Excuse me while I dust off my soapbox....

Warning: This post may contain a passionate outburst or two. Please forgive me.

The other day I was forwarded a link (http://www.youtube.com/user/faceofbirth#p/u/0/pFWH_IZWulE) to an upcoming documentary. As I write this, women in Australia are fighting to maintain their personal rights to choose the place where they would like to give birth. For the past year there has been a political movement to make home birth illegal, thereby limiting the choices of childbearing women and their families. Check out the link here to learn more http://www.homebirthaustralia.org/

My experience with my first pregnancy and labour were under the care of an OB. Had I known that Midwives were covered by OHIP I would have jumped onto that train right off the bat (but I was the 1st of my friends to have a baby, and my family Doctor never suggested Midwives as an option- so I picked the OB who liked cookies. Seriously, that is how I made the most important choice of my childbirth experience!) Luckily for me, I took Lamaze classes and knew what to expect- I had a supportive husband/man-doula who believed in me and my ability to give birth, a mom & dad who cheered me on saying 'of course you can do this', and I experienced a healthy and low risk pregnancy. We laboured at home for most of the time, finally waddled into the hospital and delivered our beautiful son 'Big' 4 hours after checking in. Sure, there were some surprise 'hiccups' along the way and things we did not plan for (meconium & retained placenta), but that's labour for you. I received excellent care while in the hospital and had a birth that changed my life forever.

Following the birth of 'Big' I decided to add the credentials of a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator to my name (check out our website at http://www.discoverbirth.com/) . My background in adult education & faciliation, along with my passion for all things birth, fueled me forward.

Fastforward 4 years and we find ourselves pregnant again. This time I chose to have my baby under the care of skilled Midwives at a local hospital where the Midwife team I chose had excellent rapport with the OB's on staff.

What a great experience it was- the information sharing back and forth, on going discussions about what choices I had available to me, the reassuring phone calls in the first trimester when everything seemed so vulnerable, and the calm, confidence they had in me, my body and birth itself. Honk if you love Midwives! (toot, toot,)

On August 21, 1 day overdue, labour began and the phone calls were made. First to my mom, then to my hubby- and when it was time we paged my midwifery team. I did my thing, everyone cheered me on, told me how great I was and that I was doing all the right things. My mom and husband rubbed my back and legs when I asked them to and I walked around my house holding onto counters and columns as contractions washed over me. Just over 1 hour after the arrival of my midwife we learn that I have dialated from 2-8cm. Holy Crap. The conversation that took place next goes something like this:

My midwife calmly turns to me and says : "Jennifer, you are moving very quickly. You are 8 cm dialated and the membranes are bulging (This kind of spooked me because I know when my water breaks I have to push immediately!). If you are going to have this baby at the hospital you need to leave now. Or you may choose to stay at home. I will call my back up midwife, I will get all of the equipment I need from my car, and you can stay home."

Me "Can I go to the bathroom before I get into the car?"

Midwife "No." (Educator Note: emptying your bladder frequently in labour gives the baby more space to drop and allows labour to move along efficiently- so it's good to empty the bladder often, but not when you have to drive 25 minutes to the hospital and you are going through transition). She then turns to my husband and says "Mark, if we drive to the hospital I will be right behind you. We will drive very quickly. However, if something happens and Jennifer gives birth in the car, will you catch the baby?" The response from my man-doula husband was like taking marriage vows all over again when he said "Yes, I will!". I however, freaked out at that moment and thought to myself- 'Holy crap, I can't give birth to my baby in a car with my husband. I want to stay at home where I feel safe'. So that was the decision I made. The choice that was right for me.

My mom, Mark and my midwife then move speedily to prepare the room for the birth of our 2nd baby. I continued to labour while my enthusiasm and excitement about a home birth peak. I never in a million years thought about giving birth at home. The plan was always to go to the hospital, yet here I was in my bedroom, with the skilled and capable careprovider that I chose, surrounded by those that loved me and cared for me. Soon enough our 'Little' bundled made his appearance into this world. Born at home, surrounded by those that loved him and cared for him.

Some may call 'Little's' birth dramatic, because we diverted from the original plan of a hospital birth. I call it beautiful, special and the right choice for me.

What I did was neither brave, nor crazy. It wasn't about making a statement or trying to prove anything to anyone. What I did was make a choice. I considered all of my options, weighed the pro's and con's and made a fully informed decision. For me and my family a home birth was the best option.

If home births were to become outlawed in Australia then women's voices, choices and powers would be stripped away from them. By taking this option out of their hands the hospital, government & insurance companies are basically saying that women aren't smart enough to make informed decisions regarding the kind of care they would like to receive. Sure, it's not for everyone, but limiting a women's options in regards to a place for her birth doesn't solve any of the real problems that women are facing in Obstectrics these days (inductions that are not medically necessary, inreased number of cesarean sections, and a philosophy of birth in many institutions that labour and childbirth are medical conditions and not a normal, physiological response). In fact having stuff like this taking place in media distracts the public from these very real problems. The reality is a home birth is a safe option for many women.

This is what we know:

• 80% of women benefit from the care of skilled midwives
• 20% of all births can be classified as higher-risk and should be managed by an Obstetrician
• Birth can safely take place in homes, hospitals and birthing centres
• There is not 1 current, evidence based study that proves that hospitals are safer than delivering a baby at home-

check out the following link for more information outlining best evidence for choosing a place of birth: http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10142

As an advocate for the rights of childbearing women, an LCCE, a mother, a daughter, a friend and a woman who experienced a wonderful home birth, this issue really makes my blood boil. For now, living in Canada, pregnant women and their families have many options to consider and I'd really like to keep it that way.

I wish all of my fellow Auzzie mamma's and midwives the best of luck as they navigate this truly crazy battle. I will keep a close eye on the developments and will continue in my personal journey to support the pregnant women and families I have the privilage to meet and support them in their own personal choices, whatever they may be.