NEWS RELEASE Wednesday August 24 2005
Breaking the Childbirth monopoly

It's time to break the current doctor-led monopoly on childbirth by giving midwives their proper place in maternity services so women can finally get back their childbearing rights said Maternity Coalition.

National President of Maternity Coalition, Leslie Arnott said, "There is absolutely no logical reason why general practitioners and specialist obstetricians should have sole rights to provide basic maternity care for Australia's women."

"Not only does this situation deny choice to women during the highly significant and intimate life event of childbearing, but it also denies their basic human rights."

The World Health Organisation advocates that midwives are the appropriate maternity care providers for healthy women.

"Women are increasingly conscious that if they birth in a standard hospital's maternity ward controlled by medical practitioners they are at risk of higher levels of unwarranted medical intervention," said Ms Arnott. "In these settings women cannot request to have a midwife as their primary carer and midwives are not able to offer their full scope of practice."

"Providing midwifery primary care as a choice within public health maternity services is not about role or task substitution," says Ms Arnott. "It is about providing women with access to care that best suits their individual needs."

Midwives, like general and specialist obstetricians, are trained to provide birth care. Midwives' scope of practice focuses on healthy women experiencing normal pregnancy. When a midwife detects a deviation from the norm, they consult with and/or refer to an obstetrician.

Medical evidence supports the good outcomes achieved in midwifery led units and birth centres, as well as the preference many women have for a midwife as primary carer whether it is at a hospital, birth centre or in their homes.

"Pregnancy and childbirth is a unique and intimate experience for women," said Ms Arnott.
"There is no one size-fits-all model of care when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth.

"Integrated maternity services that offer midwifery and obstetric models of care is the best approach to safe and responsible maternity care for all women, no matter where they live", says Ms. Arnott.

"We call on the decision-makers in the health sector to get back to basics - consult with women about their needs and find ways to meet these needs instead of creating services that are designed to be 'convenient' for the institution and its doctors."

For more information contact: Leslie Arnott on 03 9817 3118 or 0412 707 001

BACKGROUND

" Maternity care represents a significant proportion of the nation's health budget. Every year, over 250,000 women have babies. With an average 3-5 day hospital stay this translates to around one million bed days annually for routine maternity care.

" About 80% of all births occur in metropolitan areas. Over half of these births are in metropolitan public hospitals.

" It is feasible that within five years midwives could provide primary care for between 15-20% of women giving birth each year in metropolitan and rural public maternity services, while supporting the same good outcomes, and being more cost effective than current service delivery.

" There is an increasing caesarean surgery rate. Every caesarean procedure costs at least three times more than an uncomplicated vaginal birth and increases risk in subsequent pregnancies.

" Midwives providing primary care to women have been proven to support higher rates of normal births and increase women's positive experiences of childbirth.

" A range of maternity care options for all women in Australia, wherever they live, is readily available for government to provide. The Maternity Coalition has developed a viable plan in consultation with women and health professionals. The National Maternity Action Plan can be viewed at www.maternitycoalition.org.au

" Maternity care is an essential service. Greater options in maternity care do not require more spending. Better use of the existing midwifery and obstetric workforce and resources would be more cost effective and provide a full range of birth options for all women.

" Keeping birth in communities creates the best environment for strong support networks to assist new parents cope with the demands of childrearing.