Blogging

I've just been chatting on Facebook with my good friend James (Maker) - google him - he's a beautiful man - an absolute one-off. He has no interest in childbirth but he is a talented author and songwriter  - so has just passed on some good advice about blogging. He told me to have fun with this, to relax into it, to enjoy it and the pen will follow. Thanks James. Like Sigourney, I will try. In the meantime, check out this about homebirth in Holland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12043693
Sorry James - told you it was niche xx

Westminster

I travelled up to Westminster again yesterday for a meeting with the Hove MP, Mike Weatherley. Thankfully he is taking on our cause - for more midwives in the NHS and for more choice for midwives in the way they work. In the future, we want all UK midwives to have the option to provide one to one care for women. The barrier to this is insurance. To work in this way, midwives will have to access insurance directly through NHS - something they currently cannot do. Mike will be tabling a question - as they say - in the House around insurance for midwives. Why don't you ask your MP to do the same ?

The Kings Speech

I went to see the film 'The King's Speech' last night at the Odeon with my good friend Jo. Loved it, despite its occasional cheesy moments. Lionel (Geoffrey Rush) was like a wonderful midwife to the King (our Colin): earning his trust over time, helping to release his fear, creating a safe environment for the big delivery, holding his hand throughout transition, preparing him for the enormity of his new role, empowering him to glory. Go and see it - hopefully you'll understand what I mean (and you won't think I'm nuts).

The New Normal

Welcome to my blog - day one ! I've just stumbled across an article from Canada called 'The New Normal'.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=428f0c90-dc95-4ecc-b95f-89e962a5a9e8

It argues that we are so conditioned to the idea of medicalised birth that a birth with intervention is - of course - the new normal. Why is this ? And what can we do about it ? I'm going to use this blog to explore some ideas daily. Hopefully you'll join me and together we can sort it out.