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	mothering media

We proudly present the sights and sounds of Mothering Media, our growing collection of audio and video offerings.

Thin Air Media presents BIRTH
This is the first 20 minute segment of BIRTH, a one-hour documentary about the practices and perceptions of birth in America.

"Your program should be required listening." - Niki, Austin, TX

Mothering Magazine sponsored BIRTH along with Organic Valley, Motherlove Herbal Company, The PRI Program Fund, and The Institute of Noetic Sciences.

"It's moving and smart and I loved how you layered the voices and strung thoughts together. What a monumental editing job." - Tina Cassidy, author of BIRTH: The Surprising History of How We're Born

"A superb audio documentary you have produced." - Dr. Paul Balzer, New Gloucester, ME

"I found it to be both emotionally powerful and empowering." - Jennifer Block, author of Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care

To learn more about BIRTH or to purchase the documentary please visit www.thinairmedia.org

America The Beautiful
The obsession with youth, beauty, and a slim body are having devastating effects on generations of young people who are told by the media and many around them that unless they look like a super model or a rock star, they're not good enough for anyone to love. Who is profiting? This candid documentary provides astounding answers.

Watch the trailer: www.americathebeautifuldoc.com

Autism - The Denial of Harm
A pictorial look at the CDC and others who continue to spin denial regarding autism, Hannah Poling, and the issue of vaccines.

Human Cheese
While a quick Google search yields plenty of legitimate recipes for foods made with breastmilk, this video is a tongue-in-cheek spoof: "human cheese" is presented as a safe, trustworthy alternative to bovine dairy products. It's funny and got us curious—if you've actually cooked with breastmilk, send your recipes to recipes@mothering.com.  

What the World Eats

Check out these fascinating photos documenting the diversity of what families around the world eat in a week.

Ricki Lake on Larry King
Embracing the spotlight as the reigning spokeswoman for normal birth, Ricki Lake shines in this tv interview:    

The band Five for Fighting is generously donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks each time this video is viewed. The funds raised will go towards research studies to help find a cure for autism. When you have a moment, please watch this informative clip, featuring touching photos of a beloved daughter and her family.

The Business of Being Born
Listen to Mothering's Peggy O'Mara interview Ricki Lake about her new birth advocacy film "The Business of Being Born."

Listen

The Right to Breastfeed
This savvy video clip was made for the Ithemba Lethu Breast Milk Bank to promote awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding one's child exclusively for six months—and to highlight the danger baby formula poses infants.

Mothering Monologues
In May, 2006 Mothering's own Peggy O'Mara and Kimber Shining Star wrote and performed personal monologues about their experiences of motherhood, as part of a seven woman show. Facilitated by Tanya Taylor Rubinstein of Project Life Stories, the live stage production (at Santa Fe's Armory for the Arts) was a benefit for the local non-profit organization Many Mothers, and was also a part of Mothering's 30th anniversary celebration. Four of the monologues from this popular show can now be heard here. Please note: due to a minor recording glitch, the very first words of Kimber's monologue are cut. They should be, "You know those stories...."  We hope you enjoy these diverse renderings of our experiences, which had the packed-to-capacity audience laughing, crying, gasping, nodding in recognition, and applauding heartily.

Labor Music
Music can be a valuable inclusion in the birth experience. Having an array of favorite tunes on hand while laboring can help either energize, calm, transport or focus our energies, as needed.  I remember listening to the album Union by Toni Childs—repeating select tracks a few times—while giving birth at home almost 14 years ago. When I hear those songs today, I am filled with a rush of visceral emotion and reverent memory. Check out one dad's thoughtful birth music selections here.

Send song lists from your own labor soundtracks to kimber@mothering.com

Mother and artist Birgit Amadori uses Adobe Illustrator to create gorgeous, powerful digital images of nursing goddesses, women, and babies in her evocative body of work. She explains, "I am very enthusiastic about breastfeeding and I want to show in a non-pressuring way—or so that it is a nice experience—that it is the natural thing to do and that it is beautiful." View her collections and download a free picture book, What Babies Eat at Birgit's site www.breastfeeding-art.com.

You Won't Remember This, by animator Jeff Scher, is the artist's portrait of his son from birth to the age of four. Music composed by Sam Bisbee. Part of Sightlines, a New York Times Op-Ed visual series.

Watch You Won't Remember This

Mothering Magazine Release Party

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Watch Crazy Sexy Cancer.

Video: BIRTH

Check out Act 2, Scene 12 of the Houston performance of BIRTH , Karen Brody's documentary play—which is staged by local groups around the world. Thanks to the actors:

• Julian - Debbie Hull
• Beth - Erin Maxey (in this scene - the husband Ramone)
• Amanda - Miranda Check (in this scene - one of the children)
• Natalie - Elizabeth Bannor (in this scene - Diana the doula)
• Vanessa - Jody Townsley (in this scene - Patty - a friend who is a nurse)
• Sandy - Kelly Coleman (in this scene - the midwife)
• Lisa - Jessica Bishop (in this scene - one of the children)
• Janet - Radhika Balasubrahmanyam (in this scene - Nancy, a girlfriend)

Sponsored by B.I.R.T.H. (Bringing Information and Resources to Houston), a non-profit organization of parents, midwives, physicians, childbirth educators, doulas, professional labor support and lactation consultants. B.I.R.T.H. is working to create the emergence of a Houston community which promotes healthy, natural and safe birth for mothers and babies by providing access to information and resources in person, in print and on-line. They encourage high standards and provide a support network for Houston's birth community.

Watch the video.

Slideshow: Pregnancy, Blessing, and Birth

Watch the slideshow.

Breast Milk Battle

NYC hospital policy may result in more women breast-feeding their babies.

Watch Breast Milk Battle.

Rap music and hip hop culture have a profound influence on the much of the world's youth. Countering the destructive messages commonly associated with the genre, The Figureheads create hip hop with a heart. Rappers Jeremy Bryan and Greg Marshall, along with tracksmith Dave Olson, focus on messages that strengthen families and communities. Kids, parents, and teachers alike connect with danceable beats and inspiring lyrics. Their latest CD, "The Movement" recently won a prestigious "Gold Award" from the Parents Choice Foundation, and a live concert DVD entitled "Keep it Movin" will be available in the fall of 2007.

Learn more about the Figureheads' inspiring story here.

Listen to Windows and T.I.M.E.

Homebirth Slideshow

The London family experiences it's first homebirth, welcoming baby Jasmine with many loving arms.

Mom Patrice notes that her prior experiences with a hospital birth and a birth center birth were part of a progression leading to birthing at home.

Interview

Listen to Mothering's editor and publisher, Peggy O' Mara, in a new interview with Natural Moms Talk Radio.

Homebirth

Share intimate glimpses of the pregnancy and homebirth of baby Olive. Many viewers have commented that this video has inspired and encouraged their own plans for homebirth and/or waterbirth.  Watch this beautiful experience for yourself. Thanks to Jenny and her family for linking permission.

Triplet Homebirth

This 12 minute slideshow chronicles the pregnancy, birth and first six months of the Mathis triplets, who were born at home in September, 2006. Turn up the volume—the images are accompanied by an evocative soundtrack. And please watch the entire show (you might want to consider keeping the tissues handy). Mama Kathryn Mathis says of Mothering, "'I'm an avid board member on the discussion forum and have learned so much from all of you."

More information and updates can be obtained here.

Natural Birth at Home

Nancy Harman, a midwife who works out of her farm in Bear Creek, NC, prepares mother Jennifer DeWolf for the homebirth of her second child, Caroleen. Harman, a nurse midwife, has been doing homebirths in North Carolina since 2002.

Video: BOLD 2007

BOLD (Birth on Labor Day) is a growing global movement to make maternity care mother-friendly. Using a grassroots approach based on similar "theatre for social change" models (V-Day, The Innocence Project), BOLD aims to get communities to educate themselves, speak their truth and take action on maternity care issues.

Every September (and on Labor Days around the world) BOLD supports local performances of Karen Brody's critically-acclaimed play Birth, and/or BOLD Red Tent events. By raising awareness and engaging communities in discussions, BOLD puts mothers at the center of solving their maternity care problems. BOLD asks mothers: what kind of childbirth conditions do you want? What do you deserve?

For more information on organizing a BOLD performance and Talkback and/or Red Tent Event in your community, visit the BOLD website.

Interview: Dr. Randal Neustaedter - Allergies, Eczema and Asthma

Dr. Nesutaedter discusses the holistic approach to treating pediatric allergies, eczema and asthma in this podcast chat with Mothering.

Download

Listen to more Mothering podcasts.

Watch Mother's Day for Peace to celebrate the true meaning of Mother's Day.

Birth As We Know It

Exciting News! The Critically Acclaimed, Award-Winning Film BIRTH AS WE KNOW IT is now available for Pay-Per-View and Instant Download at Grapeflix.com. BIRTH AS WE KNOW IT is an experience like no other which provides pregnant couples invaluable insights into the possibilities of birth, and offers all the opportunity to re-live the miracle of life again and again.

A Mothering Blessing

On a sunny winter Sunday, members of the Mothering staff and friends gathered to hold a blessing for our dear coworker Jen Lesher.These photos offer glimpses into the laughter, tears, hopes and wishes that we shared, in celebrating this first time mama's transition and upcoming birth. Food, rituals, intentions, and gifts were woven throughout, as the loving support of our community showered on us all.

Special thanks to:
Kathleen Chambers, the hostess with the mostess
Peggy O'Mara, for the rousing reading of the poem Chant for Transition
Reeve Taylor, photographer
Laura Egley Taylor, slideshow creator
Cosy Sheridan, musician, for the song "The Land of 10,000 Mothers"
Bryana Guckin of Soft Cloth Bunz, supplier of the diaper cake

Music: Melita Doostan

Mother, singer and songwriter Melita Doostan weaves a sweet, harmonious blend of sounds on her cd Delicate Web. The 16 songs employ a variety of instruments, tones and styles, all highlighted with Melita's uplifting vocals. Delicate Web is a welcome alternative to "kiddie music" yet is truly a collection the whole family can enjoy.

Get cozy and watch heartwarming film footage and interviews gleaned from the weekend's varied events. Amidst the families, fun and festivities, the video also offers a glimpse into Mothering's three-decade history and how our deep roots have grown to fruition. Shot and edited by professional filmmaker (and Mothering fan) Justin Bomberg—who joined us in Santa Fe fresh on the heels of documenting the Rollling Stone's latest tour—this seven-minute montage truly conveys the essence of Mothering and our global community of readers. Mothering's 30th Anniversary Celebration.

Explore the depth and breadth of the parenting experience through spoken word, in audio offerings from the anniversary's poetry reading. Professional poets and dabblers alike, these motherpoets and a fatherpoet gift the listener with their personal expressions.

• Asheba, singing Happy Anniversary Mothering Magazine
• Ana June - Soren and Mirabai
• Anna Kiss - Aleksander
• Anne Valley Fox - Letter to My Firstborn, Poem for My Mother, and Embargo
• Candace Walsh - Grandma Poem
• Miriam Sagan - Dyin', Demeter in Winter, and A Poem About Midlife
• Peggy O'Mara - Origins of Mother's Day
• Peggy O'Mara - My Body, Fourth Child, and Time Still
• Peter Chandler - Raising the Hand of Praise
• Shawna Wentz - The Offering the Power of a Woman's Belly

On the Road with Mothering and Whole Foods Market - The Whole Baby Lecture Series