If there is one thing I've learned after writing a play about childbirth in America from the perspective of mothers it's that the story is always right. Who can challenge a woman when she tells the story of how she gave birth? It's her story, right?

No, says one-too-many medical professionals and lay audience people. Coercion in the labor and delivery room is not happening, women are misinterpreting casual comments made like "this baby is a big one" and blowing them way out of proportion, and if they are so traumatized after childbirth why are they not telling their doctors?

I had the privilege of traveling to Fernie, British Columbia in October to see two performances of my play "Birth" and witness first-hand the power and challenges of confronting big questions like these in a small town where everybody knows each other.

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"In a nutshell, my initial desire in 2011 is to raise money, donations, and grants in order to provide at least one midwife-assisted home birth to a woman and her baby that otherwise couldn't afford it. "

If you live in the San Diego area stop by the BOLD Red Tent this weekend to support Melissa and pregnant moms.

We want to give a shout-out to Cecilia Caballero Jeske in Uruguay for overseeing the first Spanish translation of BIRTH. The play is called "Nacer" in Spanish! Cecilia regularly produces theater-for-social-change plays in Uruguay on women's issues. She plans to produce NACER throughout Uruguay, to both  wealthy and poor communities, throughout 2011/2012.

You Rock, Cecilia!