Live saving interventions. Unnecessarians. Orgasmic births. Pitocin. Breathing Your Baby Out. Ring of Fire. VBAC. Water Birth. Vaginal Breech Births. “Due” Dates. Induction Seduction. Doulas. Doctors. Midwives. Mother-Friendly Maternity Care.

Don’t you wish there was a place where we could just talk . . . about EVERYTHING BIRTH? Thanks the the BOLD Network, there is.

OLD Fort Worth is presenting a day of focusing on mother-friendly childbirth choices on September 23-24, 2011. Theatre goers will gather to see the DFW premiere of Birth, a play by Karen Brody, and a Birth Fair will offer new, expectant and future mothers access to professionals and companies who follow the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative.

So, what’s this play about?

After interviewing over one hundred women about their birth experiences, author Karen Brody was inspired write a play based the true accounts of a select few.

“I’ve chosen eight women’s stories” she says. “That was the hardest part — choosing only eight. An impossible task. What about women who give birth to stillborn babies at seven months? Birth from a blind woman’s perspective? Women who give birth in prisons? Some birth stories had to be dropped. I chose the most typical ones I heard; the most common themes. Namely: epidurals, cesareans and natural births.”

I wish I could say more from personal experience, but Micah was just a few weeks old when I took him to the premier. This means, of course, that I was incredibly late (first time out with my newborn), and it also explains why we spent the majority of our time in the lobby overcoming technical difficulties related to poop and puke.

The true stories she selected do seem intriguing, though:

In the play we meet Jillian, a stay-at-home mother of four children, who always sees the humor in life, especially in her mixed-bag of birth experiences; and Beth, a 35-year-old successful, high-powered computer systems manager from New Jersey who confidently planned a cesarean.

We are introduced to Vanessa, a buyer for a major department store who never had a doubt that she wanted an epidural. . . and Lisa, an African-American who felt intimidated and used by her midwives and the medical system after her birth.

We get to know Sandy, who thought birth was “just one day,” but found out that having an emergency c-section on that day changed her world. We hear Natalie’s intimate story of physical betrayal; and Amanda, an athletic, confident stay-at-home mother who believed her birthing mantra–”My Body Rocks”–gave her the attitude she needed to give birth naturally in the hospital.

Tell YOUR Story

Following each performance there will be a TalkBack Session. Share your story, your frustrations, your concerns. Make a t-shirt with your mantra on it if you want. I don’t know what mine would be, but it would definitely have to include a reference to puke while ending with “most awesome thing I have done . . . EVER!” Not very catchy, but true.

Take a Friend!

This is the perfect “Girl’s Night Out”, so take your bestie, your mom, your sis. It will be an even to remember. Plus, they’re giving away 500 goody bags. I got a cute stripey pair of Babylegs in my bag last year! Also, check out the Birth and Family Expo and Silent Auction. They have $11,000 in products up for bid to benefit TCBN.

Now, The Details

Showtimes:

Friday, September 23 @ 7:00 pm

Saturday, September 24 (Crybaby Matinee) @ 2:00 pm

Saturday, September 24 @ 7:00 pm

Tickets:

Tickets are on sale at several locations in and around Tarrant County, including several Birth Centers and Chiropractors’ offices.  Tickets can also be purchased online and picked up at Will Call.  They are on sale for $10 each and will be $15 at the door.

Leave a comment below for a chance to win two free tickets complements of the Tarrant County Birth Network (TCBN), which is sponsoring the play. For additional entries, share this post on Facebook or Twitter and leave another comment letting me know. The contest will end this Thursday at midnight so get the word out!!!

 And the winner is Jan!! Congrats! Please fill out my contact form with your full name and I’ll have your ticket waiting at will-call.