In-Conversation with Dr Catherine Bell

In an increasingly pressured maternity system, our student midwives are inadvertently taught to ‘gain consent,’ without guidance on what to do if a woman does not consent. Shared Decision-Making in practice is ‘directed decision-making’ and is far too often left to the moment rather than discussed hypothetically during pregnancy. This leads to burnout, trauma and higher than necessary intervention rates.
The evidence unequivocally demonstrates that compassion is a powerful tool that improves patient outcomes, reduces care provider burnout, and reduces system costs. Enter The Birth Map.

Join us as we gather at the gorgeous MacKenzie Quarters to explore Birth Cartography with Catherine Bell.
Date: Wednesday 12th February 2025
Time: 5.00pm until 8.00pm
Venue: 12 MacKenzie street, Bendigo, Victoria

Catherine Bell is a Mother, consumer advocate, and Master of Science Communication about to complete her PhD evaluating her book, The Birth Map.
During her training as a birth doula, breastfeeding educator and counsellor, the lost information that all mothers need during pregnancy, labour, birth and beyond was revealed and Catherine felt compelled to improve the woeful communication in maternity services. She was frustrated at the need-to-know nature of the maternity system and the limited information provided when facing decisions.
Catherine felt that the ‘birth plan’ template she was given during her training was inadequate and restrictive, so she expanded it and accidentally wrote a book, which became the subject of her PhD, called The Birth Map. This book evolved out of the questions she wished she had asked when she had her children- if I had known X, I would have made a different decision. She developed a process around the book called Birth Cartography, which gives some structure in a way that a birth plan does not.
To facilitate this journey, Catherine created The Game of Birth, which works like a choose your own adventure and is based on the outcomes in the annual AIHW Mothers and Babies Report. The PhD study shows that Birth Cartography has the potential to improve birth for women, their partners and the care providers. A simple revolution which takes us from an informed consent model into a supported decision making one. Woman-led Maternity: where care providers work together to support women, assist as needed and honour and respect the immensity of matrescence.

What to expect:
Beginning with a grazing table and casual connection on arrival, Catherine will present the findings of The Birth Map Study and the ways The Birth Map can improve communication, experiences and decision making in maternity services. Then, she will share with you - for the first time - the new and improved Game of Birth. Together, we will play the game and discover the pathways of preparation. Catherine’s book The Birth Map will be available for purchase on the night and book signing opportunities will conclude the night.