Future Birth 2007

The journey towards birth has many twists and turns, for both women and their midwives.

Maintaining the normal birth pathway takes vigilance, confidence and experience, plus a clear vision about what is normal and what is not during labour. Facilitating normal births requires attention to the nuances of communication and a deep understanding of the cascading effect of intervention that can derail labour and create complications. Re-directing birth away from an interventionist model can be difficult, yet is vital for the health and well being of mothers and babies.

Midwifery philosophy and practice offers clear pathways for keeping birth normal. In this one day program in the on-going series "Future Birth", Birth International invites you to explore some new paths for midwives and women that can enhance birth outcomes for all. Four outstanding leaders offer you their experience, insights and ideas that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted. It's a day to celebrate midwifery, expand your horizons and renew your faith in women and birth.

9.15 am    Welcome Andrea Robertson Director, Birth International 9.30 am    The All Wales Pathway for Normal Birth Polly Ferguson This simple, innovative approach to recording progress during labour has reduced paperwork for midwives, lowered intervention rates and enabled better care of women during labour. First pioneered in Wales, it is now being adopted in Scotland and England. 10.45 am    Refreshments 11.15 am    Giving Birth in Brazil - taking a new direction Marcos Dias Brazil is well-known for its medicalised approach to birth and high rates of caesareans. Marcos Dias is a passionate advocate for midwifery and a leader in REHUNA (network for the humanization of childbirth), the movement working to reform maternity care in South America. 12.30 pm    Lunch 1.30 pm    Ecstatic birth - a journey worth taking Sarah Buckley Birth can be an ecstatic experience for both women and their midwives. Working towards this goal is a challenge, as the journey can be made difficult by many factors. The benefits of natural birth are undoubted and a clear understanding of the underlying physiology increases the potential for success. 2.45 pm    Refreshments 3.15 pm    Obstetricians are from Mars, midwives are from Venus: let's talk about it! Sandy Kirkman It is often our language that defines who we are and how we relate to people. Nowhere is this more apparent than in maternity care (often referred to as "obstetrics"). Hierarchy, power, position and status are all conveyed through words, often in ways that leave labouring women at the bottom of the heap. Take a look at yourselves as others see you. 4.30 pm    Close Your registration includes lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments and Seminar folder. Your place will be confirmed in writing, together with a receipt (Tax Invoice) and details on how to find the venue. Enrol early to ensure your place and to take advantage of our generous discounts! Individual registration: AUD$170.00 (incl GST) postmarked before 31 January 2007 AUD$190.00 (incl GST) postmarked after 31 January 2007 Student registration: AUD$125.00(incl. GST) flat rate Group discounts: AUD$155.00 (incl GST) postmarked before 31 January 2007 AUD$175.00 (incl GST) postmarked after 31 January 2007 Group discounts are offered of the following basis: 6 or more registration forms, plus one cheque or credit card (only one receipt issued, with all names listed). No names can be added after the booking is processed. Substitutes will be accepted, if notified in advance.				Polly Ferguson has worked as a midwife in both hospital and community settings and also as a midwife teacher. She has always taken a keen interest in the wider professional agenda and was appointed as Head of the Royal College of Midwives Welsh Board in the early '90's, and is now working for the Welsh Assembly Government advising on women's reproductive health. Marcos Dias is a Brazilian obstetrician-gynecologist from Rio de Janiero. He has a PhD in women's health and has been the manager of the Women's Health Department of Rio de Janeiro City. Currently he is Consultant to the Ministry of Health in Brazil on the project to humanize birth and neonatal care based on scientific evidence. Sarah Buckley is a General Practitioner and Family Physician with a special interest in pregnancy and birth. She is the author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering and is well known internationally for her writing and presentations. Her five children were all born at home and she lives in Brisbane. Sandy Kirkman has a broadly based midwifery career, spanning England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales As a Principal Lecturer at in the School of Care Sciences, University of Glamorgan, she continues to play a key role in both education and research. She is widely sought as a speaker for her ability to tackle big issues in midwifery care through wit and humour. PERTH The Mercure Hotel 10 Irwin Street Tuesday, 20 March ADELAIDE Queen Victoria's Lecture Theatre Women's and Children's Hospital King William Road Thursday, 22 March MELBOURNE Willam Angliss Conference Centre 555 Latrobe Street Friday, 23 March LAUNCESTON The Tamar Valley Room, The Albert Hall Cnr Cimitere and Tamar Street Saturday, 24 March BRISBANE The Amphitheatre The Bardon Centre Simpson's Road Monday, 26 March SYDNEY The Ionic Room The Sydney Masonic Centre cnr Castlereagh and Goulburn Sts Tuesday, 27 March Books by Sarah Buckley and other selected titles will be available for sale on the day. Cheques, cash and credit cards are welcome. A full list of books and prices will be in your registration pack.