Resources - Mouvement pour l'autonomie dans l'enfantement

The Ethics of Childbirth: Why Home Birth is a Human Rights Issue

Birth is often seen as a clinical event, a moment to be managed and monitored by medical systems. But at its core, childbirth is an experience shaped by identity, culture, safety, and personal values. The place where someone gives birth isn’t just a location. It’s a symbol of autonomy, representing both a choice and a […]

Dad Is Here: Giving Fathers Their Rightful Place in Pregnancy and Childbirth

A few years ago, a father told me that at the time of his child’s birth, he felt invisible. He was physically there, just a few steps away, but he felt like he was watching his family’s story unfold without being able to truly participate. And he’s not alone. In our discussions about pregnancy and […]

Citizen Panel on the Future of Midwifery: Results and Takeaways

This year, Québec launched one of the most in-depth public consultations on childbirth and midwifery since the province legalized the practice in 1999. These efforts, carried out by the Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM), come at a critical time for the profession, when public interest is growing, but services remain unevenly distributed. Funded by the […]

Why Mental Health Matters at Every Stage of Birth

For many, the journey to parenthood begins not with a positive pregnancy test, but with months – sometimes years – of emotional preparation. Whether someone is navigating fertility challenges, processing a past trauma, or simply adapting to the changes that come with pregnancy, mental health is present at every stage of birth. And yet, it […]

Building Birthing Communities: How Parents’ Committees Shaped Quebec’s Birthing Centers

Parents’ committees have been influencing and transforming midwifery services and birthing centers in Quebec for nearly three decades. Born out of a growing desire for autonomy in the childbirth experience, they have helped create robust community networks ensuring that care remains centered on the needs of users. Their evolution is remarkable: initially present in a […]

Parenting with Purpose: Raising Children in a Family That Advocates Self-Determination During Childbirth

Parenting begins long before a child is born. For families that advocate for self-determination during childbirth, this philosophy naturally extends to how they raise their children—prioritizing independence, body autonomy, and natural health practices. By fostering an environment rooted in these values, parents lay a foundation of trust and empowerment that shapes their children’s growth and […]

La participation des groupes de parents à travers l’évolution des maisons de naissances québécoises (French only)

Ce mémoire examine la participation des usagères dans les maisons de naissance du Québec dans les 25 dernières années, ainsi que les pratiques qui animent la vie communautaire de ces lieux. À partir du cadre conceptuel de la participation ainsi que de l’expérience des femmes et des groupes de parents, il s’agit de comprendre comment […]

La grossesse et l’accouchement à l’ère de la biotechnologie: l’expérience de femmes au Québec (French only)

La technologie associée à ces évènements a crû parallèlement aux mouvements sociaux pour la démédicalisation de la naissance et la réappropriation de la maternité par les femmes, transformant ainsi leurs attentes et la manière dont elles les vivent. À l’ère de la biotechnologie, le vécu des femmes est en mutation. Elles abordent la grossesse avec […]