International Homebirth Symbol Public Selection


At long last, we have recovered most of the damaged files from the computers (and backup) lost in the storms of 2011, and the finalists for the International Homebirth Symbol have been chosen by a panel of birth and babies professionals and mothers alike (see panel members here). They are presented here for your vote. Graphics are drafts and may be brushed up or altered slightly for finalization. Color/shade will also be voted on publicly once the symbol is selected. All are presented here in the same shade for voting purposes only. Artists will remain anonymous to the panel and public until voting is complete. The top symbols will go on to Round Three where they will be voted on and tweaked by a panel of graphic design artists. Polls (with symbols A through P) are located at the top left hand corner of DrMomma.org and are open until Friday night, March 9, 11:59pm EST. You may only vote for one symbol of your choice, but you may change your vote as often as you like until polls close.


A



B



C



D



E



NOTE: Selection E has been removed at the creator's request.
Email DrMomma.org@gmail.com with questions.



F



G



H



I



J



K



L



M



N



O



P



~~~~


Not a homebirth submission... but we adore the birthy tees and onesies at Made By Momma!
Thought you may like them too.



103 comments:

  1. Do we vote here? If so, I vote for graphic O.

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    1. There's a poll in the sidebar of the drmomma page! Looks like O is right behind E right now...I like O the best, too :-)

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    2. I LIKE O TOO!
      OR K...
      ITS NOT LETTING ME VOTE, WAH!

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  2. I just can't decide. I thought there would be a more obvious choice but instead I'm a kinda just wishin' I coulda got in on this competition ... :)

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  3. I LOVE "K"!!!

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  4. D, H or O. Favorite is D :)

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  5. A or D... I think both are simple enough to be a symbol, much like the breastfeeding and genital autonomy, but also literal enough to have the meaning come through.

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  6. I like C, D or E. This is tough!

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  7. I choose O or K.

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  8. I loke O too, because it's a family thing. Even if you don't have a partner, most likely there will be some loved ones surrounding you. It's a family ordeal :) Let's go team O! lol -Corissa

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  9. They are all great, but I think it should be something that makes you think of *birth* at home. Ones like 'O' do not say 'birth'. I vote for I.

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  10. I like F, I think it's the only one except maybe I that actually makes sense. It is clear when you look at it that it means home birth. Without being in the birth community the others, though great, don't make a person associate birth with the home. And some actually look like airplanes, that would be really confusing. Like I said as a homebirther myself many of them are beautiful but would be confusing or give the wrong impression. F makes the most sense.

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  11. C with a caveat it is less gender-ized. It has a home and it is clear birth is involved.

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  12. What about P with a home in between the legs?

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  13. I love O it really makes me think I should have thought of it.

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  14. I am back and forth between D and O :)

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    1. Me too. But then hearing from everyone else, D would fit with more birthing moms. Not everyone has a second person or partner at their birth. So D gets it!

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  15. I love DDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!

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  16. I vote for D.

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  17. I'd like to see the people from O inside the home from L. I think that would be the easiest to understand for people unaware of the symbol's meaning.

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  18. I like E. I have to say though, although I know lots of women have partners/husbands, a lot of us are single mothers by choice or circumstance, so I'm glad there are some options without a husband in them. Lovely symbols!

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  19. D and O they look official.

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  20. On the left-hand side of the this page (scroll up) is where you vote. You'll see little clicker dots next to letters :)

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  21. F but I would have def chosen K if she were in a "house" instead

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  22. F all the way, seems the clearest message

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  23. K is the nicest owing to its beauty and gentleness but there's no Dad on there.

    O is nice because of the Dad factor, but it's a bit simple and blocky.

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  24. I LOVE option O!

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  25. A, all the way! Wonderful symmetry and spacial balance.

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  26. H, B, C in order of preference

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  27. I like A and B the most.. probably B if I had to choose.

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  28. I like I. I don't think O is inclusive enough since there aren't always two parents.

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  29. Am I the only one that thinks it'd be kind of ignorant for the official graphic to be one that is two parents? I just know a whole lot of single moms and it seems like a graphic that was one parent would include single moms AND two parent families. I say this with love of course. <3

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    1. I agree 100%. It would neglect a huge population of women who are trying to birth babies on their own (without a partner or even much support) to choose an official symbol with two parents. Birth happens between a mother and her baby. It is fantastic to have support - and may even make birth easier/better (for some?) but is not necessary and certainly not required to celebrate or be empowered through your birth. Let's not leave out the masses of women who choose to birth at home and do not have this support or a partner.

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  30. I think we should be considering single moms; one of the graphics of just mom and baby would include single moms and two parent families, but a two parent graphic automatically excludes those who are doing it alone. Just trying to make sure everyone can feel the love. <3

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  31. I like a and d for their simplicity, but I think it should have 2 people to differentiate it from unassisted birth.

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  32. F is gives the clearest message that is home birth. However, I think it needs to be "cleaned" up a bit, maybe its the way it was scanned but the edges are a bit wonky, and I think the heart and baby need to be slightly smaller.

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  33. D is perfect! Love it.

    A is also really good. Both are clear depictions of birth in a home and are graphically well designed. Easy to duplicate in a variety of items and uses.

    I is also good! A little less clear maybe. O is wonderful, but it negates so many of the women who birth babies solo or without support (and there are many of us!)

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  34. PLEASE NOTE: NONE of the 'votes' cast as comments will be included in the official count. You must go to the left hand side of this page (if you are on a phone change your view to 'normal' view or 'full page' view) and click on the bubble next to the symbol's letter of your choice. This is the only way votes can be tallied fairly.

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    1. I can't see this poll of which you speak. Not in Safari nor Chrome, even when logged in to Google. There are plenty of icons for various groups and organisations, and some adverts for books, but no poll.

      Could you check that it is actually visible, because I assume most of the people commenting here are doing so because they can't see the poll.

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    2. As noted above in the description, the poll was open until March 6th 11:59pm EST. We will post a screenshot of the poll results. Selection is now in phase three.

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  35. "K" and "O" are my favourites!!

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  36. I love O, but it is not very "single parent" friendly. K is my second fave and perhaps more "to the point".

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  37. A or D! Love them all, really. But A or D are perfect for a symbol that can be used everywhere. Yeah, Homebirth!! :)

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  38. I like A, B and D...I DO NOT like O. As nice as it seems, it leaves out single moms! WTF?????? That is BS.

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  39. D seems inclusive to me, not too busy, and symbolizes love in the home

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  40. I like the inclusiveness of D, it's simple, direct, not too busy, and reflects the love of a happy home

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  41. I'd go with "D" with the more simplistic house shape of "I"

    Both D and I hit the target best, it seems, D being a little more recognizable.

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  42. Tom Megginson, Creative Director with Acart Communications (Ontario) provides a critique of the International Homebirth Symbol potentials and the selection process here: http://workthatmatters.blogspot.com/2012/03/creating-international-symbol-for.html

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  43. I appreciate Megginson's critique, and that of many others. And I find myself agreeing with most. Although I think the majority of those who frequent peaceful parenting, and especially those who are familiar with homebirth, and the potential symbol, are so accustomed to seeing all things birth related that we often find ourselves unable to view symbols like these outside the framework of birth. If someone who was entirely outside the 'birthy' realm, what would they see in image A, for example? Would it be some obscure sex act as Megginson is reminded of? This is one reason it may be important to have 'outsiders' vote as well, or at least provide feedback. And have potential symbols tested, so to speak, in a wider market area -- not that we are selling anything with the use of the symbol. But just to make sure nothing is being overlooked. As a homebirthing mother myself, and someone who works tirelessly in the professional field of birth, I hope the symbol can ultimately be one that we can embrace and find some solidarity in using amongst ourselves at the very least.

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  44. I vote for O!

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  45. C- I like the husband involvement. A few of them look like any other parent at home with their infant.

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  46. PLEASE think outside of your own situation and vote to include SINGLE MOMS or women birthing on their own!

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  47. F seems the most obvious as to what it is.

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  48. avery pendykoskiMarch 09, 2012 10:27 PM

    I like c

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  49. B. Totally agree that O and some of the others are not good for single moms. Mommies birth babies. It's odd that it has become nearly taboo to admit this as though it leaves out fathers. It just is. And even when there are two mommies, one mommy births the baby. It's not offensive or mean or anything else. It just is.

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  50. I like E...it's artistic AND includes mom, dad and baby.

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  51. I like "L" best and surprised it didn't get more votes.
    I do not think a "man" should be pictured. MEN are not integral part of every home birth.
    Women DO NOT NEED MEN to birth at home!
    Obviously.
    If your man was an important part of your homebirth, that's wonderful. But that doesn't mean it has to part of the "international symbol." Way to alienate everyone else.

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  52. I am a military wife. My husband might not be with me for my next home birth. In cases like mine and those of single moms etc, choosing a symbol that features 2 partners is dis-empowering. This is exactly the opposite of what homebirth is about!!!!!

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  53. I vote for O, that one is definitely my favorite!
    And it doesn't have to leave out single moms at all- that could be your doula or midwife there:)

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  54. have to say, when i see A i just see it as the person facing away and the babe on their back, that was my first impression.

    Im surprised H isnt more popular though, its an ellegant beauty. I also like e.

    will there b a round 3?

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  55. I love P but it's not home birth specific enough. So D or C in order of preference.

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  56. F and P. O isolates women who don't have a partner.

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  57. I haven't read all of the comments but I see that O is way out ahead of the rest.... The only thing is that with O there is no representation of birth at all....Two parents in a house holding a baby..... They could have just gotten home from the hospital! ;)~

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