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IDEAS FOR BIRTH ACTIVISM
- Wear BirthNetwork National shirts out in public. Tell people what BirthNetwork National is about! You may order BirthNetwork National products through Café Press:
- Endorse the Coalition for Improving Maternity Service’s “Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative.”
- Educate yourself on ALL of your options for birth.
- Share your positive birth stories with anyone that is interested. Encourage other mothers and fathers to do the same.
- If you've recently given birth, go to The Birth Survey and take the survey -- and then pass this along to any of your friends that may be eligible to fill out the survey as well.
- Sign up to help get maternity intervention statistics from your state public health department -- contact [email protected].
- Be positive and encouraging to every pregnant woman that you encounter. Wish her well in her birth experience. Mention that BirthNetwork National is a resource to learn more about her options.
- Offer to share your birth and/or breastfeeding experiences with local childbirth education classes, breastfeeding support groups (La Leche League), and mothers groups.
- Offer to become a “breastfeeding mentor” to pregnant family members, friends, co-workers, etc.
- Write to your medical care providers about the quality of your birth experience.
- Seek out insurance that covers “alternative” care.
- Breastfeed in public, wherever you want to, whenever you need to.
- Refuse “free” formula samples given out by hospitals and doctors offices. Offer to educate them on supportive breastfeeding policies and what “mother-friendly” and “baby-friendly” care is all about.
- Write letters to the editor (magazines, newspapers, etc.) to encourage them to promote normal birth and the midwifery model of care.
- Distribute BirthNetwork National brochures and mother-friendly Resource Guides within your community.
- Find out if your local library displays and distributes your BirthNetwork National chapter's Birth and Beyond Provider Resource Guide. If not, offer to keep your library stocked.
- Find out if your local OB-GYN, Midwife, Chiropractor, Pediatrician, etc. displays and distributes BirthNetwork’s Birth and Beyond Provider Resource Guide. If not, offer to bring them a steady supply to keep in stock.
- Purchase books or videos for your local BirthNetwork National chapter's Book and Video Lending Library.
- Keep up-to-date on birth and breastfeeding-related legislative issues within local and national government. Write letters of support or protest to your local legislators and make sure your opinions are heard.
- Consider volunteering with BirthNetwork National–either within a local chapter or on the national Board.
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Design by Media Genesis. Contact BirthNetwork National.
Design by Media Genesis. Contact BirthNetwork National.
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