I just received an email from a very special nun I know in Tanzania. She is originally a midwife by training and has worked with poor women throughout Africa for over forty years...from assisting women having babies in refugee camps in Ethiopia to working in government hospitals with poor African women. She's really seen it all. So I thought it was interesting when she wrote this to me after reading the just-released book version of my play and the BOLD movement:
"I got the book/play as I was leaving for retreat and read it and so did all the Jesuits at the Retreat Centre; some (Americans) were aware of "Vagina........." and thought that they would love to see the play so I guess you will have to come to East Africa. One of them - an elderly NE man said : this is so interesting to read of as (in Africa) we hear so much of childbirth where women are "under trees, have no doctors etc" but these were women with choice ....but in fact with NO choice really."
YES...he got it! We think of poor women in Africa with no birth choices (and this is true - the risk of a woman dying in pregnancy in a developing country is 1 in 48)...but how could women in the "land of choice" (America!) in many communities have NO choice? (how could a woman in Chicago not be able to legally go to a home birth midwife???!!! or get a VBAC - vaginal birth after cesarean - in the hospital?)
Just a little Halloween food-for-thought!
Wanna buy the book version of the play signed by me? Email BOLD at info@boldaction.org.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Boo-hoo...no 20/20 tonight
20/20 has re-scheduled their segment on Orgasmic Birth for tonight. Probably better as much of the constituency it needs to reach are out trick or treating tonight!
Check out www.orgasmicbirth.com for when it will be rescheduled.
Check out www.orgasmicbirth.com for when it will be rescheduled.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Orgasmic Birth on 20/20!
Set your DVR's! (it's Halloween night so for those of us who have young children you're going to need to tape it!)
Debra Pascali Bonaro's inspirational film, Orgasmic Birth, is going to be featured in a segment on ABC's 20/20 next Friday, October 31st.
Debra has put her heart, soul, and over 25 years of doula/childbirth experience into making this film a reality (she even mortgaged her home to help fund it) so let's tune in and support the film. It's an uplifting picture of what childbirth could be for every woman if we start embracing the concept of pleasure in our society.
Haven't a clue what an orgasmic birth is? It's the "waa-hoo" that the character Jillian in my play shouts at the end of the play...it's a woman giving birth on her terms in a room filled with love and trust in her and the process of giving birth...it's a euphoric state that women can achieve (and sometimes even an orgasm) when the same hormones that come out when we have sex are released from the act of giving birth (check out Dr. Sarah Buckley on this one...I love her work!).
Waa-hoo!!!
Debra, you ROCK!
Debra Pascali Bonaro's inspirational film, Orgasmic Birth, is going to be featured in a segment on ABC's 20/20 next Friday, October 31st.
Debra has put her heart, soul, and over 25 years of doula/childbirth experience into making this film a reality (she even mortgaged her home to help fund it) so let's tune in and support the film. It's an uplifting picture of what childbirth could be for every woman if we start embracing the concept of pleasure in our society.
Haven't a clue what an orgasmic birth is? It's the "waa-hoo" that the character Jillian in my play shouts at the end of the play...it's a woman giving birth on her terms in a room filled with love and trust in her and the process of giving birth...it's a euphoric state that women can achieve (and sometimes even an orgasm) when the same hormones that come out when we have sex are released from the act of giving birth (check out Dr. Sarah Buckley on this one...I love her work!).
Waa-hoo!!!
Debra, you ROCK!
Friday, October 17, 2008
New report underscores the critical need for Mother-Friendly Care
Childbirth Connection is blazing a trail when it comes to standing up for pregnant mothers. They just keep coming out with more and more well-researched data that shows the importance of mother-friendly maternity care.
Their most recent report - The Evidence-based Maternity Care report - takes stock of the U.S. maternity care system, identifies many opportunities for improving the quality, outcomes, and value of maternity care, and presents policy recommendations. This landmark report was developed through a collaboration among Childbirth Connection, the Reforming States Group, and the Milbank Memorial Fund.
Check out these new articles covering this report and its implications for making childbirth more mother-friendly:
- "Maternity-care failings can be remedied with cost-saving fixes," USA Today, Oct. 8, 2008.
- "Study: High-tech interventions deliver huge childbirth bill," USA Today, Oct. 8, 2008.
- "Back to basics for safer childbirth," Consumer Reports, Oct. 2008.
- "Quiz: Maternity care, beware," Consumer Reports, Oct. 2008.
Their most recent report - The Evidence-based Maternity Care report - takes stock of the U.S. maternity care system, identifies many opportunities for improving the quality, outcomes, and value of maternity care, and presents policy recommendations. This landmark report was developed through a collaboration among Childbirth Connection, the Reforming States Group, and the Milbank Memorial Fund.
Check out these new articles covering this report and its implications for making childbirth more mother-friendly:
- "Maternity-care failings can be remedied with cost-saving fixes," USA Today, Oct. 8, 2008.
- "Study: High-tech interventions deliver huge childbirth bill," USA Today, Oct. 8, 2008.
- "Back to basics for safer childbirth," Consumer Reports, Oct. 2008.
- "Quiz: Maternity care, beware," Consumer Reports, Oct. 2008.
Going through the photos...
Photos from BOLD 2008 Performances are just pouring in these days. I thought I'd share a few with you from Charlotte, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Ohio and Gainsville, Flordia.
So many BOLD people made these events happen. And they all ROCK!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Warren Report - interview with me
When I was in Seattle last month I was interviewed by Warren Etheridge, a media critic and founder of The Warren Report. This interview was actually videotaped and will be shown as part of a video podcast on birthing in the future, but for now you can listen to an audio of the interview. I think it's a great overview of what the play and BOLD is, who I am and what's happening in childbirth today.
Check it out:
http://cdn2.libsyn.com/thewarrenreport/TheWarrenReportKarenBrodyBirth.mp3?nvb=20081015153445&nva=20081016153445&t=0f75094fb43d79e2aaccd
Check it out:
http://cdn2.libsyn.com/thewarrenreport/TheWarrenReportKarenBrodyBirth.mp3?nvb=20081015153445&nva=20081016153445&t=0f75094fb43d79e2aaccd
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Waking up
Well, September felt like a wild college party that went on for days...sleepless nights, too many "donuts," and the hangover effect one gets from a really good night out. Suddenly it's October (MID October!) and I'm just waking up. Did nearly 100 performances of my play really happen in September? Did I just see the final version of the German script for an Austrian production of the play in my inbox? Is it possible that I'm not the only one suffering a hangover from BOLD 2008...but so are dozens of BOLD organizers who for the past couple of months also slept little, ate poorly and feel like they'll be back to normal in about a year or two.
A BOLD Organizer shared in August that her hair was falling out. By September so was mine.
But who said giving voices to the stories of mothers having babies was going to be easy? Who said standing up for what is right, just and fair -- that all pregnant women matter, all mothers deserve to have safe and groovy birth choices - was going to be a walk in the park?
Okay, yes the economy is hurting, which means the Arts is really hurting as people hunker down on expenses, but guess what? They came. Women, men, grandmothers, grandfathers came out in September to the BOLD performances despite a bad economy, despite Presidential debate nights, and despite the beginning of the school year that wipes energy out of even the most enthusiastic parent. They came. Sold out performances in Cincinnati, pack houses in San Francisco, and Hartford, Connecticut had to turn people away...there just were no more seats. That's not to say some locations didn't sell out, whether it was from lack of publicity or whatever forces were in place.
I always believe that the people who need to see this play will see it.
And let me not forget to mention the BOLD Red Tents. Wow...communities are approaching us from all over the world to do BOLD Red Tents. On my wish list for the coming year is getting the BOLD Red Tents to be more than just a one-day gathering of women. How about an on-going community? Women connected...gathering, supporting one another throughout their lives...in childbirth...childcare...sickness. This is a vision I'd like to make happen.
I guess I truly am waking up this morning. And it feels good!!!!
A BOLD Organizer shared in August that her hair was falling out. By September so was mine.
But who said giving voices to the stories of mothers having babies was going to be easy? Who said standing up for what is right, just and fair -- that all pregnant women matter, all mothers deserve to have safe and groovy birth choices - was going to be a walk in the park?
Okay, yes the economy is hurting, which means the Arts is really hurting as people hunker down on expenses, but guess what? They came. Women, men, grandmothers, grandfathers came out in September to the BOLD performances despite a bad economy, despite Presidential debate nights, and despite the beginning of the school year that wipes energy out of even the most enthusiastic parent. They came. Sold out performances in Cincinnati, pack houses in San Francisco, and Hartford, Connecticut had to turn people away...there just were no more seats. That's not to say some locations didn't sell out, whether it was from lack of publicity or whatever forces were in place.
I always believe that the people who need to see this play will see it.
And let me not forget to mention the BOLD Red Tents. Wow...communities are approaching us from all over the world to do BOLD Red Tents. On my wish list for the coming year is getting the BOLD Red Tents to be more than just a one-day gathering of women. How about an on-going community? Women connected...gathering, supporting one another throughout their lives...in childbirth...childcare...sickness. This is a vision I'd like to make happen.
I guess I truly am waking up this morning. And it feels good!!!!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Birth centers need you NOW
Oh boy...please let's not lose the option of birth centers!!! This is serious...please take action NOW! Check out the American Association of Birth Centers' (AABC) breaking news:
AABC Legislative Alert: Payment Crisis Looming - Action Needed Immediately
We must get our message about the payment crisis out to Congress immediately and we need everyone to help!
Over the past few years, CMS (the federal agency that runs Medicaid/Medicare) has begun disallowing federal matching funds for state Medicaid payments for freestanding birth centers services. Birth centers have been recognized by CMS (and earlier, by HCFA) as a Medicaid provider type in State Medicaid Plans since 1987. Recently, however, CMS has disallowed such payment by several state Medicaid Agencies, including Alaska, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington State, claiming that it lacks clear statutory authority and direction to do so. CMS has directed its regional offices to stop federal payments to any state for birth center services.
This is not a Medicaid crisis but a payment crisis for birth centers. Historically all payers follow the lead of Medicaid. If Medicaid stops paying the birth center facility fee so will other insurers. We remind you of what happened to the chiropractors in the 1990s. They spent millions to reinstate their coverage.
For information on how to take action click here:
http://www.birthcenters.org/news/breaking-news/?id=75
AABC Legislative Alert: Payment Crisis Looming - Action Needed Immediately
We must get our message about the payment crisis out to Congress immediately and we need everyone to help!
Over the past few years, CMS (the federal agency that runs Medicaid/Medicare) has begun disallowing federal matching funds for state Medicaid payments for freestanding birth centers services. Birth centers have been recognized by CMS (and earlier, by HCFA) as a Medicaid provider type in State Medicaid Plans since 1987. Recently, however, CMS has disallowed such payment by several state Medicaid Agencies, including Alaska, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington State, claiming that it lacks clear statutory authority and direction to do so. CMS has directed its regional offices to stop federal payments to any state for birth center services.
This is not a Medicaid crisis but a payment crisis for birth centers. Historically all payers follow the lead of Medicaid. If Medicaid stops paying the birth center facility fee so will other insurers. We remind you of what happened to the chiropractors in the 1990s. They spent millions to reinstate their coverage.
For information on how to take action click here:
http://www.birthcenters.org/news/breaking-news/?id=75
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