Photography by: Nynno Bel-Air
Imagine or remember being pregnant for the first time. A pretty daunting period for any woman. Add to that being a newly arrived migrant or refugee, suffering or at risk of perinatal depression, homeless or having experienced trauma, abuse and/or family violence. The community I work with is supporting these women to have the care and respect they need in their pregnancy, birth and early parenting. The organisation is ‘Birth for Humankind’. They foster a strong connection with the Catholic Social Thought Principles of ‘Dignity of the Human Person’, ‘the Common Good’ ‘Subsidiarity’ and ‘the Preferential Option for the Poor’
‘Dignity of the Human Person’ is a principle where we see everyone as ranked evenly. We all have the status of being human with all the rights that come with that, including recognising the sacredness of life and seeing it as more than just meeting our basic needs, a claim to participate and have access to all natural, universal rights and that these are not controlled by any community’s laws ("Catholic Social Teaching," 2019). Human dignity is focussed on the well-being and respect of all in an economic, political, ecological and spiritual way regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, wealth status or any other differences (Boyle, 2013; Wolfe, 2013).
‘The Common Good’ can be defined as an extension of human dignity but for the greater community. Similar focusses are applied to a structure that benefit the flourishment and fulfilment of the whole community within it (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, Meyer, & Meyer, 2014). The common good is an aspirational collaboration of the community to implement a framework to live together in a common space in manner that benefits all. This can also expand to the injustice on a local and global level ‘in more than a handout way’ (Jacobs-Vandegeer, 2013).
Within a community, it is also important to have the ability to be involved in the decisions that directly affect our own life or the group in which we operate ("Catholic Social Teaching," 2019). This is referred to as ‘Subsidiarity’ and requires a willingness to participate in the consultation process while keeping in mind the principles of the common good, human dignity and prioritising the needs of the poor over any other’s wants. This principle of ‘the Preferential Option for the Poor’ ensures those that are weak, vulnerable and underprivileged receive precedence when considering options. How this group is faring is a great indicator of how the community is faring.
I have worked with birthing families for close to twenty years, walking beside and helping them find the knowledge to make informed decisions about their impending birth to ensure their best possible preferred outcome. It was not until I was involved with Birth for Humankind that I truly realised the breadth of what this work could bring, but also the complexity of so many individual situations and how they impact on the community as a whole.
In 2015 I met an inspiring person called Kirsten Flannery who was in the process of co-founding this not-for-profit organisation to ensure every birthing parent had access to equitable, respectful maternal care. She was seeing, as I was, that many women who are systemically disadvantaged, do not yet receive the care and support they need from the Australian maternal health system as a result of a public maternity system that is being let down. This includes the letdown of birthing women, their children, midwives and maternity workers who are not being appropriately supported. The dignity of these humans is not being considered and preferential options were not being offered to these families that are poor in knowledge, communication, finance and safety.
Today Birth for Humankind are involved with birthing parents experiencing various forms of socio-economic disadvantage. Last year, 70% of their clients were socially isolated and had no other support person. Between them they spoke 21 languages, over half were at risk of or experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety and 46% had experienced trauma, abuse or family violence (Birth for Humankind Annual Report FY18-19, 2019).
Birth for Humankind offer tailored and targeted childbirth education to expectant mums, maternity sector training for complex needs care and most importantly, one-on-one doula support. A doula is a non-medical birth companion providing physical, emotional and educational support during pregnancy, birth and early parenting. This ongoing, complementary continuity of support is one of the ways in which the volunteer doulas in this community ensure vulnerable clients have access to appropriate care.
Let me illustrate the impact of this group’s work through a story.
A client, let’s call her Alana, had a severe child sexual abuse trauma history. She entered a marriage several years ago had become pregnant. She was not prepared for birth due to her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The hospital staff were kind, but did not always providing subsidiarity, trauma-informed care. The hospital visits were system procedure led with little consultation with Alana about the decisions that were being made about her body, baby and life. The hospital wanted to induce her and proceeded to book the procedure. Alana did not understand that this would involve multiple vaginal examinations that would be significant triggers for her history.
Once Alana was linked with a volunteer doula, they built a connection of trust and was able to confide in her. The doula was then able to advocate in appointments about the importance of being given clear information and treated with dignity so that she could make decisions with informed consent every step of the way.
Together they were able to ensure that she saw the same midwife for all visits, avoided the induction and was offered physical examinations in a trauma informed way. Alana’s baby was born beautifully in a space of love, knowledge, support, understanding and Alana bonded immediately with her baby.
This story is not unique. There are women experiencing difficult births all across Australia and their history is not always known or noted and they are not getting the support they need. How women give birth, how a baby is born and how birth is experienced by the whole family has a huge impact on how those effected will live their life (Delicate, Ayers, Easter, & McMullen, 2018). Evidence is showing in many areas the impact of overmedicated and traumatic births is having systemically on our communities (Callander & Fox, 2018). That is why this community is also dedicated to influencing the maternal health system in order to reach the women and families that they will never reach directly. Birth for Humankind aim to improve standards of care for the common good of all.
My connection to this community has me sitting on their board of directors and ensuring they remain sustainable and flourish in their vision and mission to build a culture of ‘trust, respect, celebration and connection’ across our maternity health system. I see my volunteer time as a contribution to the common good, but also as a voice for others in the community to safeguard their preferences and subsidiarity. Ultimately whatever socio-economic or religious background we come from, we are all entitled to my four chosen Catholic Social Thought Principles of ‘Dignity of the Human Person’, ‘the Common Good’ ‘Subsidiarity’ and ‘the Preferential Option for the Poor’
Imagine or remember being pregnant for the first time. A pretty daunting period for any woman. Add to that being a newly arrived migrant or refugee, suffering or at risk of perinatal depression, homeless or having experienced trauma, abuse and/or family violence. The community I work with is supporting these women to have the care and respect they need in their pregnancy, birth and early parenting. The organisation is ‘Birth for Humankind’. They foster a strong connection with the Catholic Social Thought Principles of ‘Dignity of the Human Person’, ‘the Common Good’ ‘Subsidiarity’ and ‘the Preferential Option for the Poor’
‘Dignity of the Human Person’ is a principle where we see everyone as ranked evenly. We all have the status of being human with all the rights that come with that, including recognising the sacredness of life and seeing it as more than just meeting our basic needs, a claim to participate and have access to all natural, universal rights and that these are not controlled by any community’s laws ("Catholic Social Teaching," 2019). Human dignity is focussed on the well-being and respect of all in an economic, political, ecological and spiritual way regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, wealth status or any other differences (Boyle, 2013; Wolfe, 2013).
‘The Common Good’ can be defined as an extension of human dignity but for the greater community. Similar focusses are applied to a structure that benefit the flourishment and fulfilment of the whole community within it (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, Meyer, & Meyer, 2014). The common good is an aspirational collaboration of the community to implement a framework to live together in a common space in manner that benefits all. This can also expand to the injustice on a local and global level ‘in more than a handout way’ (Jacobs-Vandegeer, 2013).
Within a community, it is also important to have the ability to be involved in the decisions that directly affect our own life or the group in which we operate ("Catholic Social Teaching," 2019). This is referred to as ‘Subsidiarity’ and requires a willingness to participate in the consultation process while keeping in mind the principles of the common good, human dignity and prioritising the needs of the poor over any other’s wants. This principle of ‘the Preferential Option for the Poor’ ensures those that are weak, vulnerable and underprivileged receive precedence when considering options. How this group is faring is a great indicator of how the community is faring.
I have worked with birthing families for close to twenty years, walking beside and helping them find the knowledge to make informed decisions about their impending birth to ensure their best possible preferred outcome. It was not until I was involved with Birth for Humankind that I truly realised the breadth of what this work could bring, but also the complexity of so many individual situations and how they impact on the community as a whole.
In 2015 I met an inspiring person called Kirsten Flannery who was in the process of co-founding this not-for-profit organisation to ensure every birthing parent had access to equitable, respectful maternal care. She was seeing, as I was, that many women who are systemically disadvantaged, do not yet receive the care and support they need from the Australian maternal health system as a result of a public maternity system that is being let down. This includes the letdown of birthing women, their children, midwives and maternity workers who are not being appropriately supported. The dignity of these humans is not being considered and preferential options were not being offered to these families that are poor in knowledge, communication, finance and safety.
Today Birth for Humankind are involved with birthing parents experiencing various forms of socio-economic disadvantage. Last year, 70% of their clients were socially isolated and had no other support person. Between them they spoke 21 languages, over half were at risk of or experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety and 46% had experienced trauma, abuse or family violence (Birth for Humankind Annual Report FY18-19, 2019).
Birth for Humankind offer tailored and targeted childbirth education to expectant mums, maternity sector training for complex needs care and most importantly, one-on-one doula support. A doula is a non-medical birth companion providing physical, emotional and educational support during pregnancy, birth and early parenting. This ongoing, complementary continuity of support is one of the ways in which the volunteer doulas in this community ensure vulnerable clients have access to appropriate care.
Let me illustrate the impact of this group’s work through a story.
A client, let’s call her Alana, had a severe child sexual abuse trauma history. She entered a marriage several years ago had become pregnant. She was not prepared for birth due to her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The hospital staff were kind, but did not always providing subsidiarity, trauma-informed care. The hospital visits were system procedure led with little consultation with Alana about the decisions that were being made about her body, baby and life. The hospital wanted to induce her and proceeded to book the procedure. Alana did not understand that this would involve multiple vaginal examinations that would be significant triggers for her history.
Once Alana was linked with a volunteer doula, they built a connection of trust and was able to confide in her. The doula was then able to advocate in appointments about the importance of being given clear information and treated with dignity so that she could make decisions with informed consent every step of the way.
Together they were able to ensure that she saw the same midwife for all visits, avoided the induction and was offered physical examinations in a trauma informed way. Alana’s baby was born beautifully in a space of love, knowledge, support, understanding and Alana bonded immediately with her baby.
This story is not unique. There are women experiencing difficult births all across Australia and their history is not always known or noted and they are not getting the support they need. How women give birth, how a baby is born and how birth is experienced by the whole family has a huge impact on how those effected will live their life (Delicate, Ayers, Easter, & McMullen, 2018). Evidence is showing in many areas the impact of overmedicated and traumatic births is having systemically on our communities (Callander & Fox, 2018). That is why this community is also dedicated to influencing the maternal health system in order to reach the women and families that they will never reach directly. Birth for Humankind aim to improve standards of care for the common good of all.
My connection to this community has me sitting on their board of directors and ensuring they remain sustainable and flourish in their vision and mission to build a culture of ‘trust, respect, celebration and connection’ across our maternity health system. I see my volunteer time as a contribution to the common good, but also as a voice for others in the community to safeguard their preferences and subsidiarity. Ultimately whatever socio-economic or religious background we come from, we are all entitled to my four chosen Catholic Social Thought Principles of ‘Dignity of the Human Person’, ‘the Common Good’ ‘Subsidiarity’ and ‘the Preferential Option for the Poor’
References
Birth for Humankind Annual Report FY18-19. (2019). Retrieved from Birth for Humankind: https://birthforhumankind.org/about-us/annual-reports
Boyle, K. (Producer). (2013). Dignity of the human person. Australian Catholic University - Learning Environment Online (LEO), UNCC100 Module 1.4.1. [Video]
Callander, E. J., & Fox, H. (2018). What are the costs associated with child and maternal healthcare within Australia? A study protocol for the use of data linkage to identify health service use, and health system and patient costs. BMJ Open. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017816
Catholic Social Teaching. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/social-teaching
Delicate, A., Ayers, S., Easter, A., & McMullen, S. (2018). The impact of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress on a couple's relationship: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology, 38(1), 102-115.
Jacobs-Vandegeer, D. C. (Producer). (2013). What Does It Mean? Australian Catholic University - Learning Environment Online (LEO), UNCC100 Module 5.1.1. [Video]
Velasquez, M., Andre, C., Shanks, T., Meyer, S. J., & Meyer, M. J. (2014). The Common Good. Retrieved from https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/the-common-good/
Wolfe, N. (Producer). (2013). Dignity of the human person. Australian Catholic University - Learning Environment Online (LEO), UNCC100 Module 1.4.1. [Video]
Birth for Humankind Annual Report FY18-19. (2019). Retrieved from Birth for Humankind: https://birthforhumankind.org/about-us/annual-reports
Boyle, K. (Producer). (2013). Dignity of the human person. Australian Catholic University - Learning Environment Online (LEO), UNCC100 Module 1.4.1. [Video]
Callander, E. J., & Fox, H. (2018). What are the costs associated with child and maternal healthcare within Australia? A study protocol for the use of data linkage to identify health service use, and health system and patient costs. BMJ Open. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017816
Catholic Social Teaching. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/social-teaching
Delicate, A., Ayers, S., Easter, A., & McMullen, S. (2018). The impact of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress on a couple's relationship: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology, 38(1), 102-115.
Jacobs-Vandegeer, D. C. (Producer). (2013). What Does It Mean? Australian Catholic University - Learning Environment Online (LEO), UNCC100 Module 5.1.1. [Video]
Velasquez, M., Andre, C., Shanks, T., Meyer, S. J., & Meyer, M. J. (2014). The Common Good. Retrieved from https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/the-common-good/
Wolfe, N. (Producer). (2013). Dignity of the human person. Australian Catholic University - Learning Environment Online (LEO), UNCC100 Module 1.4.1. [Video]
LocationI am located in Briar Hill and am happy to travel within an 90 min radius covering Melbourne, Australia and surrounding suburbs
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