Media Release

MOTHERS, MIDWIVES CALL FOR END TO BIRTH WITH STRANGERS

WOMEN & MIDWIVES CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL MIDWIVES DAY, MAY 5TH 2003

Pregnant women across Australia are joining forces with midwives to send a clear message to state and federal health ministers that women want the care of a known midwife.

Peak bodies, the Australian College of Midwives and the Maternity Coalition are celebrating International Midwives Day on Monday May 5 by calling on state and federal health ministers to give women greater access to maternity services that offer women the choice of having a primary midwife care for her from early in pregnancy through till after the baby is born.

"Giving birth is a very personal and private thing to do" said Dr Barbara Vernon, President of the national consumer group, the Maternity Coalition. "Women want to be cared for in labour by someone they know and trust. Yet we are routinely depriving women of this basic need by forcing them to give birth in front of complete strangers with dangerous consequences."

The lack of continuity of midwifery care doesn't only hurt pregnant women. The lack of opportunity for midwives to practise according to the internationally accepted definition of a midwife-providing women with continuity of care-is contributing to a crisis in the numbers of midwives working. More midwives are now leaving the profession that are choosing to join it creating a drastic shortage in most States.

"There has been no clear commitment from any state or Federal government to develop community midwifery, a model of care that enables continuity of midwifery care, whereby women form a relationship of trust with their primary midwife. This is achievable, sustainable and fundamentally what women want." said Ms Vanessa Owen, National President of the Australian College of Midwives Inc.

"The withdrawal of services provided by GP's and Specialist Obstetricians in rural and 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; and as the most appropriate and cost effective carer for healthy women (over 80%)" said Ms Owen.

"We know from clinical trials that when women give birth in the care of a midwife they know and trust, they have a much better time of things during labour than if they are cared for by lots of different people they've never met" said Dr Vernon. "It's madness that our maternity services fail to give women this option".

"Urgent action is required by state and Federal Health Departments to ensure that suitable models of care are available to all women. The Australian College of Midwives Inc supports the right of all women to choose their practitioner, place of birth and suitable model of care. The College also believes the majority of women are not completely informed on the evidence demonstrating the benefits of midwifery led care." said Ms Owen.

In countries such as New Zealand, the UK, the Netherlands and Scandinavia where access to community midwifery models of care is widely 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 . Australia is now falling behind the rest of the world.

"Continuity of midwifery care, with medical backup for women who need it, is proven to be safe.. It also leads to better outcomes and is cost effective. We call on all state and federal governments to ensure Australian women are able to access this type of care." said Dr Vernon.

Media Contacts: 
Australian College of Midwives Inc: Vanessa Owen 0417 544 824 
Maternity Coalition: Barbara Vernon 0407 481 633

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