Winter 2024 Newsletter
Tēnā koutou!
In this newsletter
- IDM24 Born At Home Film Screening
- AGM 2024 Results
- Article: A Practice of Decolonisation
- Upcoming events
- Winter recipe
- Notices
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE MIDWIFE - 2024
Born At Home film screening May 5
This year for International Day of the Midwife (IDM), AHBA hosted a film screening of the Australian based documentary, Born At Home. This was a nationwide event with most of the regional home birth groups also hosting screenings.
Despite some difficulties, the event went ahead with great success in terms informing on home birth, particularly for the many midwifery students that attended.
We had a Q&A panel - a special thank you to midwives Jax Paki and Adriana Yianacou, Hana and Kelly Reid for taking the time to do this.
We also had two raffles that were very popular. Unfortunately we only made about $100 for the night overall but the lessons brought and positive portrayal of birth at home were invaluable.
A detailed report of the evening can be read via our Google Drive here: https://docs.google.com/document/...GhnphP.../preview
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2024 RESULTS
The AGM was held on Saturday June 1 at Auckland Women's Centre.
As of writing this newsletter the minutes are still being finalised, as is a revised video of the livestream (which had some technical difficulties and ended up broken into two parts). Check the links at the bottom of this section later or keep an eye out on our website and social media to read the completed minutes and watch the livestream video.
Some highlights from the AGM:
- We purchased seven new birth pools (with the intention that these pools are for additional pool coordinators located North and South Auckland) and the corresponding accessories.
- We now have about $9,000 worth of birth pools and equipment!
- We still need those two extra pool coordinators (see the Notices section at the bottom of the newsletter for more details)
- Finances (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024) ended with an operational deficit of -$1,319.24 however this was due to changing cash assets to fixed assets in the form of birth pools and equipment (as above). Full break down here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...Ek2AoT.../preview
- Would be great if we could find a volunteer accountant, especially with regards to calculating depreciation.
- Our apprentice trustee, Kelly, came on as a full Trustee 🎉
- We still need more volunteers and would still love someone to come on as a self-funded (through applying for grants) admin.
- Many hands make light work and people don't have to do heaps of work if we have lots of people sharing the load. This also makes our organisation more resilient and sustainable.
- Answers put to Home Birth Aotearoa Trust at the 2023 National Hui weren't very enlightening with time constraints and information being light. Full details can be found in the linked report ("National Home Birth Hui 2023 Rep Report") in the AGM 2024 Minutes below.
- We now have a project management system (via Taiga.io) that can be used to see ideas and things we are working on. It's doesn't require an account to view as it's set to public however if you want to contribute to it, you need to sign up (free).
- Things we could apply for grants for.
- Could we do another of the (low-key) film screenings we used to do based on movies/documentaries we already have screening rights for?
- Ideas for fundraisers.
- It's our 10 year anniversary this year (December)! 🥳
Following the AGM, we had a yummy lunch including the autumn newsletter recipe, "Home Birth Soup'.
Thank you to everyone who came and to those who joined us via the livestream. Apologies that the livestream wasn't as smooth as we had wanted but we learned some new things so hopefully next time will go more smoothly.
2024 Minutes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Gx_HavmqqzbSDXmlMJ2F-SeDnOaPPgNp8ooC-FySL4/preview
Annual Performance Report:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11AOREoPz9GF_ve3MfTNxEk2AoTYhJpFQYttbGDDLF54/preview
Pool Hire Service Report: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JNUL7aeYBho9xP0Au_II8t3DCeUfrnpO86K5tSTxnA8/preview
ARTICLE
A Practice of Decolonisation by Teah Carlson
He uri mokopuna tenei no Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou, me Waikato-Tainui hoki. Ko Teah Carlson toku ingoa.
Initially home birth was not my first choice; I wanted to give birth in a birthing centre. I did not want the mess at home, worry about cleaning my whare, having to cook my own kai. I wanted to be looked after, thought of, wanted my baby and I to be safe. These ideas were understandable, as my preconception of home birth was narrow, told in stories of old, of woman having to, of woman that were strong, and had a community of supportive people – this was not me.
Through a friend’s recommendation I met with Claire [a midwife -Editor], a gentle, humble, but I would soon learn, a very wise woman. She was my light, the pathway to a home birth. At first, I said that I wanted to give birth at a birthing centre and she was open to that, but shared that she mostly supported home births. No that’s not for me. This was an important moment as she could have said, that’s okay, may be you would be best suited to another midwife, but instead she was gentle and patient.
On our first visit, she gave me a book to read and when I was ready for another, she had plenty more. She also invited me to attend pregnancy yoga and a home birth antenatal weekend. All of these valuable resources and actions slowly informed me, at my pace, to the possibility of home birth, to a community where home birth was the first and safest choice.
As a practitioner, Claire had a wealth of knowledge she drew on from all disciplines, bio-medical, alternative medicines, rongoa, acupuncture and aromatherapy to name a few. When we would met, she would draw on these knowledge systems and inform me of the options I could follow. I never received such care from a health practitioner, it was an empowering experience. Empowering because healthcare was provided in a way that was holistic, informative and allowed me to understand that carrying my baby was the most important and grounding experience I could have as a woman, that I did not have to handover to the public health system. I was no consumer, I was hauora.
To me home birth is a philosophy, not confined to the walls and roof of a whare but much more, it is a way of being that frees you from the confines of a Western society. A society consumed by materialism, outcomes, statistics, risk and fear-based views, that tells woman what to do, how to be, told your body is not your own, birth is a medical process and babies are extensions of those views. Home birth is a philosophy, because you don’t have to give birth at home to have a home birth, it is a practice that is holistic, culturally safe, strength-based, whānanu capacity building, grounded in practices of whanaungatanga (reciprocal, responsive and responsible relationships).
My two tamariki where born at home, into the hands of their pāpā’s. I had no mess, very little blood, my whānau where there to clean up, cook for me, I was looked after, thought of and my baby and I were safe.
No reira,
Tuia ki te rangi
Tuia ki te moana
Tuia ki te whenua
E rongo te po
E rongo te Ao
Tihei mauri ora
This article is also available on our website at https://ahba.org.nz/articles/a-practice-of-decolonisation/
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monthly meetings
Our meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of every month, 11am-1pm at Auckland Women's Centre in Grey Lynn. These meetings are inclusive safe spaces - partners, spouses, whanau, friends, babies, children.... all are always welcome!
Come along to our next meet-up, this coming Tuesday, and hear some amazing home birth stories (stories include a speedy birth, a free birth and a resuscitation at home). This will be a good one if you are expecting! We have a few people organised to share their stories but we would love you to share your story on the day too (or just listen, there's never any pressure to speak). We look forward to seeing you there - make friends, discuss all things birthy, create community 🙂
- 🗓️ Tuesday 11 June
- 🕚 11:00am-1:00pm
- 📍 Auckland Women's Centre. 4 Warnock Street, Grey Lynn. [MAP]
Further dates for the rest of Winter are:
- 9th July
- 13th August
As always, all our events can be found on the website at www.ahba.org.nz/events, or via our Facebook page and group.
Other events of interest
North Auckland Homebirth Community - Birth Story Sharing Circle
"We are very excited to be holding our first Birth Story Sharing Circle this month, and we have a cozy new venue to hold us for this special gathering... The kind folk at One Nudge in Orewa are letting us use their lovely community space so that we can be warm and comfortable. We will provide tea, coffee, baking and nibbles. There is plenty of parking on-site and space for prams, and toys for toddlers. We are really looking forward to hearing the birth stories of some of our newest community babies, and for anyone else who would like to share their birth stories on the day. This will be a special and inspiring gathering, we can't wait to share this space with you"
- 🗓️ Friday 21 June
- 🕙 10:00am-1:00pm
- 📍 One Nudge. 21 Tamariki Ave, Orewa.
WINTER RECIPE
This newsletter's recipe comes courtesy of Vanessa Werner. Thanks Vanessa!
Mama’s Golden Milk
Nutmeg helps you sleep, so this drink makes a lovely part of a bedtime routine when taken an hour or two after dinner. This is a sweet high-energy drink, designed to keep you going through long nights of breastfeeding, but you can use fewer dates if you prefer. Fruit and milk are considered hard to digest together, so are usually eaten separately. This is the exception to the rule because dried dates and milk have exactly the same taste at all stages of digestion.
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 pitted dates
- 1 tsp ghee
- Pinch of nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp cardamom
- ¼ tsp fresh grated ginger (⅛ tsp if using dry ginger)
- 2-3 strands saffron
Method
- Combine spices (without the saffron) and ghee in a small saucepan and cook for 2 minutes until the spices release their aroma.
- Add the milk and bring to a low boil. Lower heat and simmer for 1 minute, add saffron and turn heat off.
- Add dates and blend in a blender until smooth.
- Drink warm, as many servings as you desire.
NOTICES
Pool coordinator
We are still looking for a pool coordinator for North Auckland and South Auckland. Some requirements are:
- Safe storage of four birth pools plus liners, accessories and repair kits
- Monitoring birth pool hire emails and using the online booking system
- Cleaning and repairing pools where needed
- Inspecting pools when they are returned
- Prepare pools ahead of hire
Pool bookings can vary in frequency from only once a month to multiple in a week. You must be responsible, reliable, have integrity, be able to work independently and use initiative, and be passionate about helping others. There is a small remuneration per pool hire. Training provided. Contact birthpools@ahba.org.nz if you would like more information.
Volunteers
As always we are looking for volunteers to help or if you have an idea you would like to see made happen, please let us know! hello@ahba.org.nz
Future AHBA Newsletters
We would love to grow our newsletters but we can't do it by ourselves! If you would like to be a guest writer, want to post a birth notice for your baby, have events to share, a recipe to contribute, want to share your home birth story or just have a great idea for the newsletter, please let us know!💌 newsletter@ahba.org.nz
AUCKLAND HOME BIRTH ASSOCIATION
discovering ⋅ empowering ⋅ celebrating
Auckland Home Birth Association is an inclusive, non-profit, volunteer-led community organisation supporting individuals, whānau/families and health providers with support, information, meetings, resources, and birth pool hire.
International evidence shows birth at home is a safe and gentle way to welcome babies, where families can be involved and connected. Home birth – it’s your choice!
www.ahba.org.nz | hello@ahba.org.nz
Auckland Home Birth Association is a registered Charitable Trust, charity no. CC60866
Unless otherwise stated, photos are © Copyright their respective owners and must not be downloaded or distributed. Content on the Auckland Home Birth Association website and newsletter archive is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 International License.