This might not be the crowd you'd expect to see at a rally...
But mothers, children, even newborn babies were part a Labor Day Birth Rally on Gunbarrel road.
Leigh Anne Hancock, Childbirth Educator, says
This is just one of a hundred and ten rallies taking place across forty five states for the organization's first annual National Rally for Change.
Women I talked with an array of childbirth experiences - from induction to completely natural births - but they all support one thing: childbirth education.
And knowing all the facts, they say, helps give women options when it comes to childbirth.
Randi Haynes, an Apprenticing Midwife, was induced at 38 weeks with her first child.
But chose another option after the same recommendation with her second child.
Randi Haynes, Midwife Apprentice, says
"It's important because mothers and babies are important. Their lives are important, their health is important.""We just want women to have evidence based care in childbirth. What that means is they know they're options, they're given all the facts.""I knew the risks associated with induction including the risk of Cessarian Section and that wasn't an option for me. I really wanted to listen to my body and be in tune to my baby and know when it was time."And it's not just ladies here at the Birth Rally. Both Men and Women alike have gathered to advocate that Birth Matters are Family Matters."
Eric Ralston is a mental health care provider and soon to be father himself.
He says birthing methods are a factor in both short and long term mental effects.
"The outcome for the baby is better if they're delivered the way they've been delivered since time began."
For this group of organizers, rallying for childbirth education is a labor of love.
