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 The Pink
Package
Review by Michelle Carrucan
New preparations for your birthing body is a multi-media kit that has been created by the Common Knowledge Charitable Trust. Nick-named 'The Pink Kit', it consists of a book, a video-tape and an audio-tape. Based on the work of Wintergreen, this information has previously only been available at workshops. The aim of 'The Pink Kit' is to develop pregnant women's knowledge of their bodies to assist in preparation for childbirth. The kit is for use by pregnant women and their partners either with or without the guidance of their midwife. The video and book, to be used in conjunction with each other, begin with a body mapping exercise whereby women can learn the shape of their own pelvis. Through use of the analogy of a clock, women can visualise the parts of their pelvis. This is followed by suggestions on how women may achieve open positions during labour and birth as well as ways the woman's partner or midwife can assist. Other sections of
the book and video cover the issues of pain and tension in labour, massage and 'what if?' scenarios. There is also a new look at the use of breath during labour. One point to note is that the information in the kit is not only for use in the natural birth setting but also effective in its use in women who are immobilised by epidural anaesthesia.
The 'kit' is presented in a way that is easily understandable for women, and carries the powerful message that birth belongs to women [even if it needs to be reclaimed by them]. A delightful twist is the renaming of the Pouch of Douglas to the Pouch of Ms. Douglas. The audio-tape uses the pelvic clock exercise to guide women to become familiar with the internal muscles and soft tissues of the perineum so as to learn to relax this area. [This is a much different exercise from perineal massage]. Since purchasing 'The Pink Kit', it is constantly out on loan to my clients, with many positive comments made to me about its usefulness. Recently, after listening to the tape and doing the internal work, a client commented to me that she thought she was well prepared for 2nd stage but after doing the internal work, she realised that the sensation of second stage would be much different than what she was expecting. In my practice, I have used the pelvic
manoeuvres, with success, since 1997. For midwives wishing to purchase birth preparation material for their clients, 'The Pink Kit' covers it all in a unique way. It also provides valuable new skills for that should be part of every midwife's kit.
Michelle Carrucan
Midwife, Melbourne.
Birth Issues 2003:12(1/2):42
Available from CAPERS - buy
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