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 What do mothers want? What do mothers deserve? These and other tough questions are explored in Birth, the Vagina Monologues of childbirth. Throughout September, more than 100 benefit performances of the critically acclaimed play by Karen Brody, Birth, will take center stage as part of Birth On Labor Day (BOLD), a global movement to make maternity care mother-friendly. Performances are followed by a talkback session with professionals from the birth community.
Similar to The Vagina Monologues' success around the world in raising awareness of violence against women, BOLD performances of Brody's play have more than doubled in number since last year and are being performed in communities around the world as part of a movement to improve birthing options and safety for mothers. In 2006, BOLD's first year, performances of Birth raised over $10,000. This year BOLD expects that number to more than triple.
Created by mother, BOLD founder, and playwright Karen Brody, Birth has been called "the naked truth about childbirth" by City Lights Theatre Company in San Jose, California. The story of eight women, Birth delivers a theatrical experience that melds the unbridled hilarity, the unexpected poignancy, and the tragic truth about power in maternity care today.
The cast represents the birthing spectrum from liberal, "My body rocks!"-bleating Amanda to strong-willed, no-nonsense Vanessa to career-driven Beth, violated Natalie and even angry, somewhat deflated Lisa. But at the cornerstone of each story lies personal choice. And Janet's epidural, Jillian's home birth, and Sandy's cesarean section are all on display without judgment.
More than 30 cities have embraced the play as part of BOLD's mission to make maternity care mother-friendly. Beginning Labor Day weekend and throughout the month of September, Birth will be performed in cities around the world including Amsterdam, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Maui, Ontario, San Diego and Seattle. Find tickets for perfomances in your area or visit http://www.birthonlaborday.com/bold/bold2007.html for all performance locations. Proceeds will benefit local, national and international charities working to improve maternity care.
"Maternity care today simply isn't mother-friendly," Brody says. "In many communities, pregnant mothers are faced with few options that support low or no-intervention birth choices; in other communities, women feel they went with the standard medical care and were treated poorly. BOLD encourages all people attending performances to learn the truth about childbirth, understand where power lurks in their maternity care system and make informed birth choices."
Brody adds, "Can a play improve maternity care? It not only can - it is."
It's time to start changing maternity care so it works for mothers. BOLD is leading the way.
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