Birth Network National
BirthNetwork National (BNN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit grassroots organization that focuses on mother-friendly maternity care, as outlined by the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI). BNN was formed in October 1999 in Oakland County, Michigan by five mothers who were unhappy with their birthing processes. Members are involved among 23 BNN chapters in 11 states, with new chapters created annually.
A partial list of the BirthNetwork chapters include: Alabama; Alaska; Northwest Arkansas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; South Denver, Colorado; Greater Hartford, Connecticut; Brevard, Florida; Northwest Florida; Columbus, Georgia; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Louisiana; Baltimore, Maryland; Massachusetts; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Macomb, Michigan; Oakland County, Michigan; Southwest Michigan (which includes meetings in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph); Missouri; Nevada; South Jersey, New Jersey; Hudson County, New Jersey; Buffalo, New York; North Carolina; Akron, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Nashville, Tennessee; Texas.
Their Core Philosophies include:
- Birth is a normal, healthy process, not an illness or disease
- Empowering births can take place in birth centers, hospitals and homes
- Women are entitled to complete and accurate information on their full range of options for pregnancy, birth, post-partum and breastfeeding
- Women have a right to make health care decisions for themselves and their babies. That right includes Informed Consent as well as Informed refusal.
Read more about Birth Network National: Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative
Famous quotes containing the words birth, network and/or national:
“My demon,
too often undressed,
too often a crucifix I bring forth,
too often a dead daisy I give water to
too often the child I give birth to
and then abort....”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“How have I been able to live so long outside Nature without identifying myself with it? Everything lives, moves, everything corresponds; the magnetic rays, emanating either from myself or from others, cross the limitless chain of created things unimpeded; it is a transparent network that covers the world, and its slender threads communicate themselves by degrees to the planets and stars. Captive now upon earth, I commune with the chorus of the stars who share in my joys and sorrows.”
—Gérard De Nerval (1808–1855)
“Mr. Christian, it is about time for many people to begin to come to the White House to discuss different phases of the coal strike. When anybody comes, if his special problem concerns the state, refer him to the governor of Pennsylvania. If his problem has a national phase, refer him to the United States Coal Commission. In no event bring him to me.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)