NEWS RELEASE Friday May 2 2003

Women & Midwives Celebrate International Midwives Day May 5th 2003

The NSW Branch of the Maternity Coalition joins the NSW Midwives Association in celebrating International Midwives Day on Monday May 5.

Consumers of maternity services across NSW are joining forces with midwives to send a clear message to NSW Health and to the Government, women want the care of a known midwife. said Ms Caines, NSW President of the Maternity Coalition.

There has been a clear commitment from the Carr Government with the Families First initiative. The Government realises that early intervention is a must. Women need early and ongoing access to midwives. The NSW Midwives Association joins the Maternity Coalition in seeking a genuine commitment from the Carr Government to develop community midwifery now, so that women are able to form a relationship of trust with their primary midwife." said Ms Brodie, President of the NSW Midwives Association.

"The withdrawal of services provided by GP's and Specialist Obstetricians in regional units is highlighted as a crisis. Midwives have always been able to care for women through pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, they are in-fact considered experts in normal birth by the World Health Organisation; the most appropriate and cost effective carer for healthy women (over 80%)" said Ms Brodie.

"By implementing community midwifery across NSW we will

• Attract former midwives back and retain many who are dissatisfied with the current system of maternity care that often does not satisfy women or midwives
• Reduce the huge over-servicing that results in high levels of maternal morbidity and has led to growing numbers of women with post-natal depression and problems in adjusting to mothering
• Stop the growing number of women who are forced to give birth away from their home and family support
• Make an attempt to provide NSW women with international best practice care, care that currently only 1% of NSW women can access" said Ms Caines.

"Urgent action is required by the NSW Health Department to ensure that suitable models of care are available to all women. The NSW Midwives Association supports the right of all women to choose their practitioner of choice, place of birth and suitable model of care. The Association also believes the majority of women are not completely informed on the evidence demonstrating the benefits of midwifery led care. " said Ms Brodie

In countries such as New Zealand, the UK, the Netherlands and Scandinavia where access to midwifery models of care is available, women report greater satisfaction with their maternity care. Women who choose midwifery care enjoy significantly better health outcomes that include lower caesarean section rates and fewer newborn complications. The Netherlands has the best maternal and newborn health statistics in the world as well as the highest home birth rate.

"The Carr Government and NSW Health say they are putting "Families First". Midwifery care is proven to the most effective care for the vast majority of women, please Mr Carr provide NSW women with best practice maternity care" said Ms Caines

Media Contacts:
NSW Midwives Association: Pat Brodie: 0404468224
Maternity Coalition NSW Branch: Justine Caines 0408 210273

P.O. Box 1190
Blackburn North,
Victoria 3130
Australia