As a mother of three I am concerned about our health system & maternity care.

When I had my first daughter I lived 10 minutes away from a hospital with a maternity ward, but as I was only 18 and it was my first child I could not have my baby there and had to make the forty minute drive to a bigger hospital.
I also did the same with my second daughter.

When I had my son we lived in a different area. I was living 5 minutes from the closest hospital, 40 minutes from the next one, then had a third one hour away. Not one of these three hospitals had a functioning maternity ward. Instead I had to travel two hours to my nearest maternity ward.

I also had to travel those two hours to visit my ante natal clinic as it was the closest to me. This meant that by the end of my pregnancy I had to keep my oldest child out of school for one day a fortnight, then one day a week.

Then when I was close to having my son I went to stay with my mother and father in law so I could get to the hospital in time. This meant another two weeks my daughter couldn't attend school and two weeks I had to be away from my husband as he had to stay for work.

Then when I went into labour my husband had to travel the two hours to get to me before his son was born. We are lucky that my labour was 5 hours. He made it with just over an hour to go before I had our baby.
But this meant I was alone til he got there.

I think the situation should be reevaluated. Maternity services are dropping off where they are needed. The town I live in has a high rate of teen pregnancy, yet these teens are supposed to be able to find their way to the bigger hospital to have their needs met when there is a very slim chance that they or their partners have a license or car.

When I was pregnant with my second daughter I chose to only see my general practitioner and went into labour without having seen an obstetrician once. My labour was attended by a midwife only and it was the most relaxed and natural labour I have had.

I think it is about time everyone realises that we are women. We have been giving birth for thousands of years. Why can't those of lower risk give birth in their home towns where they are close to family and friends when they will need them the most?

I would rather have just me, my husband and a midwife at a small hospital, than just my husband and I on the side of the road trying to make the two hour drive.

Can you guys read over this for me & let me know what you think first? My baby brain isn't quite sure how it sounds!