Please forward this template email to GetUp! to help save midwifery...

**BellyBelly** · June 25th, 2009, 10:48 AM

>>>Please cut and paste the below email to campaigns@getup.org.au and let your friends and family know so they can do the same. We've done this before but they didn't have the numbers, now it's time to make sure we do...<<<

Dear GetUp!

I am writing to ask for GetUp's help. The government has passed a draft legislation that will effectively make homebirth illegal in Australia by July 2010. This removes women's right to choose how and where to birth their babies and forces women into a hospital or to freebirth at home with no trained support.

We want to highlight the absolute injustice of this move, which is driven by political and economic motives and not by concern for the safety and health of women and babies. A recent Dutch study of 500,000 women showed homebirth to be as safe as hospital birth. The reason that homebirth will become illegal is that all health practitioners must have indemnity insurance to be registered and currently the insurance companies will not offer this indemnity insurance to homebirth midwives.

The campaign's message is 'Protect women's right to choices in childbirth'

The campaign could ask members to contact the health minister and their Federal MP, and to attend the Save Homebirth Rally in Canberra on September 7.

The target audience is really all women and possible parents in Australia.

We need to act on this issue urgently as the draft proposal is already in parliament.

**BellyBelly** · June 25th, 2009, 10:49 AM

Everyone please keep bumping this thread... we need numbers to make sure GetUp! see this as an issue many feel strongly about... they have rejected us before for not being an 'important enough issue' but now it's become pretty damn important... let's do this...

**Jaycee** · June 25th, 2009, 12:04 PM

I've sent it to getup!
Will re-send it every day if I have to!

**Bathsheba** · June 25th, 2009, 05:30 PM

All done

I hope they are able to help this time!!!

**Lady-bug** · June 25th, 2009, 07:41 PM

Done!

**BellyBelly** · June 25th, 2009, 07:49 PM

This is so so so important. Homebirth midwives are VERY skilled midwives. Some do breech, VBAC - they know loads of great things for birth. To lose them would be losing so many important skills and knowledge.

**The[cookie]Doctor** · June 25th, 2009, 07:50 PM

done!

**Snowy Love** · June 26th, 2009, 06:42 AM

Done

**lilmisshavachat** · June 26th, 2009, 07:01 AM

I'm done too.. Come on everyone.. Please help..

**MistyFying** · June 26th, 2009, 07:58 AM

bumpity bump

**Bathsheba** · June 26th, 2009, 11:26 AM

I was reading the letters to the Editor in the Age this morning and wondering if a copy of this letter shoudl be sent in to them....?

**BellyBelly** · June 26th, 2009, 11:40 AM

That would be awesome, worth a try... anything is at this point in time... racing against the clock...

***LovemyKids*** · June 26th, 2009, 11:44 AM

Done

I just cant believe that they are forcing people to freebirth at home cause thats what will happen. I would never want a home birth but i am all for it and i think everyone shouldhave a choice!!!

**BellyBelly** · June 26th, 2009, 11:47 AM

That's the thing - more people WILL freebirth because they do not want to go to a hospital. Just like people wouldn't homebirth, others wont hospital birth.

***LovemyKids*** · June 26th, 2009, 11:51 AM

I totally agree, i dont understand how they thing that they are doing a good thing. Its not like people are being forced to home birth it their choice. Arent there better things they could concentrate their time on like people who abuse or neglect their children, isn't that more important!!!
Sorry i could go all day on this subject, and it might seem weired that i would never want a home birth i just think that we should have the choice!!!!!!