Today a few politicians have mentioned support for homebirth. Both Jamie Briggs and the greens in this media release.

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 31st July 2009

Greens will move to protect women’s right to choose safe homebirth

The Greens will move in the Senate to protect the rights of women to choose safe homebirths if the Government does not change its proposed legislation, Australian Greens health spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

The Greens will move amendments to legislation on midwife services when it comes into the Senate in the coming weeks to ensure that mothers continue to have the option of a homebirth with the assistance of a registered midwife, without incurring huge financial penalties.

The Greens’ amendments will allow private midwives to continue to provide safe, low risk homebirth services in full collaboration with obstetricians and other health services. The Government legislation as it stands will effectively make it illegal for a qualified midwife to attend a homebirth in Australia and imposes heavy financial penalties for the midwife,” Senator Siewert said.

This will be dangerous for mothers and babies. It flies in the face of international trends in maternity care and appears completely inconsistent with the Government’s stated policy of providing pregnant women with greater choice and less interventionist maternity care.

As it stands, the legislation will ostracise a vital part of our health provision in the community. Independent midwives are providing an outstanding service for mothers who choose to give birth to their baby at home. What this legislation will do is drive them underground – we’ll see a return to the dark days of unsupervised childbirth, malpractice and the appalling tragedies that will undoubtedly follow.

The Greens broadly welcomed the Government’s proposals to modernise maternity services.
Including midwives in the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a significant step forward and we welcome the proposed Commonwealth-supported professional indemnity insurance (PII) scheme, but it must include all midwives and safe birthing options,” Senator Siewert concluded.

In line with government thinking however they have reiterated the collabrative point of view.

I get the impression that collaboration means an Obstetrician rubber stamping who can and can’t employ a midwife for homebirth with a final decision made on issues such as testing, post dates, monitoring, antibiotics etc.

This also assumes that:

1. Midwives refuse to collaborate.
2. The woman has no say, it’s the professional who carries all responsibility for the pregnancy and final instructions on who is allowed to do what.

Neither of these things are true. Collaboration is initially with the client, explanations so the woman knows ALL FACTS no bias involved. If she decides that it’s the right way to proceed then opinion is sought with a specialist in complexities – an Obstetrician. I have up to now experienced assistance and understanding in the antenatal period from sympathetic Obs with a great understanding of a woman’s choice with the need to remain safe.

Collaboration often happens for a back up booking if the clients wants one, blood tests from a GP if necessary, ultrasound etc etc.

Collaboration happens on a regular basis with colleagues both local and interstate as we all gain opinions from experienced practitioners and other specialists in normal birthing.

Collaboration shouldn’t mean a medic having the final say over a woman’s body and her human right to chose. It shouldn’t be what it means for the government and legislation either.

Is this why Nicola refuses to budge? Midwives and women don’t want to be controlled and they have cleverly wrapped it up in the propaganda that maverick, cowboy midwives always go it alone killing women and babies at every turn.

Collaboration can also work well at transfer. All it takes is a margin of respect. Transfer is occasionally necessary and in an open and accepting environment it goes very well, keeping the woman at the centre of information and decision making. Women often feel that even after transfer and a section, when they are informed consulted and respected that their experience isn’t one of despair.

A great collaboration

With continuity of care from a midwife, early discharge into a safe home environment is swift and then all can get on with the serious business of family, and of course placenta prints. Something that no amount of collaboration will make any system understand.

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1. Collaboration and the midwife
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4. Government Reform for Midwifery
5. Senate Findings on Homebirth