My name is Sara-Jayne C. I am a young Mother to 2 beautiful little Women both born into a failing hospital system in Townsville, North Queensland. I am also a 1st year Direct-Entry Bachelor of Midwifery student who aspires to be and am working towards becoming, an Independent Midwife.
I write to you today in two minds. One of which speaks from the Midwife within me. However, more importantly the other which speaks to you from the Woman and Mother within me. On a whole, I am totally flabbergasted and distressed at the thought of not being able to make a choice about my body, my birth and my career.
My experiences during pregnancy, birth and postnatal aren’t much to brag of. I received the general antenatal care which involved waiting more than 2 hours to see a Dr only to be seen for 5 minutes. It’s no wonder when Obstetricians see 200-300 women per year on average, while a full time Midwife will only see 40. The care I received during birth was again very general. Assigned to a Midwife whom I never met at any stage during my pregnancies I only hoped that my preferences would be met.
The birth of my 2nd daughter marked the beginning of my journey to becoming a Midwife. I began work as a Birth Support person and was lucky enough to learn about the normality of pregnancy and birth and witness first hand the benefits that one-to-one Midwifery care can provide to a woman and her family. One-to-one Midwifery care is what the World Health Organisation calls the Gold Standard in maternity care for normal healthy pregnant women. They say that 80% of women can give birth naturally. Yet presently, in the Australian maternity system less than 5% actually will.
It is now December and I have only recently completed 6 weeks of Clinical Placement at a busy Maternity Hospital in Brisbane. To say this experience was an “eye opener” is a major understatement. I witnessed many wonderful learning tools and a few frightening and concerning incidents also. The one thing I learnt the most of is that value the government holds on our Midwives isn’t even close to high enough. Each shift a Midwife is assigned 6 Women, sometimes more. Not only is the Midwife under pressure, but the Women are being unintentionally under-supported also.
As a pro breastfeeding hospital, minimal support and guidance is shown to Mothers who actually want to breastfeed their babies. Women are often left “buzzing” for a Midwife for hours before their physical needs are actually met let along their emotional needs. These Midwives don’t have the time to sit don’t with their Women and discuss their emotional needs for they have 5 other Women and Babies to take care of. Again none of this is intentional on behalf on the Midwives, just another day in the life of a Midwife working the Australian hospital system.
One would assume that our government would want to relieve some of this pressure by encouraging government funded private one-to-one Midwifery care. Or at the least provide Indemnity Insurance to our Independent Midwives so Women can access this care at their own cost. This is especially important when the statistics show that sole midwifery care throughout pregnancy and childbirth resulted in fewer complications for mother and baby, and that it provided a much more satisfying experience for the parents as they got quality one-on-one time with their own midwife all the way through their pregnancy and labour.
I also add the sheer disappointment I have in our governments support and faith in the Midwives abilities. Taking into account the following “Definition of a Midwife” as stated by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council:
Definition of the Midwife
A Midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a Midwifery educational program, duly recognised in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in Midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice Midwifery.
The Midwife is recognised as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with each Woman to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the Midwife’s own responsibility and to provide care for the newborn and the infant.
This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in Mother and Child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures.
The Midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the Woman, but also within the family and the community. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to each Woman’s health, sexual or reproductive health and child care. A Midwife may practice in any setting including the home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units.
Considering the hard work, heart and soul we put into becoming a person who holds the honorable title of “Midwife”. One would assume if a government creates such a definition that some respect and faith must be held in the Midwives ability to conduct care which is safe, effective and proper for the women and families of Australia. But again and again it is shown that the faith has been lost to the world of doctors and obstetricians where Pregnancy and Birth aren’t relished, but managed.
Although I could continue to debate the issue of Midwifery Care vs. Obstetric care and Home vs. Hospital, the issue here is not about who we birth with or where we birth, the issue here is about
choice. As human beings we have a right to choice. As tax paying Australian Citizens we are supposed to have a right
choice. As childbearing Women we are supposed to have
choice. Yet right before our very eyes these rights are being taken away from us.
I speak on behalf of many others when I say that we would be devastated if the proposed legislation takes effect in July 2010. Even more if Midwives are no longer granted indemnity insurance in July 2012. We all believe that if these legislations take place, it will take away the basic human rights of Women in Australia, the right to informed consent.
I appeal that you reconsider your stance on this matter and have faith that you will uphold the basic human right of choice. Please think of us, the Childbearing Women of today and tomorrow as you make the decision that could change the Maternity options in Australia forever.
Yours sincerely,
Sara-Jayne C
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Creator of BellyBelly.com.au, doula, writer and mother of three amazing children
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