Upcoming conference in Mumbai about Childbirth and Pregnancy

[Zoe Quinn]

Hi all-

I am working with some lovely people from Human Rights in Childbirth and Birth India to put on a conference in Mumbai this February. 

The aim of this conference is to address the (many untold) issues in maternity care in India and how to address them. Unfortunately, the sole focus in the last few decades has to make childbirth "safer" by reducing death rates of mother and baby by institutionalizing birth (moving it out of the home and into hospitals). Obviously a worthwhile cause...but, a lot of issues has arisen out of it. As a result, the system of maternity care has become quite depersonalized, there is no system to train independent midwives, cesarean rates are on the high rise (scary high in some hospitals), women (both in public and private hospitals) lose control in the decision-making process and birth options have become limited. 

Also, many women, "rich" or "poor" are subjected to abuse during childbirth- they are shouted at, slapped, pinched, laughed at, forced to have certain interventions when the woman is clearly not consenting...what they may want is neglected or not taken seriously. They may not even have to voice to speak up if they feel like something is wrong. Women are often subjected to procedures and interventions they do not understand or consent to and this can have both physical and mental effects....

What is lacking in India big time in the understanding that the woman has the right to make decisions about her care (including refusing medical treatment) and the healthcare practitioner has the responsibility to inform her (not coerce, mislead or bully). Both women and health care practitioners need to perk there ears because both need to be privy to the changes they need to make to make their birth experiences better.

THIS CONFERENCE IS NOT ABOUT ADVOCATING NATURAL BIRTH, OR CESAREAN BIRTH OR WATERBIRTH OR ANY "TYPE" OF BIRTH....IT'S ABOUT ADVOCATING THAT THE MATERNITY CARE NEEDS TO FIT WITHIN THE HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK. Just because a woman is pregnant does not mean she loses her right to autonomy, privacy, respect, et cetera. 

While I myself am an advocate of sorts of natural birth, midwifery model of care and assisted home birth, this conference is not about yet again telling women how/where/when to birth, it's about improving the systems in place so that women are empowered to make individual decisions for herself (so that their human rights are upheld)...understand?

If you want to be apart of put birth back in the hands of women, please come to this event. It is going to first of it's kind in India.... check out:  Human Rights in Childbirth Conference, Mumbai 2017 and 

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Lovingly,

Zoe Quinn