Video Winners from Birth Matters/Virginia

Birth Matters/Virginia is a group of parents and professionals who support women and families in making informed choices about birth. BM/V works to empower women in discovering their inherent feminine strengths during the transformational experience of childbearing and birth.

Recently BM/V sponsored an international video contest about maternity and delivery care. The United States ranks 41st world-wide in maternal mortality, and the U.S. cesarean rate is over 30%! Now, more than ever, it is important for women to educate themselves about their birth options.

The video topics included personal birth stories, the role of doulas, midwifery care, cesarean sections, birthing in an Amish community and birth in Ireland. Each video carried a message about how changes are needed in the way our culture/s relate to pregnancy and birth. Nearly 40 videos were received, and they have had nearly 1 million views on YouTube.

The judges were all mothers, from various backgrounds, some working in the birth field professionally - all united by the vision of change. Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein from The Business of Being Born and Dr. Sarah Buckley (gentle choice adovocate and family physician) joined the judging.

Here are the winners, and links to their videos. (YouTube requires that viewers be at least 18 yrs. old.)

First prize went to Ragan Cohen of California for her piece "Prevent Ceasarean Surgery." Dr. Buckley called it "myth-busting."

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?&next_url=/watch%3Fv%3DEZy0JPtubiQ

Laura Alvarez's "The Nature of Natural Birth." Her second place winner is a combination of valuable information and gorgeous photos of home births. Alvarez is from Wisconsin.

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?&next_url=/watch%3Fv%3DOrIPtVEjVnc

"Misconception" by Becky Carey of Virginia won the Honorable Mention. The judges noted its conversational tone, original music and authentic women's wisdom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxRmVciXy-g


For more info, visit BirthMatters/Virginia here:

www.birthmattersva.org

photo: http://api.ning.com/files/WWr3SEnP8RZTimEbYIRBp5TMmLy4VZx2c9EOj023XbB85-HT9rcnoKjGFXn0209r46gqCozyfnfhWfHU4tHsK7kSp4S4YSQ5/pregnancy.jpg