The AMA's submission to the Maternity Services Review

[Pandora]

Post-natal depression
This is a serious issue and shows the importance of strong medical involvement in maternity care

Are they seriously suggesting you wont get post natal depression if you see an OB, or that you have a lower chance of getting it? I assume there are extensive independant studies to support this that they have referenced?

[Trillian]

And if that wasn't enough for you (or if you just enjoy the mental self-flagelation of reading such codswallop) then this is from the ASA (Australian Society of Anaesthetists) http://www.asa.org.au/pageBANK/docum...ary-bryant.pdf

What I don't like is that they are insinuating that any change is being driven by social needs and that we are bascially ignoring what is 'best' for our unborn babies - Um escuse me, but I think I know what is best for my unborn child, not some Dr with a fat wallet.

[Tobily]

Thanks Trillian

It is the experience of the ASA that many women prefer operative delivery. It believes that women must be fully advised about the benefits and disbenefits of operative as opposed to vaginal delivery.

And of course this statement that many women prefer caesarean birth is fully referenced *insert sarcasm here*.

Unbelievable. It's like they're not even trying. Like they don't even need to convince anyone of the truth in what they're saying because they hold the status quo. The arrogance is breathtaking.

And lovely to see them again trot out the gem that women are too old, too fat, or too reproductively challenged when they're deciding to have babies - and that's why we have such high levels of intervention in Australia.

Yes of course it is.
Where are they getting this stuff from? Their rear ends??


But what really gets me through both of these submissions? The bleating about how they "support choice" and that women should not be "excluded" from a medical model of care who want it - as if that's ever going to happen .

If I DO want to be excluded from the medical model and birth at home, where is my "choice" as things stand now?

It seems the AMA, the RANZCOG and the ASA are only interested in us having the choices they THEY deem best for us.

No mention of birth trauma in either submission even though they mention PND.

No freaking idea. Mother alive, baby alive. Moving on.

I'm so disgusted and yet so completely unsurprised

[kirsty_lee]

It is the experience of the ASA that many women prefer operative delivery. It believes that women must be fully advised about the benefits and disbenefits of operative as opposed to vaginal delivery.

Oh my god! I am seeing red right now!!!! How the bloody hell do they get that? I had MY right to give birth vaginally taken AWAY from ME because of our so called 'fantastic medical team which other countries envied. So I would rather have a huge bloody scar on my gut, that got infected and opened up and is now even bigger, rather than experience giving birth MYSELF?!?! god i am so angry right now

[myson]

Hey!!!!! dumb computer... wont let me read it...

no wait... smart computer.... doesnt want to be bashed for content it is not responsible for...

anyways I can begin to imagine from the quotes etc... When will these 'educated people' actually get a proper education?

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

I can't bring myself to read it, but I'll come back to it. The question now becomes, what do we do about bellybelly'ers?

[Snacks]

I'm not going to read it either. Will only make me cross.

The question now becomes, what do we do about bellybelly'ers?

What do you mean, Neenee? Only thing I can suggest is keep talking. Loudly...

[DANNIIM]

Gee i love living in a remote area where majority of Dr's think they are too good to reside here.
I have had nothing but the best of maternity care where i live in far north Western Australia. Firstly i was seen by my local GP who then went on maternity leave herself so i was referred to the hospital where i have seen a combination of midwivies and DR's....meaning DR's i say TWO and the main one is so lovely that you refer to her by her first name....not DR ?
I would never have a child in the city, sorry if i offend anyone but this is the second time i will be giving birth in a country/remote area and TBH both times i have never heard of any complaints like you hear here on BB about the interferance, rude and munipulating medical staff. I am sure there are some cases but everything is so personal and one on one....like how they said that just wasn't possible, maybe these morons actually need to visit remote areas more often and do a little training while they are at it!

[Trillian]

Ahhhh Dannim, that's why we have to accept that it wont ever happen for us rural women that we can't get the whole shebang medicalised birth so we have to expect to travel to worship at the feet of the gods

I agree with you 100% about the standard of care in small country areas though - they are more likely to know you on a personal level and treat you as such kwim?