Meet the Mothers

Meet the women grabbing back the reins of choice.

Amanda Douge

AFI AWARD WINNING ACTRESS

AFI award winning actress, Amanda has appeared in films, television series and on stage in Australia, the UK and America. Amanda shares her first pregnancy and home birth journey as it starts in the UK on the NHS and finishes in Australia as part of the Sunshine Hospital home birth pilot program.

Dr Sara Renwick-Lau

Remote Area GP

Sara worked for two years in Arnhem Land, in Australia’s Northern Territory, where isolation means it’s vital to be prepared and to avoid risks. Despite this she still chose an empowering, and totally natural, vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) at home for her second child, with an independent midwife.

Sarah Quinn

mother

Sarah is as 21-year-old mother of two who juggles working and studying part time and looking after her young daughters. Her first birth was in a hospital and for her second she was the second woman to go through the home birth pilot program at Casey Hospital, in Melbourne, Australia.

Johanna Preston

Fashion Designer

Johanna lives in the glamorous world of high fashion as an internationally renowned shoe designer and business woman. Johanna had her three children at home in her studio/residence with her independent midwife.

Noni Hazlehurst

OAM, Actress

One of Australia’s most distinguished and respected actors and winner of four AFI awards, a recipient of an Order of Australia and an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from Flinders University. Passionate about women’s rights, Noni shares her beautiful home birth stories of both her sons.

Vicki Carr

Head Milliner, Australian Ballet

A Croatian Australian, Vicki holds the prestigious position of Head Milliner at The Australian Ballet. Vicki experienced medical complications along her home birth journey, which eventually led to an emergency caesarean. She shares her experience, which she describes as positive because she was able to choose and retain independent, midwife-lead care.

Tanya Kunoth

Mother

Tanya lives in a remote Aboriginal community in central Australia, 270 kilometres from the nearest hospital. She has four children; two were born in hospital and two born ‘on country’ with her care led by the community health service midwife.

Emma Macdonald

political journalist

Emma Macdonald is an award-winning political journalist for The Canberra Times. She writes on a range of issues including education, and social and womens’ affairs. Emma had complications in her first pregnancy which led to a C section – a safe and positive experience for both mother and baby. She would love the debates around childbirth to be better informed and less judgemental.

Birth Stories

Empowering birth stories from 9 women

9 short films ranging in duration from 8 – 20mins. Select an individual birth story or use the play all function to view the complete series as a single film. Featuring over 110 minutes of content, including previously unseen, extended-interview footage, this film is a must-see for anyone expecting a baby, birth professionals or people who just love a good birth story.

"Every woman has the right to be respected, informed and supported to give birth how, where and with whom she feels most safe."
Kate Gorman & Gavin Banks – Co-Directors, The Face of Birth
"I love birth films and Face of Birth is my favourite. I will be recommending it to all my pregnant clients. I can't praise it highly enough".
Laura Jones – Birth Doula, Infant Massage Instructor, Pregnancy Massage Therapist
"I wish I'd seen the movie before I had my three!"
Bron Prescott – BaBS Mildura
"Every woman and her baby deserves a safe and calm entrance into the world. The Face of Birth will open your eyes as to why this is important and how it is possible."
Justine Caines, OAM

Short stories collected during filming of The Face of Birth.

Jo talks about giving birth via caesarean and a homebirth; the vast differences between the two experiences, and the profound effect homebirth has had on her life.