Song to Nicola Roxon

This is a song about the current homebirth crisis in Australia. Planned legislation means that in July 2010, due to their inability to get indemnity insurance, independent homebirth midwives will face a fine of up to $30,000 if they attend a birth at home. Women who ask them to attend will face the same fine. This is a direct attack on human rights and democracy in Australia. Join us in Canberra on 7 September 2009 at 11.30am in front of Parliament House so we can tell the government what a huge mistake they're making. See http://www.homebirthaustralia.org/mother-all-rallies for more information.

This is a human rights issue...whether you're a homebirther or not, if you value freedom, then please come and help us fight this legislation!

Article on insurance issues in Australia after 2001: http://tinyurl.com/ns8wo8

Canadian study on safety of homebirth: http://tinyurl.com/lggmb5

Independent Midwives UK: http://www.independentmidwives.org.uk/?node=556

Song to Nicola Roxon

Chords and Lyrics

Capo to fit your voice

Intro Am
Verse Am D
Chorus Am F G D Am
Bridge F Am G Am
Last lines 'How dare you tell us...' F D F D Am

Who's been in your ear, I just wanna hear you say so
'Cause I know you won't.
Whisper in my ear, I just wanna hear you say no
Oh, no you dont.

Chorus
This is my body, my baby, our safety...
How dare you tell me that I can't stay home?

This is my body, my baby, our safety...
How dare you tell me that I have no choice?

Middle of the night,
Candles burning bright
In my loungeroom
In my home

I'm floating in the water
Knowing the time is near
As the waves come crashing in

She is there for me in all ways
I know that I'm in good hands.
She shows me confidence
She gives me clearance
She watches the slow dance

Chorus
This is my body, my baby, our safety...
How dare you tell me that I can't stay home

This is my body, my baby, our safety...
How dare you tell me that I have no choice

I've heard that you've got plans
Across this wide, brown land
Which stop her being with me

We both face massive fines
If she steps across the line
Into my home and my birthing space

Chorus
This is my body, my baby, our safety...
How dare you tell me that I can't stay home

This is my body, my baby, our safety...
How dare you tell me that I have no choice

Woman to woman
How could you do this to me?

Woman to woman
We live in a place that is free

Chorus
This is my body, my baby, our safety...
How dare you tell me that I can't stay home

This is my body, my baby, our safety...
How dare you tell me that I have no choice

These are our bodies, our babies, our safety...
How dare you tell us that we have no choice
How dare you tell us that we have no choice
How dare you tell us that we have no choice

© Amber Cameron Burns 2009

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• homebirth
• home
• birth
• independent
• midwives
• midwifery
• Nicola
• Roxon
• new
• legislation
• laws

[CurrawongFlies]

Like I said, WG, you have a chance to change the world. All I can say is research , research, research. When an emergency situation arises in your work, observe WHY it happened in the first place. Think about how a midwife may have dealt with it at home. Ask homebirth midwives, not me.

[CurrawongFlies]

I have personally heard of PPHs, shoulder dystocias, cord prolapses, resuscitations being treated successfully at home.

Now, could we please put hospital birth under the same scrutiny? What are the risks to mother and baby of epidural, pethidine, being forced to lie on your back to birth, being forced to birth within an arbitrary amount of time, being induced at an arbitrary gestation date, caesarean for no reason, etc etc etc. ALL of which could be the CAUSE of an emergency situation.

[CurrawongFlies]

3. Midwives carry equipment and can treat emergency situations at home. If they can't be treated at home then transfer to hospital is possible. Midwives are trained to pick up when a birth isn't normal and act preemptively.

I gave you that website so that you can contact Independent Midwives UK and find out exactly what they do in an emergency situation. You could even use Google! Check it out, you might find the answer to your questions.

[CurrawongFlies]

*sigh* As i said I am a birth consumer not a midwife. I cannot answer your specific questions. At the risk of repeating myself...what I do know is:

1. There are several studies from around the world that show home birth is as safe if not safer than hospital birth.

2. A lot of emergency situations are at least excarcerbated and sometimes caused by hospital intervention. Therefore they are less likely to happen at home.

[CurrawongFlies]

And to all the people who attended the rally: Woohoo! Wasn't the rally great!! Thanks all for singing along to my song, I really felt the solidarity. Our birth, our body, our babies, our choice. As my friend said on her banner: 'Women of the Earth, take back your birth!'

[CurrawongFlies]

I have included a link in the sidebar for the website of Independent Midwives UK. There will be a lot more info if you go looking. Also seek out homebirth midwives who may even work out of your local hospital. All the best with your studies. I hope you become an obstetrician who supports women and babies rather than institutions, insurers and the status quo. X

[MagikalRose]

This song gives me chills! :) The lyrics in the chorus are so powerful and you can tell that every word is meant.

[DigbyCat]

Roxon is just as ugly as Gillard...

[Gregariouspeach]

You know, the chorus of this song is really, really catchy. My husband and I start singing it when we're stopped at traffic lights. At first he was like "georgia, are you listening to weird political songs?" but now he's just as into it as me! I love it. Thank you! I didn't have a homebirth but it's my body, my baby and our safety, you're right, I can choose! I had a birth centre birth (you can watch it on my stream if you like! haha) but next time I want to stay at home.

[weathergirl01]

theatre in the same building though.

I do want women to have the choice. I don't want people going into it for emotional reasons not being clear about what a shoulder dystocia/haemorrhage/meconium aspiration (shall I go on?) involve, and also what they look like if they happen in your living room.

[weathergirl01]

so they can get compensation and stuff when things go wrong, when the reason that's getting more difficult to get is because there are complications of home births that would be preventable in hospital. That's why it's getting more difficult. Women who give birth at home should know the risks, NOT just "trust the midwife" and not expect the same insurances.

I am NOT antimidwife by the way, when I give birth I don't want anyone there except a midwife. I want the doctor, anaesthetist, and

[weathergirl01]

consent, so we're on the same page there, 100%.

And actually, if women, knowing all the risks, decide to stay at home, it's not a decision I would agree with, but I do think it should be allowed if women really want this. What I have an issue with is women who want to give birth at home, argue strongly and emotively about it, but actually don't know the first thing about the risks and say things like " I just trust the midwife". And also to expect the midwives to be completely insured

[weathergirl01]

I'm sorry to hear of your bad time. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear, of course there are necessary treatments for prolonged labour or postmaturity, for hospital and home births alike so that's not really the issue. What I meant for no time limit is that women aren't rushed out after birth if they're not ready, and not sent home if they want to stay. Of course I COMPLETELY agree with you that you shouldn't have been treated without respect and should never have had anything done without your

[edaj84]

@freakypetOZ YAY :D totally agree.

[edaj84]

@weathergirl01 why couldn't she have birthed the breech baby?? There is absolutely no reason generally.