In the current issue (Spring 2009) of My Child magazine, you’ll find my article on how to navigate the emotional rollarcoaster that is pregnancy.

Here’s a snippet:

In pregnancy there are obvious physical changes. But the emotional changes are no less significant.

You experience a range of feelings and emotions during pregnancy which may surprise or even worry you.

But rest assured that pregnancy is the beginning of an amazing transformation from person to parent.

And all those feelings and emotions are helping prepare you for the journey ahead.

The article covers these common but sometimes confronting feelings:

Ambivalence
There is at least one point in every pregnancy, every labour, and every first year of parenthood where you ask yourself, what have I done?

Expectations
Do you dream what life will be like with your new baby? Do your dreams involve sipping lattes in the sun with other mums while your perfect cherub sleeps peacefully? Or do they involve endless nappy changing, cleaning up vomit and feeling like you’ve been run over by a truck?

Guilt
Guilt is a parent’s almost constant companion. We want the best for our children. We want to be good parents. And we don’t want to stuff it up.

Change
When you become pregnant you cross a threshold. You leave behind the ‘I am a person’ world and you commence your journey toward the ‘I am a parent’ world.

Letting go
You change physically during pregnancy. But there is also a mental shift that occurs. Issues you used to worry about are no longer a concern. Activities you loved doing occur less frequently. People you used to spend time with feature less in your life.

Caring for yourself
When pregnant, caring for yourself means you are caring for your baby. But when your baby is born and your baby emerges as a separate person, caring for your baby can overtake caring for yourself.

Becoming a parent
We all have images of the perfect parent. But how realistic is that?

And you can find more in my book Full Belly: Comfort and inspiration for pregnancy and birth.

I know some people don’t understand, get freaked out, or simply don’t like the idea of homebirths.

It is definitely not for everyone.

And certain segments of the medical profession have done a great job of scaremongering by suggesting that homebirths are unsafe and that people who choose homebirths are selfish and stupid.

But it is a legitimate choice for women with safe pregnancies who want to birth with the support of their own midwife, and in their own environment.

I had a homebirth with my son (my second birth), and it was the most magical, wonderfully empowering, perfect birth.

And if I wanted more children (which I don’t!) then I would definitely want the option of having another homebirth.

But unfortunately, legislation is afoot that will effectively make homebirths illegal.

For a long time private practicing midwives haven’t been able to access professional indemnity insurance so most have been working without insurance.

But from 1st of July 2010, private practicing midwives can be fined $30,000 for practicing without insurance.

This effectively outlaws homebirth unless it is attached to a hospital program.  Unfortunately, few hospital programs support homebirths.

For anyone convinced that every woman has the right to choose how and where she births, this new legislation is antiquated.

Elle McPherson said this about women’s right to choose as published on the Homebirth Australia website:

I enjoyed giving birth to my second son in a birth pool. My birthing room was warm and candlelit and I was lovingly supported by my birthing team. This made me feel emotionally safe as I birthed my baby gently.

I would love Australian women to enjoy a water birth just as I did. I am surprised to hear that less than 5% of Australian women can choose warm water immersion for pain relief and for birth!

I strongly recommend that the medical system in Australia give women the choice to be able to use a warm water pool during labour, for deep relaxation and giving birth.

I support Homebirth Australia’s work to enable all Australian women to choose where and with whom they share their intimate experience of birth.

If you believe every woman has the right to birth their baby their way, then you can do the following:

Sign the petition to save private midwifery.

Write to your local member of parliament or Nicola Roxon, the federal health minister.

Attend the Mother of all rallies in Canberra on Monday 7th of September, 11.30am.

or if you can’t get to Canberra, buy a virtual rally ticket and show your support.

Read more about homebirth at Homebirth Australia’s website.

And spread the word to anyone who will listen!

Homebirths should be a legitimate choice and not a crime.

By Jodie Benveniste, director of Parent Wellbeing.

The Age and Essential Baby have launched an online survey about Australia’s maternity system.

They want to know your experience of having a baby in either the public or private health care systems.

If you’d like to give your opinions - and you can do it anonymously - then head to the link below.

The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes of your time.

The results will be published in The Age and online.

Maternity services survey - have your say!

Jodie Benveniste, director of Parent Wellbeing will be talking about ‘How to have a blissful pregnancy’ at the Beautiful Birth Festival this weekend.

How to have a blissful pregnancy

11.30am
Sunday 3rd of May 2009

Beautiful Birth Festival
Fullarton Park Centre
Corner of Fullarton Road and Fisher Street, Fullarton, South Australia.

For more information about the festival please visit the Beautiful Birth Festival website.

Not many women enjoy putting on weight.  But during pregnancy, weight gain is inevitable.

For your baby’s health and your own health, most women need to put on anything from 6kg to 18kg.

Even if you begin your pregnancy overweight, weight gain is still recommended.

But weight gain during pregnancy can be confronting.

There are times when you feel fat and heavy rather than beautifully, blossingly pregnant.

The first day you can’t do up your favourite pair of jeans can be distressing.

And when you find out your baby is only responsible for three or four kilos of the 10 or 15 you’ve gained, well it feels downright excessive.

But trust that in pregnancy your body knows what it’s doing .  Your body knows what you and your baby need to be healthy.

All you have to do is listen.

When you listen to your body you respond appropriately to its needs.

1. You eat healthy food when you are hungry.

2. You exercise when you need energy.

3. And you rest when you are tired.

That’s it - that is all you have to do.

Forget the scales.  Don’t worry about weight gain.

Instead listen to your body - and your body will work its magic.

By Jodie Benveniste, Director of Parent Wellbeing