On this anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights let us work towards women birthing in all babies starting life in an society that respects human rights. December 10 is the anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations (UN) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR sets out a certain set

The Roar Behind the Silence: why kindness, compassion and respect matter in maternity care For many years there has been growing concern about the culture of fear that is penetrating maternity services throughout the world, and that the fear felt by maternity care workers is directly and indirectly being transferred to the women and families they

A Healthy Baby Isn’t All That Matters November 16, 2015  Wise words from Cristen Pascucci  We hear all the time, “a healthy baby is all that matters.”  That’s simply not true—especially when, all too often, “healthy” means merely “surviving birth,” for both moms and babies.  That’s not nearly good enough. The truth is that in this day

Childbearing is an important rite of passage, with deep personal and cultural significance for a woman and her family. Pregnancy and childbirth are momentous events in the lives of women and families, representing simultaneously a time for extraordinary joy and a time of intense vulnerability. The significance of pregnancy and birth is an often underestimated

Thousands getting unnecessary surgery and other harmful hospital treatments: as reported in the Canberra Times About 6000 people – or 16 a day – had ineffective treatments that cost up to $4400 in both public and private hospitals in 2010-11, a Grattan Institute report says. The researchers analysed some treatments that are effective but should not be done

Lessons learned from pilot phase of the sexual and reproductive health program in crisis and post-crisis settings in the Asia Pacific region (SPRINT Initiative) June 25, 2013 By: Kristen Beek, Sarah Chynoweth, Carina Hickling, Amy Watts, Anthony B. Zwi, Anna Whelan, Angela Dawson, Human Resources for Knowledge Hub,UNSW, UTS and WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Midwifery

I need – a Poem I need kindness because I praise my baby every day but scold myself. Because its wrinkled little features are beautiful, but my stretched, dark, skin is ugly. Because it’s crying because it needs something, but I’m crying because I’m not good enough. I need compassion because I am a person,