thought I would post this article I read the article and we are currently looking into our own birth and up and coming birth so this was a good read!!!!

New mums in crisis

March 24, 2007 11:00pm


A CRISIS in Queensland's maternity service is leaving one in three mothers traumatised and endangering the health of their babies.

A Sunday Mail investigation has revealed shocking lapses in care in overcrowded maternity units, with mothers going into labour in corridors and others pressured into having unnecessary caesarean deliveries.

Poor post-natal care has led to some women needing emergency hysterectomies after developing avoidable infections.

A new study by Jenny Gamble, state president of the Australian College of Midwives, has found 30 per cent of mums experience symptoms of psychological stress after giving birth in Queensland hospitals.

Lobby group the Maternity Coalition said overcrowding was now a problem statewide following the closure of 38 maternity units.

In rural Queensland, a different study shows five women a week give birth before reaching a hospital with specialised maternity care.

The State Government was warned of the appalling state of maternity services two years ago, but midwives say it has so far failed to help frontline staff or their patients.

A Sunshine Coast couple have launched a court action against Queensland Health, alleging their son was born with cerebral palsy as a result of an emergency caesarean.

On Thursday, an inquest was told that a young Brisbane mother suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage after another caesarean delivery.

Maternity Coalition president Joanne Smethurst said Australia's standard of care was almost "Third World".

"The health of mothers and babies is suffering every day, but the Government has wasted two years doing nothing," she said, adding that hospitals were encouraging women to be induced and undergo caesareans because of a shortage of midwives and beds.

Queensland has a caesarean rate of 32 per cent. The World Health Organisation recommends 10-15 per cent.

Dr Gamble, who also runs the midwifery program at Griffith University, wants a community midwife scheme introduced:

"We know what the problems are, we just need the Government to get on with it."

Since 1995, Queensland Health has received 20 reports on the state of its maternity services.

The most recent, presented by the department's maternity services steering committee, said action was needed to improve care for women in rural areas and called for the introduction of post-birth care for all.

In the past two years, the steering committee has spent almost $1 million on paperwork to prepare for the creation of yet another committee on the crisis.

Steering committee chairwoman Cherrell Hirst said State Cabinet still had to approve the second committee and would make a decision by the end of the month.

She said it could be four years before any improvements in care were seen.

"Stage one was setting up the interim committee, ahead of establishing the second committee," she said.

Opposition health spokesman John-Paul Langbroek said the situation was outrageous.

"We get review after taskforce after investigation, and meanwhile services suffer," he said.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Health said "moves are under way" for change. The Gold Coast Health Service District Birthing Centre, opened in May 2006, offers an "alternative model of care for birthing", but nothing has been rolled out state-wide.


Lindie- Not too sure what everyone else thinks but being a c/s mum myself these are huge statistics!!!!!!!!!