The British Humanist Association is sponsoring a new DVD, produced by The National Childbirth Trust , showing birth as it has never been seen before. The film combines information and real life stories from real women – including top TV presenter and mother of three, Davina McCall, who tells her personal home birth story.
The new Happy Birth Day DVD is designed to show how women and their partners can help themselves to have the best birth possible. Featuring Alison Hammond, presenter on ITV’s This Morning, it follows two very different women and their midwives through pregnancy and birth, and shows how the choices they make about their care influence the birth they have and the way they feel about it.
The DVD provides parents-to-be with answers about what really makes a difference and why. It explains the options available when making key decisions, such as how to choose where to give birth and who can provide support. These, along with the other choices discussed, are known to have an effect on the sort of birth a woman has. The DVD also discusses how to improve the chances of a straightforward birth.
As one of the 13 organisations sponsoring the DVD, the British Humanist Association has produced a short advertisement, which appears on the DVD in between the documentary-style footage about how parents can prepare for the birth of their baby.
Maryam Namazie, Community Services Officer of the British Humanist Association said:
“We are really pleased to be sponsoring the NCT DVD as we think it important for parents to have all the information and support they need to have the best experience possible. This is very much in line with the naming ceremonies we provide: genuine, unique, personal and truly memorable.”
Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of the NCT said:
“We are thankful for the sponsorship and support of the British Humanist Association in the making of this DVD, which provides genuine, accurate and well-presented information to help parents-to-be make the right choices around the birth of their baby. There is too much existing TV material showing birth as an overly dramatic and traumatic experience, and with labours appearing to last only 5-10 minutes. We want to ensure accurate, evidence-based information is available for women to understand their options. That’s why, the NCT is giving away a limited number of DVDs free with its Bumps and Babies magazine, to make sure all mums have the best chance possible of a Happy Birth Day.”
TV presenter and NCT home birth ambassador, Davina McCall, said:
“I was lucky enough to talk to a good friend when I was expecting my first baby. She talked about birth in such glowing terms that I thought how lovely it sounded so I decided home birth was right for me. My labour and births were very straightforward and really really amazing. Having choices is so important. Whatever your choice is, it’s the right one for you.”
The DVD and magazine are available free-of-charge to any mum to be in the UK . Its production is part of the charity’s aim to enable all parents to have a life-enhancing experience of pregnancy, birth and being a new parent.
To order your copy of Bumps and Babies please contact NCT Enquiries on 0870 444 8707 or order online at www.nct.org.uk. Alternatively, if you have any specific enquiries, questions or concerns relating to pregnancy and birth, you can call the NCT’s Pregnancy and Birth Line on 0870 444 8709 (Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm)
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For more information about the British Humanist Association, please contact Maryam Namazie on 020 7079 3582 or by email
For further information about the NCT, to order a preview copy of the DVD, or to arrange interviews with the mothers or experts in the film, please contact Anna Gardner or Emily Shelton in the NCT Press Office on 0870 770 3238 or email press@nct.org.uk (Out of hours, please call 07722 839428 or Belinda Phipps on 07976 272305)
To see an exclusive preview clip of the DVD journalists can click here