My latest exploit in promoting homebirth and midwifery -:
I was asked to attend a careers evening, it was joint between three schools, two of them girls schools. I was invited as I attended another very poor career evening at short notice and the careers teacher for one of these schools was there. To be honest I don't think they were that clear on my true vocation and I was put in with nursing. When I arrived at my stand I proclaimed loudly that I wasn't a nurse they moved the nursing ( well it was the government department for nursing and midwifery and they came in handy with a few freebies and some good information).
I didn't really attend thinking I'd encourage anyone to be a midwife, I primarily thought it would be a great chance to talk homebirth with any teenager that would give me eye contact male or female
It was much easier than I expected. It was a huge expo, highly organised and very professional. I was the floor show. My interesting posters and excellent pictures attracted a few teenagers to begin with but soon they were walking past my stand in droves. I pounced on any and all. Explaining that even if they didn't want a career in midwifery every one of them will come in contact with a midwife. I explained to the girls that they had choices, they could opt for hospital and a doctor they didn't know looking at the vagina or a midwife to follow their journey to make birth the most uplifting experience of their life. I showed pictures of a head crowning, gave details of birth experiences and in hopefully showed them what is possible. I enjoyed saying vagina and breasts, I used fanny a few times too.
Boys were getting more interested, and the engineers opposite commented on the popularity of my stand and people wanting to talk to me. On the corner of my stand I strategically placed this poster.
Now maybe it's becoming a little more clear my stands attraction for the boys. I was asked if men could be midwives, I jovially said "of course they can, however you perving at breasts really doesn't give a good impression" I told boys that when their wives were having babies it was really important to understand how they could be involved with making birth exciting and how a great care provider could be the difference. I offered to show some boys my breasts as they seemed to pass my stand so often. LOL
I was asked by girls, how much do you earn? I laughed and said when your self employed it's feast of famine. It was followed up with. What are the hours? My answer was, I'm on call 24/7 I stay up for days and sometimes don't have a day off for weeks but if you can find one person in this hall who loves their role as much as me I'll give you 500 bucks.
The organisers seemed to take lots of pictures of my stand although I am absolutely sure they had no idea that it would be so in your face or why it was so popular. It was colourful and entertaining. I had a ball. I was really surprised how many dads walked past more than once, I couldn't help but comment to them. It was great to create such interest. At the end, a prefect helped me out with my equipment. He said my stand was by far the most fun. Good job done I think. If even once of those young people take to heart what I've said. Then the word is definitely getting out.
6 comments:
This is SO wonderful! I would love to do something like this about doulas. Anything to make kids see birth is normal. :) Good for you. Love your poster choice. I don't think that would fly in the US.
Awesome stand! I am impressed indeed.
I love the boob poster. Classic. Absolutely classic.
Sounds like a lot of fun, Lisa!
Nice to see our wonderful posters did the trick for you. For others who want to make a splash with a powerful message, the posters of the breasts (one of the breastfeeding promotion charts - check out the others!) and the woman giving birth can be found on our website www.birthinternational.com. Everything we sell promotes midwifery, natural birth and woman-centred care.
Thanks Andrea, This was picked up by another blog. I commented that you could get them at birth international. Glad you still do them.
Thanks for reminder. Go and look people.
Lovely job with the career fair. As I read your blog, though, I kept thinking this would NEVER work in the States. While most families would not object, there would be a few very VOCAL opponents who would make a splash in the news and next thing you know you'd be touted as some crazed porn-monger. Glad to see there are still level-headed folks somewhere in the world...
That seems very extreme Samara, Getting the word out about birth is so important, I didn't even consider that it would be a problem. The picture of a baby's head crowning probably wouldn't go down too well in America either then. The teenagers were fascinated. Plus for anyone wanting to be a midwife they should at least have some idea of the anatomy of a woman.
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