Senator Meg Lees
Independent Senator for South Australia

MEDIA RELEASE

The Solution to the Maternity Services Crisis is
More Choice for Women

In lending her full support to the National Maternity Action Plan launched at Parliament House today, Independent Senator, Meg Lees, said the simple answer to Australia's maternity service crisis is offering women more choice in their birthing options.

Senator Lees said the Federal Government has made choice its priority in a range of areas including superannuation and education, but refuses to provide birthing choice to pregnant women.

"The National Maternity Action Plan is about freedom for women to choose how they are supported during their pregnancy and during the birth of their child," said Senator Lees.

"There is very little opportunity in Australia to choose what most women around the world are able to access - their own midwife as the primary caregiver during pregnancy, birth and the important first few weeks of the baby's life.

"There is overwhelming evidence that community midwifery programs such as the one in the northern suburbs of Adelaide and in Fremantle, WA, offer the best outcomes for women and their babies and they save around $1000 per birth.

"Maternity services primarily delivered by midwives are safer; rates of intervention are significantly lower; and the rates for breast feeding significantly higher; Indigenous babies in particular seem to benefit, with fewer being born underweight.

"Every State, Territory and Commonwealth Government report on maternity services for the past 20 years has recommended the enhancement of midwifery care.

"Women know a good service when they see it so the small number of community midwifery programs which do exist cannot cope with the demand and are turning women away every day.

"In Australia we are locked into an intervention prone medical model for having our children. Australia has one of the highest rates for caesarean section in the developed world. In stark contrast, 70% of women in New Zealand choose a midwife as their primary carer.

"It's time for the Government, with the support of all Members of Parliament, to take on the vested interests in the health system and push for modern, appropriate services for women.

"I urge all Members of Parliament to read and consider the adoption of The National Maternity Action Plan in order to bring Australia into line with internationally recognised best practice, to improve outcomes for mothers and babies and to provide much needed choice for pregnant women," Senator Lees concluded.

Media requests: Kerrie Thornton 02 6277 3203 or 0438 816 376
24 September 2002