Hi everyone,

I have just received an urgent email in my inbox. If you are a supporter of homebirth or even just of the woman's right to CHOOSE homebirth, please read on and do all that you can to support this. It really is at a catastrophic point right now and as Aussie mum's we really need to be heard!

By effectively making homebirth illegal in Australia, it will put mums and their bubs further at risk as many ladies will choose to go "underground" with their births possbily preventing them from the adequate care that a wonderful midwife could usually provide them with. This has happened in the US, and it is a terrible, and some times tragic thing!

The birth of a baby is not an illness. It is a miraculous, blessed event that should be experienced in the way that makes the mum-to-be comfortable, safe and relaxed. If birthing in a hospital is the way of achieving this, then that is great (all of mine were birth centre or hospital births and I don't have any regrets). However, if a mum-to-be dreams of a beautiful homebirth then that option should be available to her as well!

Society has become so litigious and people seem to get so hung up on things that we are moving further and further away from nature and all that Mother Earth has provided us with. The contrast of a mum on a bed in stirrups in a stark, white hospital room, with machinery and tubes, fluro lights and an (often male) obstetrician gowned, and gloved and wearing a protective mask (!) to the scene of a cosy mattress on the floor of a family home with soft music and candles and drawn curtains and the buzz of family out in the kitchen making preparations to welcome their new addition, is so obvious, it doesn't even need to be stated!

Some politicians (most of whom have never given birth and are not midwifery or medically trained) would have us all believe that home births are a scene of chaos and devestation and blood and all things gory and tragic. In reality, that is not the case and common sense (and statistical evidence!) will tell you that too.

Please support this cause if you believe in CHOICE! You don't have to be a huge home birth advocate, but in my opinion, every woman should have the CHOICE to choose the environment in which their baby will enter the world and no politician in Canberra has the right to take that away.

Here is the email that I received:

"Dear All

We have just (and yes I mean in the last 24 hours) been advised that Nicola Roxon will put amendments to the midwifery legislation that will REQUIRE a midwife claiming Medicare to work WITH either an Obstetrician or GP. It is not work FOR (ie in their office) but it will be to demonstrate that you work WITH.

As we all know this spells the end of midwifery practice as we know it, and IT IS THE ABSOLUTE END OF PRIVATE HOMEBIRTH.

I have been feeling that something very bad was around the corner and that is why I knew I had to re-invigorate What Women Want. In my heart I believe the only way we will win this is to unite like never before in a formal political force and meet these pathetic politicians AT THE BALLOT BOX.

We are now furiously contacting politicians for support and the response has not been overwhelmingly positive. The Libs seemed to think this would always be the case.

After an excellent campaign by so many wonderful women, we are in such a desperate position.

I have pasted the details for joining WWW below. We need 500 members by the end of the week (yes Friday!!!) We have half so if you want to be part of a federal election campaign for women's rights please join us.

Could people please FORWARD this FAR AND WIDE.

In solidarity

Justine
Justine Caines - Founder
What Women Want (Australia) Inc

To maintain our registration as a political party, WWW needs 500 members by October 30, yes very soon!

Are you interested in joining?

Membership is $20 per year


Proceed directly to Paypal site

And then click on the individuals tab

Then "send Money" tab then send money to a friend and type in this address

paypal@whatwomenwant.org.au


Then send a membership form in if you are new (attached to this message). If you are renewing just send an email to wwwmembership@gmail.com with your details and payment advice)

Direct Credit transfer $20 into the WWW Account: Name: What Women Want (Australia) Inc BSB: 062-598 A/c 10132892- then send a membership form in if you are new. If you are renewing just send an email to wwwmembership@gmail.com with your details and payment advice)

Send a $20 cheque or Money order to WWW PO Box 625 SCONE NSW 2337 then send a membership form in if you are new If you are renewing just send an email to wwwmembership@gmail.com with your details and payment advice). "