“Why do mothers have to fight so hard for what feels so right?”

The Pacific Mother Film is a magnificent birth documentary released in 2023. It follows the birthing experiences of mothers in Japan, Hawai'i, Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Aotearoa. It was largely inspired by the question "“Why do mothers have to fight so hard for what feels so right?” by Sachiko Fukumoto. You can read more about the film on their website: https://www.pacificmotherfilm.com and their instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Je7oRvAsR/?img_index=1

We also reviewed a significant development in our Hawai'i birth politics landscape. The Hawai'i attorney general has answered questions and clarified issues regarding midwifery regulations. Spoiler alert- this means major implications for non immediate family, friends and unlicensed providers (grandmas, doulas, birth attendants) giving any childbearing advice. The full letter can be read here: https://ugc.production.linktr.ee/30be8bf3-e954-46dd-aff7-91409e947536_AG-Letter-.pdf