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DOWN
TO BIRTH
What
is Down to Birth?
Down
to Birth is a quarterly grassroots magazine that honours
the tradition of sharing birthing and parenting wisdom
as it was done in the past - women sharing their experiences
for the benefit of other women. In years gone by birthing
women would have been informed, nourished and sustained
by the women within their community; their mothers,
aunts, sisters, grandmothers, neighbours, friends and
elders.
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Why
is Down to Birth important?
Countless
decades of medical interference in the birthing process
have produced generations of women who are now partially
or completely removed from the experience of birthing
a baby naturally. They have been traumatised physically,
emotionally, psychologically and spiritually, and no
longer have empowering wisdom and insights to bestow.
This is compounded by the horror stories of birthing
that abound in the print and electronic media, which
further disconnects women from the natural process of
birthing. Women have become fearful and are distrusting
of themselves, their bodies and their babies to birth
the way nature intended it.
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Our
mission
Down
to Birth seeks to reclaim women's inherent and instinctual
experiences of birthing, by sharing natural birth stories,
told by women for women; to educate, encourage and empower
both women and men throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond
into parenting. In addition to birth stories, Down to
Birth collects in one place articles and stories on
a single birthing or parenting topic, which makes our
magazine unique. Past editions have explored the issues
of breastfeeding, breech births and nurturing new mothers.
We have also put together collections of midwives' and
fathers' stories. See our Articles/Resources
page to view feature articles from past issues.
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A
grassroots publication
We
depend upon the generosity of mothers and fathers across
Queensland in sharing their stories and experiences
of birthing and parenting. These are the women and men,
along with the midwives and doulas who support them,
who are at the grassroots of birthing and are in our
opinion, the true experts in these areas - not the so
called 'experts' that we encounter in the medical system
or through the mainstream media. These inspiring and
insightful stories and articles contribute the bulk
of all material presented in each magazine.
We
are also 'grassroots' because we are dealing with issues
and information which is at the grassroots of humanity
- to bring our children into this world in a supported,
calm and gentle way, then to parent them in an instinctual,
peaceful and informed manner.
Lastly,
our magazine is put together through the volunteered
time, talents and energy of a small, but dedicated group
of homebirth Mums on behalf of the Home Midwifery Association.
We strive to create a professional looking and comprehensive
magazine each quarter, and hope that you love reading
DTB as much as we love putting it together.
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How
to subscribe to the magazine
Become
a member of HMA
Membership is $30 a year for Australian subscribers, or $45 for international subscribers. Payments can be made by cheque, money order or direct debit - we have no PayPal facilities at present.
For
more information on memberships please email Caroline
at membership@homebirth.org.au.
Your
memberships help to fund the essential work of the Home
Midwifery Association (Qld) Inc in keeping homebirth
an accessible and viable option for all Queensland families.
We hope you enjoy Down to Birth and we encourage you
to share DTB with your friends, family and work colleagues.
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Submitting
articles for publication - 2009 issues
Down
to Birth welcomes submissions of articles, photos, birth
stories, artwork, poetry and stories of personal experiences
in the areas of home birth and natural/alternative parenting.
Each issue is dedicated to one theme of birthing or
parenting.
Our
issues for 2009/10, and deadlines for submitting articles/content
are:
- Summer
08/09 - Siblings at Birth
- #75
Deadline for submissions is December 1st 2008
- Autumn
09 - The Placenta
- #76
Deadline for submissions is January 16th 2009
- Winter
09
-
Pain in Childbirth
-
#77
Deadline for submissions is April 17th 2009
- Spring
09
-
Ecstasy...Blissful Birth
-
#78
Deadline for submissions is July 17th 2009
- Summer
09/10
-
Overdue and Premature - #79
Deadline for submissions is October 16th 2009
Articles
and stories should preferably be sent via e-mail as
Word documents or as plain text in the body of an e-mail.
All artwork and photographs must be sent through as
jpeg files. Please email all general magazine content
or inquiries to the Editor, Fiona, at editor@homebirth.org.au.
Enquiries about ideas for articles, or e-mailing articles
for submission, to the Features Editor, Stacey, at features@homebirth.org.au.
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Advertising
Advertising
in Down to Birth is an affordable way of reaching a
market of like minded readers. Please contact Amanda
at advertising@homebirth.org.au
for information and advertising schedules.
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Down
to Birth articles to read online - free!
Selected
articles from back issues of Down to Birth have been
made freely available online, with the authors' express
permission. These are available in pdf format on the
Articles/Resources page.
Click here to go to
the index of articles available!
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Back
issues of the magazine
Recent
back issues of Down to Birth are available for sale,
costing $7-$8 including postage and handling. See our
HMA online shop!
Summer
2008/09: Siblings at Birth #75
No
summary available at this time.
Spring
2008: Recovering from Birth Issue #74
No
summary available at this time.
Winter
2008: Preparing for Birth Issue #73
No
summary available at this time.
Autumn
2008: On Becoming Mum Issue #72
No summary available at this time.
Summer
2007/08: Sex After Birth Issue #71
No summary available at this time.
Spring
2007: Homebirth After Caesarean Issue #70
No summary available at this time.
Winter
2007: Conscious Parenting Issue #69
An informative anthology of articles covering the practice
of conscious parenting, including baby wearing, gentle
discipline, elimination communication and co-sleeping.
There are also articles on the 'darker side' of parenting,
such as when your baby does not sleep, parenting in
isolation and caring for sick children.
Birth stories: Misha (Homebirth after Caesarean), Anise
(water birth after previous hospital birth) and Saskia
(second freebirth)
Front cover: Peter Kennedy and daughter Sabriyya Jade,
by Karen van Harskamp vanka@bigpond.com
Autumn
2007: Waterbirth #68
A moving anthology of eight women's experiencing of
in water at home from Dr Sarah J Buckley, Rachael Austin,
Sarah Lynch, Tallulla Sandison, Melinda Luxmoore, Maryen
Cairns, Zoe Collins and Justine Caines.
Poetry: Kerrie Edmonds, illustrated by Kellie Gough
and Nickole Webb
Front Cover: Nickole Webb venus_hybrid@hotmail.com
Summer
2006/07: The Divine Woman #67
An insightful anthology of articles about the less discussed
topic of women's rites of passage, including yoga and
sacred circle work in pregnancy, menarche, menstruation
and accompanying rituals. A beautifully illustrated
issue, with contributing artists Pauline Steffensen,
Kellie Gough, Jeni Drew and resident DTB artist Nickole
Webb
Birth Stories: Nina (homebirth after previous hospital
birth), Elijah (breech birth), and Eli (first homebirth).
Front Cover: Nickole Webb venus_hybrid@hotmail.com
Spring
2006: The Breastfeeding Issue #66
An inspiring anthology of breastfeeding articles from
women who have struggled and triumphed through many
of the issues faced by breastfeeding mothers: feeding
a premature baby, continuing to breastfeed with severe
nipple trauma, extended (full term) breastfeeding, tandem
feeding, emotional elements of mastitis and managing
the condition, as well as practical hints for boosting
and nourishing a breastfeeding mother.
Birth stories: Jesse (first homebirth to gay couple
Asphyxia and Paula) and Luca (first home birth for blended
family in Brisbane)
Front Cover: Nickole Webb venus_hybrid@hotmail.com
Winter
2006: Nurturing the Nurturer #65
An essential anthology of articles on the much overlooked
practice of nurturing a mother after birth, including
articles on what it means to nurture, dispelling the
myth of superwoman, learning how to receiving and giving
help, putting yourself first as a mother, baby moon,
helping a mother to heal after birth and postnatal massage.
This is a must read issue to help pregnant women, their
families and friends to understand the support necessary
to a woman after birth. This issue has been our most
popular issue in recent years!
Birth stories: Olivia (the homebirth after IVF) and
Vajra (third homebirth)
Front Cover: Nickole Webb venus_hybrid@hotmail.com
Summer-Autumn
2005/06: The Womanly practise of midwifery #64
The womanly practise of Midwifery is a timely anthology
of stories documenting the lives of five midwives from
Northern New South Wales, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast
and Far North Queensland.
Birth stories: Harper (waterbirth), Samarra (first birth)
and Sabriyya (as recounted by her mother and attending
doula).
Front cover: Northern NSW homebirth midwife Jillian
Delaile
Spring
2005: Men about Birth #63
Men about Birth is an important collection of home birth
stories, written by men for men - a first birth at home,
a home birth transfer to hospital and comparisons between
hospital birth and home birth experiences. There are
also feature articles exploring men's role in birthing
and why women want to birth at home.
Birth stories: From Peter Kennedy, David Harris, Rogan
Hume, James Baird, Andrew Berrington and Dr PJ Jayawardhana.
Front Cover: David Harris and partner Jodi Cleghorn,
by Gemma-Rose Turnball
Winter
2005: Breech Special Edition
The Breech Special edition is a unique and unheralded
anthology of breech birth stories and breech birthing
wisdom. Mercedes Walter, Gwenda Jayawardhana, Rachael
Smith and Priya Cornelia Link share their journey to
birth their breech babies. A full photographic feature
of a footing breech birth completes the birth stories.
Related articles from Ina May Gaskin, Dr Sarah Buckley
and Erika Hobba complement the birth stories and round
out an important collection of fear dispelling information
on breech birth. This is a must have edition for all
women contemplating their birth options for a breech
baby.
Front Cover: Footling Breech birth of Sierra Marion
(USA)
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