HOMEBIRTH MANIFESTO

for the right to birth at home assisted by a midwife

This manifesto is inspired by the "Manifesto of the 343 Bitches" admitting to have practiced illegal abortions, and therefore exposing themselves to judicial actions and prison sentences.

The text had been written by Simone de Beauvoir in 1971. Just read here !

A few statements reflect the ironical tone and self derision of French feminists in the 1970s. We deliberately reproduced their arguments (see text in italics) to underscore the reality that woman condition has not evolved significantly over more than 35 years when it comes to pregnancy and birthing.

Strong assertions of feminists have not been successful in overcoming fears instilled by propagandists of high-technology obstetrics. Therefore we propose a new agenda in feminism of the 21st century carrying the following message : as women we have the right to decide what will happen to our bodies and our babies and this right has been mis-appropriated and ignored by doctors who have determined that they have the right to decide of what happens. Things must change. It is time to reclaim our bodies and our babies !

Women in the 70s said : "A baby ? When I want and if I want !"

Today we say : "Giving birth to a baby ? How I want and where I want !"

Selina Kyle

Every year in France women give birth without a medical assistance because of the unavailability of midwives able/willing to support the option of having a homebirth. They do it in risky conditions due to their being forced to seclusion instead of receiving the assistance of a trained midwife.

Nobody ever mentions these women in public debates. I declare that I am one of them. I declare that I already had an unassisted homebirth or I plan to have one in the future.

In the same way we claim the right of every woman to free access to hospital maternity care, we claim the right of having a homebirth with the assistance of a midwife.

Birthing

Birthing is a woman's business, something like cooking, nappies, something dirty. Fighting for homebirth with the assistance of a midwife covered by social security sounds rather pathetic or petty. There is always a smell of hospital or food or poo-poo behind women.

The intricacy of emotions in our fight for homebirth is a clear indication of our great trouble. It is hard for us to accept that others would be legitimate in supporting us.

It is clear that, unlike other human beings, we have no right to decide on our bodies. Nonetheless our womb belongs to us! It is a vital necessity that women reappropriate and empower their bodies. For they are the ones whose condition is unique in history : human beings who in modern times are not entitled the free disposal of their bodies. Till now this had been the sole fate of slaves.

The scandal is going on. We feel like screaming.

Claiming the right to give birth at home with the assistance of a midwife is a big challenge to the extent that, if I win, it will be acknowledged that my body is mine, it no longer belongs to the State, a family nor a medical system that denies my right to choose where and how I will birth my babies.

This implies a radical change in women's mental attitudes and a no less radical change in the structure of society.

I will give birth where and how I wish. No moral pressure, no institution, no economical constraint can force me to deliver in a hospital environment. This is my political power. As any producer waiting for an improvement, I can put pressure of society by my refusal to produce (pregnancy strike).
I will birth my babies in the place that I consider most appropriate for me. I need this act to be secured by the presence of a midwife. It is discriminatory and potentially criminal to deny midwifery assistance to a women on the pretext that she opted for a homebirth.
When deciding to have a homebirth I act as a human being responsible for her own deeds. I am neither fragile nor vulnerable nor under someone else's influence. I am fully entrusted to decide.

We say no to supervised freedom !

The battle initiated around homebirth is being fought over the heads of women, the people primarily involved. Deciding on the place to give birth does not belong to women more than it did in the past.

Everything has been considered : birthing centres on the hospital premises, "natural care" obstetrical units, granting private midwives access to attend deliveries in maternity units... However, the principle remains that today it is legitimate to force women to deliver in a hospital.

We will fight up to the end because we want nothing more than that which we own : the free disposal of our bodies and midwifery care for every woman birthing in our country.

See the signers list

This manifesto was made for women living in France, in order to challenge French medical and political authorities regarding homebirth.

However, you can support signatories by sending your name, surname, age, profession, city and country at the adress below :

webmistress @ dechainees.com

Translation into English by La Rosbif

A hoax is being spread over the Internet along with an incitation to sign our manifesto. It is wrong to announce that homebirth (with or without assistance) is on the verge of becoming illicit in France.

We doubt that the Law would ever punish this way a woman who opted for giving birth in her home.

Dechainees publicly declare that they have no responsibility in the circulation of this hoax and feel obliged to refute this statement whenever it is reported by Internet users.

Hay un rumor en que se dicen que el parto en casa en Francia sera ilegal. Esto es inexacto.

La verdad es que las comadronas no pueden asegurarse (imposible o demasiado caro) por el ejercicio en casa. Eso es ilegal : una comadrona debe ser asegurada.Pues, la mujer esta en un situation legal, pero la comadrona esta en un situation ilegal.

Al final el resultado es lo mismo. Cada vez más comadronas abandonan, y el parto en casa se vuelve imposible.

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Last modification : 31/10/2009 13:41:05 - © dechainees.com
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