Program - National Homebirth Conference 2009 - New Zealand

This is subject to change without notice. Please be aware that while we will try our utmost to keep the programme as it is and to offer you your first choice of sessions this may not always be possible.

Friday 9th October

08:30-16:00		Home Birth Aotearoa National Hui

16:30		Registration Desk opens
17:30		Welcome address Garry Moore, Former Mayor of Christchurch and Homebirth Dad
18:00		Nibbles and a short film

Saturday 10th October

08:30		Registration Desk opens
09:30		Welcome and Notices
10:00	Keynote 1	Sara Wickham Birth, Risk and Fear: Exploring the Issues Modern society in general and modern maternity care in particular are characterised by an increasing emphasis on obstetrically-defined notions of safety and a focus on assessing, managing and reducing risk. This emphasis is leading to ever greater attempts to manage birth and control outcomes, yet the efficacy, appropriateness and ethics of such an approach have been questioned from a number of perspectives, not least in relation to the level of fear which this can generate amongst birthing women, their families and providers of maternity care. This session explores these issues and considers the impact that a focus of risk has on our experience of fear in relation to childbirth.
11:00		Morning Tea
11:30	Concurrent 1	Sara Wickham Making Decisions and Dealing with Risk Further explore the issues that the concept of risk raises in relation to women's decisionmaking and we will consider different ways of dealing with the concept of risk as it relates to childbirth, with a focus on ways in which it might be possible to reduce fear. Carol Bartle Breastfeeding without Fear This session will examine the breastfeeding issues for women in the early weeks following birth and look at how portraying breastfeeding as optimal may make it seem unattainable to all but a few. Terri Woods Doula Stories From bamboo hut homes to simple birth centres to government hospitals… see pictures and hear a doula's stories of labour and birth in the resource-poor nation of the Philippines. Participate in a time of sharing about culturally-based fears of childbirth.
12:30		Lunch
13:30	Keynote 2	Nathan Mikaere Wallis Relationships, Learning and Fear: Brain Development for You and Baby A synopsis of the relevant brain development research that has emerged in recent times. This details the role 'fear' plays in our brains and how it inhibits learning for both our baby and us. Conditions required for optimum brain development are also explored.
14:30	Concurrent 2	Nathan Mikaere Wallis Relationships, Learning and Fear Extensions Explore the research in further detail and look at the specific interests of the participants. What can we do to support the development of our child/child's brain? Deena and Sheryl Joy Faith and Fear Deena and Sheryl Joy will discuss remote rural midwifery practice on the West Coast. They will explain how ‘faith’ enables them to face and conquer fear. Their discussion will include stories of birth and will also consider how life at Gloriavale Christian Community prepares women to embrace childbirth without fear. Carol Bartle Bed-Sharing Without Fear This session will examine the dominant fear and risk discourses and discuss what it means for a mother to share a bed with her breastfeeding baby. Breastfed and formula fed baby differences will also be explored.
15:30		Afternoon Tea
16:00	Keynote 3	Kate Henderson, Emily Innes and Nadia Kersel Birth Stories Women share their stories of homebirthing in difficult circumstances, including Emily's story of giving birth to her stillborn daughter at home, Kate's long posterior labour and transfer to hospital and Nadia's isolated rural birth. What is the relevance of homebirth when things don't go according to plan?
17:30		Dinner
19:00		Film

Sunday 11th October

09:00		Notices
09:30	Concurrent "Bonus"	Suzanne Miller First Birth in Aotearoa/New Zealand: the Impact of Place of Birth This study compared birth outcomes for two groups of first-time mothers, one group who planned homebirths and the other who planned to give birth in secondary or tertiary hospitals. It was a mixed-methods study which also explored the impact of the place of birth behaviour and decision-making of midwives. Denise Hynd The International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative Angela Worthington & Carla Moore Choices in Childbirth Drawing from Choice in Childbirth classes we run, we will create a lively discussion around fear, pain and anxiety in labour and birth. We hope you will get a positive, upbeat, excited, fearless, empowering confidence, trust in yourself to carry with you into your birth (and those around you), and an appreciation that childbirth can be an awesome and life-changing experience - just the start of a huge journey of benefitting from an enquiring mind.
10:30		Morning Tea
11:00	Concurrent 3	Amanda Viedma-Dodd Osteopathy - Toward a Natural, Uncomplicated Pregnancy, Labour & Beyond Discussion on the osteopathic philosophy with a specific focus on treatment for pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period. The normal physiological changes will be discussed with examples of problems which may arise and the corresponding treatment. Also, optimal foetal positioning will be discussed with regard to the osteopathic perspective. Terri Woods Overcomming Fear Explore doula techniques to help reduce fear of labor, birth and babies, and how to determine and design an effective approach to mothers in the birth year, based on individual personality and need. Lorna Davies Facing & Embracing the Fear By using art, music, drama and other creative media, it may be that we can more fully address and even begin to resolve some of the fears that exist around birth in the 21st century.
12:00		Lunch
13:00	Keynote 5	Jacqui Anderson and Juliet Thorpe Promotion and Protection of Normal Birth An exploration of a homebirth midwifery practice and its birthing outcomes.
14:00	Concurrent 4	Ngaere Dawson Homebirth - Own Birth Social & Spontaneous? Confident & Controlled? Placid & Private? Deep & Detailed? A look at our unique birthing experiences with the support of personality theory. Heather Muriwai Traditional Maori Birthing Practices Explore how wahine maori can take back the power of birth using traditional practices. Heather will share with you the birthing story of her tipuna/ancestors - what it was, what it became, and now her journey in striving to recreate and resurrect those ways of knowing. Julie Richards Delayed Cord Clampinig - Managing the Fear of Haemorrage The process of labour and birth of the placenta and membranes is as individual and unique as that of the baby. It requires the same level of support and respect and if absent the consequences can challenge the well-being of both the mother and baby. Julie will present the findings of her research into the umbilical cord clamping practices of midwives in New Zealand and discuss the implications for birthing women.
15:00		Afternoon Tea
15:30	Keynote 6	Third Year Midwifery Students Fathers at Birth and The Other Side of the Glass film showing Third year midwifery students present viewer reaction to the film The Other Side of the Glass and we get to see part of the film.
16:30		Closing Address Karen Guilliland - CEO New Zealand College of Midwives

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Last updated 24 September 2009