Home Birth Aotearoa launches “The Face of Birth” in NZ

Facing up to Home Birth – Home Birth Aotearoa launches “The Face of Birth” in New Zealand

May 5, 2012 - Nationwide

May the 5th sees midwives celebrated globally through International Day of the Midwife. Home Birth Aotearoa (HBA), the national network of New Zealand’s home birth groups, marks this annual occasion to recognise the midwives of New Zealand for their dedication and contribution to society: “We honour midwives and their wisdom and are profoundly grateful for their service to our whanau and communities” says HBA spokesperson Rachel Correa.

This year, HBA also encourages all New Zealanders to reflect on our maternity choices and how we support our midwives and each other in our communities through pregnancy and childbirth: “Midwives are valuable, knowledgeable people, yet we cannot expect them to fulfill absolutely every need of pregnant and birthing women” says Mrs Correa. “As community and as whanau, we too should hold a sense of duty to our birthing women and to the newest members of our nation” she says.

To facilitate this stance, HBA have secured the screening rights for the independent documentary The Face of Birth: A film about pregnancy, childbirth and the power of choice.

“This film is vital viewing for anyone with an interest in birthing and bringing up healthy whanau – and that should be each one of us” says Mrs Correa. It is considered such a timely film in fact, that “HBA are currently investing hundreds of volunteer hours through our regional home birth groups into making this important documentary accessible to all”.

Hitting New Zealand shores after receiving stellar reviews across the ditch, The Face of Birth is described as a film that “helps sort out fact from fiction around the politics, risks, safety and fear in birth”. Moreover, it is a beautifully shot, moving and openly revealing documentary which follows the stories of a handful of mothers who have chosen home birth in Australia, including an indigenous Australian woman, an award-winning actress, a high-fashion designer, and a GP.

In 2009 it almost became illegal to have a home birth in Australia. Even the choice to receive continuous care from a midwife became incredibly difficult. Despite this however, 3 years later in 2012 the number of women choosing home birth in Australia has doubled! Australian families are clearly using the power of their choices to send a direct message that they value home birth, and their midwives.

The Face of Birth showcases interviews from over 25 of the world’s top birth experts who consider different models of maternity care in The UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand. These are the same birth experts who often praise New Zealand’s midwifery-led maternity care system as the key to counteracting current fear-based birth culture. Here in Aotearoa / New Zealand how do we reflect on the maternity choices that we have in our country; and how do we value them? Well, HBA are certain that there’s a film in that…

· International Day of the Midwife is a global day of recognition for midwives and falls on May 5 each year

· The Face of Birth is showing in film theatres, community centres and lounges across New Zealand - check out www.faceofbirth.com for your nearest screening

· Check out www.homebirth.org.nz for information on home birth in New Zealand and to contact your local home birth support group

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