Articles

*The formatting in some of these articles are currently under construction since upgrading the website. Stay tuned. If you would like to read one of the articles in need of reformatting email sarah@ilithyiainspired.com and I can send you a copy as a word document.

A Guide For Making Placenta Prints
For readers with a great respect and appreciation for the "tree of life" here is a guide for one method of creating artwork you will have to treasure long after your placenta has been returned to the Earth.

A Matter of Trust

This article looks at the importance of trust between birthing women and their care-providers. It includes the testimonies of women whose trust was violated during birth by their care-providers.

A Very Personal Gift
Did you know that breast milk can fly? Mine did! This is my account of my small role in a very special breast milk donation story.

Babywearing, Why Bother?

Why bother figuring out how to wear your baby and choose one of the many baby carriers that are on the market when you can just pop baby into a pram? All the answers to that one question are covered here.

Belly Casting Guide
Want to preserve your beautiful baby bump for years to come? It's easy! Learn how to make a plaster cast of your pregnant belly with this guide, complete with photographs.

Birth "As Seen On TV"

An analysis of how birth is portrayed on television and in film that outlines what the myths and what the realities really are.

Birth Activist Interview
An interview with one of Australia's birth activists, the founder of the dynamic homebirth network Joyous Birth, Janet Fraser.

Birth Keeper
Thoughts on the limits of the word "doula" and the implications of that word in the current maternity system.

Birth, Sex & Risk
An article which compares birth to sex and explores why that is not such a ridiculous comparison. It includes a short play from another birth site which explores the notion of having sex in a hospital to decrease risk.

Birth Trauma Awareness
What is birth trauma? What causes birth trauma? Why haven't a lot of people heard about birth trauma? What can you do to prevent birth trauma? These questions are answered in this article, complete with links to healing and supportive communities for those in need.

Blessingways (Mother Showers)

Pregnancy, birth and motherhood have been celebrated in a variety of ways throughout history, cross-culturally. Blessingways are one re-emerging tradition for women close to giving birth. Feel free to cut and paste this article and send it along with invitations to your own blessingway for friends and family to gain an understanding of what it is you're doing and why.

Breast Cake
A recipe for how to make cakes that look like real breasts. A great idea for a 1st birthday party or blessingway desert!

Breastfeeding And Healing From Sexual Abuse
Breastfeeding can be challenging thanks in large part to the sexualisation of breasts in Western Society, this presents even more challenges for abuse survivors. But it is possible to breastfeed despite a history of abuse, indeed it can be richly rewarding, even healing!

Breastfeeding Beyond Two Years

The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding for two years and beyond. The reality is that breastfeeding is never bad for a child, no matter how old they are. This article outlines some of the reasons why continuing to breastfeed beyond two years is important.

Concerns Regarding Cord Blood Harvesting
This article considers some arguments against harvesting the blood inside babies umbilical cords for stem cell therapy.

Cross-Nursing Support

Cross-nursing is occasional wet-nursing on an informal (sometimes just a once off) basis. This article takes a look at what is involved in cross-nursing support and gives one mother's personal experience of her baby being nursed by a friend.

Doulas Don't Deliver. Nobody Does!
Babies are born. Pizzas are delivered. The article.

Doulas: Mortal Ilithyiai

What is a doula? What is her role in the contemproary maternity system? Is she really necessary? This article answers those questions and more.

Divide And Conquer: Pitting Homebirthers Against Freebirthers
A look at the brilliant tactics mainstream Australia has used to pit homebirthers against one another during a time of uncertaintity for the future of midwife attended homebirth.

Personal is Political
In this article one feminist academic provides an account of her journey toward supporting her pregnant sister in making informed birth choices. It explores the issue of support and what it means to be truly supportive of women.

Routine Interventions In Birth: What A Load Of Shit
This article poses the question: if women can poo unassisted and no body fears the body's ability to eliminate waste, why should there be so much fear about the body's ability to "eliminate" a baby, it's all sphincters opening and pushing.

Those Not Breastfeeding Yet

This article suggests that getting breastfeeding information and support to women who do not yet have children is important.

What Lies Behind Lactophobia

What is it that makes some people so uncomfortable with seeing a woman breastfeed her child? And why is it that some women are reluctant to feed their children in public? One possible explanation is outlined in this article, with suggestions for how to change this unfortunate social reality.

Why We Shouldn't Use The "F Word"
A short and sweet argument in favour of using the term "artificial milk" instead of "forumula" in discussions about feeding children.

Wild Birth

The definition of "wild politics" offered by Susan Hawthorn in her text of the same name is appropriated here to apply to birth.

Witch-Hunter to Obstetrician

A comprehensive investigation into how the contemproary maternity system was born out of the witch-hunt ear of Western history.

You Were Raped, But Let's Talk About My Sex Life
This article looks at how certain responses to discussions about birth rape and birth trauma attempt to silence the voices of survivors. The article includes info on how to tell when someone is attempting to silence a survivor and tips for how to respond appropriately.

Your Childbirth Options

Childbirth options available to Australian women are explained here. Where you can birth and who you can hire to care for you is outlined in each section, including a list of why someone might choose each option.