A continuation of our series on the proposed ACM/RANZCOG legislation that will require that only trained registered professionals can "manage" the process of birth. https://ranzcog.edu.au/news/ranzcog-acm-call-on-health-ministers-to-end-freebirth-deaths

This time Sally speaks with Katherine Eden, doula, birth advocate and mother of two boys based in South Australia.  Eight years ago when birthing her second son, Katherine found herself freebirthing even though she wanted midwifery care, due to the climate of fear and retribution in Adelaide at the time, in large part due to this legislation and the attitudes surrounding it. She also asks whether women's choices would be better enabled through properly supporting private midwifery over the more restrictive, but Medicare funded homebirth services that run from public hospitals.

After trying to sound the alarm years ago to the rest of the country with this blog article, we are now finally all ears.  Katherine's key message: when we work together we can achieve real improvements in maternity care.  (Birth intervention rates dropped during 2009-2010, a time of mass organisation across the country for improvements in birth, culminating in the Mother of All Rallies in Canberra.)

Other podcasts referred to in this interview:
Tessa Kowliw
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-south-australia-with-love-with-tessa-kowaliw--68691041
Bashi Kumar-Hazard
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-criminalise-birth-with-bashi-kumar-hazard--68410484

Katherine Eden is an integrative therapist, therapeutic social worker, doula, kinesiologist, ceremonialist, rites of passage guide, professional supervisor/mentor and trauma-informed spaceholder with a background in psychology, midwifery, and event facilitation. For nearly 20 years, she has been deeply involved in the Adelaide birth community, co-founding the Adelaide Birth Network and the Doula Network of SA, both of which have grown into thriving hubs of connection. 

Katherine's passion lies in trauma-informed, neuroaffirming, and embodied spaceholding, with a strong emphasis on integrity, ethical practice, and the significance of rites of passage. As birth trauma statistics continue to rise, she believes in the power of intentional and conscious spaceholding as well as trauma-informed eduation and supervision to shift these patterns. Her work supports spaceholders in cultivating ethical, heart-led, and attuned practices that foster inner safety and transformation.

Website: www.katherineeden.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/katherineeden_rewilding
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katherineedenrewilding

Blog about the SA's Restrictive Birthing Practices legislation and Katherine's personal experience with it:  https://katherineeden.com/speaking-the-unspeakable-not-celebrating-homebirth/

Other people/references mentioned:

• Rachel Reed's article on the Future of Midwifery and Homebirth in Australia
• Kelli Zakharoff, Midwife Crisis
• Adelaide Birth Network, private Facebook group for Adelaide based women and birth workers
• Catherine Bell, Founder of The Birth Map and Managing Director of Maternity Choices Australia

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