1. Debrief with relief
Sometimes after a challenging birth it might feel like we need to tell our story to everyone we meet - looking for validation. One of the biggest moments for a woman can be telling her story to the RIGHT people. People who know that birth matters. People who might have been there themselves. People who know that the definition of ³Healthy Mother and Baby² extends beyond just physical health. And often, after telling their story, or hearing another woman sharing similar experiences, there is room for change, and growth. Debrief with relief in these small groups led by a midwife/health care professional and supported by other women who have travelled the journey.

2. How Do I Heal?
Making Peace With Your Birth : Tools for Processing
It can seem daunting, standing at the beginning of this healing journey, or even part-way down the track. But many women have gone before you, and have much wisdom to offer. It IS possible to make peace with your birth, and gain clarity about your experience. You don't always have to feel such an intensity of emotions about "what happened" when your little one arrived. We will look at tools women have used to come to terms with their birth and heal/strengthen their relationships with their babies, their partners and themselves.

3. Being with Birth
a DVD presentation by midwife Vicki Chan
Scared of birth? Never seen a good birth? Women have told us they do not get to see positive births like the ones we speak of in Birthtalk. So we would like to offer them this opportunity to be immersed in birth through the powerful images and soundtracks of these amazing DVDs created by Vicki Chan and Nic Edmonstone.

We believe it is so important for women who have had a challenging birth to know what birth can be like. We want women and their partners to see that NORMAL birth is completely different to what happened to them, so women can see what they are grieving for, and use that insight in processing their experience. And so they can find renewed hope in women's ability to birth. And just be enveloped in the sights and sounds of birth without fear and with support.

4. A Better Birth Next Time - how?
Do you want a birth where safety is paramount? Do you want a birth where you can feel strong, happy, and confident afterwards? Then you want a Better Birth.

A Better Birth is not about trying to control the actual event of childbirth. It is about walking away from your birth feeling strong, positive, and confident, regardless how your birth unfolds. It is about knowing what things are important in birth if you want to get those good feelings.

Debby Gould has been running Birthtalk's "The Path to a Better BirthTM" course for the past 4 years. In this workshop she will provide an overview of the conditions women can set up that best promote a better birth.

Topics include : Support people (who will help you birth & what they need to know); An understanding of our health system & how decisions are made (this is need to know information for partners too); Which questions to ask to gain enough information to be involved in decisions (make your decisions from knowledge, not fear or misinformation).

5. What Women Need : achievable changes in care
This workshop is geared towards policy makers, health professionals and parents collaborating for improvements in maternal health delivery. Here we will provide the opportunity to reflect on the information gleaned from the morning¹s presentations. We will investigate ways to meet women's needs and discuss achievable changes in care in our current system. A necessary and empowering workshop facilitated by Debby Gould, from Birthtalk and Lynne Staff, midwife from Selangor.