NEWS RELEASE - Thursday 29 April 2004

Mothers ask for more choices in birth care

On Saturday, May 1, thousands of tiny baby clothes will be hung on clothes lines in King George Square to highlight the lack of publicly funded midwife care for women in Brisbane, and throughout Australia.

The event, organized by the Friends of the Birth Centre, kicks off a week of action around the country, to emphasize the inequality and limited choices women face when it comes to maternity services.

Maternity Coalition Queensland branch spokeswoman Francesca Lejeune says the coalition is proud to support the "Airing our Laundry" day of action.

"Women have historically been expected to be grateful and stay quiet about their maternity care," she said. "This event is about women saying that the quality of their care does matter, and that mothers expect to be recognised as stakeholders in the planning of their services".

About 5000 items of clothing will represent women who have missed out on a place at Brisbane's Royal Women's Hospital Birth Centre since 1996.

"It is hard to understand why a service which has better outcomes and lower costs than standard hospital care can't be provided to all women who ask for it" said Ms Lejeune.

Ms Lejeune said the right to choose a midwife as their lead maternity carer is available to women around the world, but only 1% of Queensland mothers have this choice via the state's two birth centres.

"I've spoken to many New Zealand women who find themselves pregnant in Australia and are flabbergasted that they can't choose a publicly funded midwife for their maternity care."

About 80 percent of women in New Zealand choose a midwife to provide personal care through pregnancy, birth and early motherhood.

Ms Lejeune said the day of action, and others around the country, will bring the issue to the attention of both federal and state governments. "The Queensland Government has recognised that it is time to review their maternity care policies. Now it is time for the Federal Government to recognise its responsibility to ensure taxpayers' money is spent on safe, cost-efficient services that put women at the centre of attention"

Contacts: Francesca Lejeune 3844 3656, 0417 389 565 
               Bruce Teakle 3289 0231, 0438 736 740

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