Birthing at home and birthing on country are the focus of the upcoming panel at the Poinciana Cafe this Saturday April 1 at 3pm.
Ishrana Anna, international activist for delayed cord clamping and founder of Sabwac, is organising the panel and is aiming to create a mother and baby birthing rights and awareness foundation.
‘It is about the choice to have a home birth or to birth on country,’ said Ishrana.
‘Woman is built to birth. The more we intervene the more likely there will be a problem. One intervention can open the door to more interventions.’
The focus of the foundation will be on advocacy and mother and parental support to increase birthing choices. It aims to provide education, support, counselling and legal services in relation to birthing choices.
Ishrana says, ‘Aboriginal elders have been contacted and part of the purpose of this panel is to make a presentation to the grandmothers with respect, in reintroducing and practicing the traditional ways.’
‘Permission for the Aborginal department is being sought for a fully functioning service with true protocol in defining the Aboriginals right to birth on country if an Aboriginal woman chooses.’
There will be a broad panel, including local doula Sita Tara and Heidi Wedd, a qualified midwife who has worked with Indigenous women in Alice Springs.
The panel will be looking at gaining consensus on the birthing rights that will form the basis of advocacy work for legislative change.
For more information contact Ishrana at [email protected].
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