, but still so relevant.  Why is it taking so long for women to be heard!

This poem for a wakeful baby by Laura Grace Weldon


Hands On, Hands Off: Midwifing the Inner Life of Women in Midwifery Today

These two toothy questions: When should we be brushing our teeth? (abc news article) and Does breastfeeding cause cavities? (from The Milk Meg)

This item from Science and Sensibility which I wholebodily agree with: Consider whole body images for your graphic needs.  

This conversation article is based on the new research paper I added to the resources section and covers what to do if your baby is born before you get to the hospital (you know: The Fast Birth Pathway!)
 
 
The Latest Podcast from Circle of Birth
Listen to this Fabulous podcast featuring the undoubtedly wise and awesome Vickie Hingston-Jones.

This podcast covers a lot of ground.  From forced adoption, stillbirth and empowered birth.  Lessons learned, grief processed, and paths discovered.  Vickie is very generous in sharing her life stories, so that we may benefit from her experiences.  

The Circle of Birth  is a brilliant Podcast and growing resource by the Amazing Aly Krantz.  The podcast is in the running for the Australian Podcast Award.   
Click on the link below to vote for it:
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
https://australianpodcastawards.submittable.com/gallery/2829f195-1021-4d7c-853f-f0ce775f4fa4/9785684
👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆
Follow the instructions to submit your vote!

Check out my new info graphic! What do you think?