Focus on the grassroots: Choices in Childbirth

We are proud to introduce a new feature on the SQUAT Birth Blog-- Focus on the Grassroots! We'll be posting profiles about grassroots organizations around the US and the world who are working to help expand birth choices and defend women's rights and autonomy--in other words, groups helping you "Exercise Your Rights!" We start our series with Choices in Childbirth (CIC), a New York City-based organization dedicated to ensuring that women have access to information about making informed birth choices.


(CIC is a finalist for a grant from The Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery (FAM), and is thereby eligible for the Floradix Fan Favorite award. To see all the FAM finalists and vote for who should received the Floradix Fan Favorite award, go here. SQUAT is a big fan of many of these hard-working groups, and is not endorsing any one for this grant award.)


 If you know a great organization that should be featured on our blog, contact us or tell us about them in the comments section! 

___________________________________________________________

 Choices in Childbirth was founded in 2004 by a handful of doulas, midwifery students and childbirth educators who were tired of seeing their client’s birth options narrow as the medical management of birth increased. Our founders were sickened by the unnecessary overuse of many medical interventions that were potentially harmful to their clients. They were outraged to hear women told over and over again that they couldn’t do it, that their bodies were failing, that birthing their babies was something that was well beyond their capability. 

Choices in Childbirth heald its first annual benefit, Concert for Healthy Birth, earlier this month. 

In the photo (left to right), are Elan McAllister (Founder and President of CIC), 

Christy Turlington Burns (who was being honored by CIC that evening for her  work on maternal 

mortality), Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein (who  working with CIC to produce a classroom edition of the Business of Being Born), 

and Funmilayo Brown (CIC's Executive Director)

In response, over the last 7 years, Choices in Childbirth has actively been engaged in efforts around education, outreach and advocacy to help improve the environment in the city for birthing families and to increase access to a full range of birthing options. We advocate for safe, evidence-based care for all women, care that is deeply respectful of families and mindful of the sacredness of birth. We work to provide families with information about their full range of birthing options, help families to connect with care providers who share their philosophy and vision for their birth, and actively support the care providers who uphold the principles of the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative.

Our educational programs include the Guide to a Healthy Birth: a free print publication with articles, resources, and information about women’s rights and options in maternity care (click here to download a copy of our latest edition!), and the new online Mother-Friendly Provider Network: a searchable database of care providers who work with women and families during their childbearing years.

Right now, we are eligible for the Floradix Fan Favorite award that would provide funds to help us expand these programs to serve even more families around the country! Go to www.choicesinchildbirth.org/vote to vote for our project to win the Fan Favorite Award!