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Subject:	Desperate for guidance and change
Body:	<div class="NTForums_Quote">Posted By Henci Goer on 01/21/2008 12:57 PM<br><P>Let me start by saying that I like the idea of starting independent birth classes, which you could specifically advertise as being around promoting normal birth. You could build them around Lamaze's <a target=_blank href="/ChildbirthEducators/ResourcesforEducators/CarePracticePapers/tabid/90/Default.aspx">Six Care Practices that Support Normal Birth</A>. Handouts could include <a target=_blank href="http://motherfriendly.org/resources/10Q/">Having a Baby? Ten Questions to Ask</A> from the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, one of Lamaze International's partners in normal birth advocacy. Even better, try to catch women before they feel locked into their decisions. See if there are any adult education venues through which you could teach a class on childbirth choices aimed at women planning to become pregnant or in early pregnancy. Don't be afraid that the options you want for women don't as yet exist. Women need to know that. As Korte and Scaer wrote in their classic book, <EM>A Good Birth, A Safe Birth</EM>, "If you don't know your options, you don't have any." </P> <P>I strongly recommend seeing what you can do to promote a normal birth advocacy group. Think about starting a <a target=_blank href="/Advocacy/BirthNetworksOrganizingYourCommunity/tabid/113/Default.aspx">birth network </A>in your community. Lamaze even has grants available as seed money. I'm willing to bet that you will find allies if you can create a center point around which they can rally, that doula, for example, lactation consultants dealing with the train wrecks, the midwife even if she is at a distance, women unhappy about their birth experiences, other childbirth educators--for several years, I co-taught a Choices in Childbirth class with a Bradley teacher. </P> <P>In the interests of making an informed decision about becoming an agent for change, though, I must warn you that if you take this on, you will need those allies because if you start to have some effect, there will be a backlash. I don't mean to discourage you, but it is wise to think through the ramifications of this choice. Forewarned is forearmed.</P> <P>-- Henci</P></div><br><br>
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