My Favorite Feedback From BOLD's 5th Anniversary

Photo: Judith Rae http://judithrae.com/

I bet you can imagine I get alot of feedback from my play BIRTH and BOLD's 5th anniversary reading of BIRTH was no exception. People told me they cried watching the play, others said they were inspired to have a VBAC watching Sandy's story, many told me they were surprised how non-judgemental the play was, some didn't like the way certain characters were portrayed, or that the actors were holding scripts instead of off-book, and others told me they loved the grassroots nature of BOLD - that anyone anywhere in the world can do a play and have impact no-matter-what.

But there is one email I received that is my favorite. It comes from Dr. Beth Simon, one of the obstetricians in a New York City obstetric practice - OB-GYN Associates - who we honored with a BEing BOLD Obstetric Award. She wrote:

I just wanted to take the opportunity to let you know how much I thoroughly enjoyed your play. As an MD in the natural childbirth circle, I often hear "doctor bashing". It was SO refreshing to hear a play about childbirth that did not portray doctors as evil surgeons, always doing a cesarean section!

Instead, your play displayed the experiences of different women during their childbirth; their decisions regarding the birth of their children. It was about empowering women to make decisions that were good for them, not according to someone else's agenda. Unfortunately, I feel when some people try to promote natural childbirth, they do it with such enthusiasm, it comes across as the only option. It is so important to get the message out to women what natural childbirth is, and what their options are, so women can make educated choices about their pregnancies and their bodies. However, it is not for everyone, and women should not be made to feel badly if it is not for them, which is unfortunately the case sometimes. Instead, your play really focused on women's choices, whatever they were, their journey to discover what was good for them, and discovering their voice to be empowered, and advocate for themselves. In my opinion, THAT is what is important.

Shonda and I wore our "Putting Pregnant Mothers Center Stage" t-shirts to work last Friday, sparking a lot of conversation about your play.

It was a truly wonderful evening.

As you watch the re-broadcast of BOLD's 5th anniversary today my hope is that you too notice the points Dr. Simon makes. To me, this is what being BOLD is all about.

BOLD5 Rebroadcast This Weekend! Prizes!

photo: Judith Rae http://judithrae.com/

BOLD-5 was such a great evening in NYC at the MOM Museum. The small museum was packed with nearly 100 people and over 500 people viewed the show in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, France, Finland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Uruguay, Mexico, and Bulgaria! (and that doesn't include multiple people watching at locations).

Tonight at midnight ET and on Sept 24 the re-broadcast starts! Twenty-four hours of on-demand viewing of BOLD-5 on the Internet. To register go to www.GetBOLDaboutBirth.com.

We're giving away lots of prizes including:

• full tuition to my new FEAR to FREEDOM Birth Facilitator Training Program. The next training starts Sept 27.
• Signed copy of Ina May Gaskin's new book, "Birth Matters: A Midwives Manifesta"
  
• 2 copies of Debra Pascali-Bonaro's "Orgasmic Birth" DVD and "Orgasmic Birth" book
• a free online download of "More Business of Being Born"
• 1 copy of "The Business of Being Born"
• "Where's My Midwife?" t-shirt
• Orginial "Birth" mug with "My Body Rocks!" on it
• Signed "BIRTH" book
• and more!

Come party with BOLD tonight! www.GetBOLDaboutBirth.com.

Tomorrow I'll post my favorite feedback from the performance. If you have feedback email it to BOLD at info@boldaction.org.

BOLD Turns Five: Raffle with Prizes!

Every party needs presents, right?

For BOLD's'5th Birthday this weekend we're giving away lots of them! If you're registered for the webcast or live at the event you will be eligible to win! There are going to be a ton of great prizes in a raffle that's only for people who are registered. You don't even have to watch to be eligible to win, you just have to register.

The Grand Prize is Full Tuition to my Birth Facilitator Training Program, FEAR to FREEDOM (www.FEARtoFREEDOMbirth.com)! And there are lots of other chances to win too. We've got a some terrific books, tshirts, mugs and more to give away. You do not want to miss this raffle!

Register at http://bold5webcast.eventbrite.com/ and let everyone know!

So many people from the world of birth have contributed amazing prizes. We want everyone to have a chance to win. We'll send out a list of all the prizes to registrants once we've got everything in.

Thanks for being BOLD with us this weekend!

BOLD5 Honoree: White Ribbon Alliance For Safe Motherhood

I had the pleasure of chatting with BOLD5 Honoree Theresa Shaver this week, Executive Director of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. I've been a fan of WRA for years. They just seem to get maternity care issues and creativity right. At BOLD's 5th we're honoring them for two films Playing Your Part and Avec Nous. Listen to our chat and find out about these two great film projects in Tanzania and Burkina Faso that show just how you can involve a community in telling their birth story.

Click HERE to list.


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On September 5 watch a reading of BIRTH via webcast for free to celebrate BOLD's 5th anniversary. Win prizes too! (Grand prize is full tuition for my new FEAR to FREEDOM Birth Faclitator Training Program!). Click here to register.