Would you give birth in a midwifery led unit?

[~Raven~]

I voted that I would prefer to birth with midwifery led care. Unfortunatley for me I am deemed a "higher risk" due to previous retained placenta and PPH so I am unable to, even though I have since had a totally uncomplicated birth, it is still a reason for me not to be accepted.

I can dig that! Seeing that I am classed as a higher risk, I would be one of those women who need to have quick and easy access to an OB if the same thing were to happen again. Therefore while my first preference of choice how I birth cannot be, I need to make sure that my choices in relation to what happens are heard - hence birth plan and communication between myself, the OB and the midwife who will be on shift when I present to the hospital in labour.

As a first time mum all I cared about was having a private room to myself and as I had PHI then that's what I got, because lets face it, who would pay for PHI and not use it! That then goes hand in hand with engaging the services of an OB. There is no choice AT ALL through the private system.
Wouldn't it be grand if you could have midwifery led care in the hospital of your choice (public or private or birth centre) where the OB's are about (somewhere near but not in the same room as...) to ease everyones mind and come in if and when they are needed to do their thing.

I am very lucky in that I have a great OB who is gentle and has a knack for putting my mind at ease. From what I have read on this and other forums (and seen in real life working as a birth photographer!) he is a rare breed indeed.
Women that share their experiences are not scare mongering at all. They have been scarred and are sharing to help others be aware. Take it all on board and decide because what you have here is a fantastic resource! There was no BellyBelly about when I had my first baby. I didn't have the internet connected and I don't think it even occurred to me to look up stuff about birth online down at the library. I was given a few hand me down books from friends and that was the extent of my birthing education until I started ante-natal classes. Then it was all about what excercises to do and what drugs will be on offer. Nothing about real women and what they have been through!

[Smoke Jaguar]

It's funny, isn't it, that the women who crowd around a first time pregnant women and say "just take the drugs" are 'just being realistic', and those of us who advocate that birth can be beautiful, or at least not traumatic are 'scaremongerers'? I'd much rather have someone tell me that choosing midwife-led care will lead to a better outcome for normal pregnancy. But then, I've never been one to accept the 'mainstream' just cos it's there, being a square peg and all!
What I want to know is, what is it about NZ that led to them embracing this MW approach to pregnancy and birth that we can emulate? Or is 'it' something that can't be replicated in Australia? I find that hard to believe that 'it' is something exclusive to NZ society - I'll hold out hope!

[BellyBelly]

In New Zealand, its on Medicare so there is no cost as far as I know. So I guess it's combination of women who want that care and others giving it a go, followed by great word of mouth.

[Trillian]

Well while we have a PM who hasn't followed through on a Fed govt promise to direct more funds to the ABA (albeit by the previous govt but it wouldn't kill him to honor it himself) then I can't see it happening. Or maybe we could approach it from the 'old rivalry' POV and say how can we possibly let NZ have a better system than us LMAO.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Trillian, so true - this govt is more concerned with getting mothers back to work sooner and our children diverted to childcare for raising and nurturing than supporting women in doing it themselves (and shame on them for holding out on the ABA)! I think a huge factor is the power of the AMA and RANZCOG in Oz. Without them, midwives would surely be on the Medicare program by now, surely.
I DO like the idea of appealing to the govt that our colonial cousins are outdoing us in maternal and child health outcomes! Bring on the national pride factor

[tan32]

I have voted yes.
I gave birth to Lachlan in the birthing Unit at my local public hospital. I did not see one doctor, just a beautiful team of midwives through my whole pregnancy.

All my visits and tests were done with the midwives and a wonderful midwife delivered Lachlan.I would do this again and again.
I did use the midwife clinic with Hamish as well and had midwives deliver him once gain no dr in sight.

[mummato3]

It's funny, isn't it, that the women who crowd around a first time pregnant women and say "just take the drugs" are 'just being realistic', and those of us who advocate that birth can be beautiful, or at least not traumatic are 'scaremongerers'? I'd much rather have someone tell me that choosing midwife-led care will lead to a better outcome for normal pregnancy. But then, I've never been one to accept the 'mainstream' just cos it's there, being a square peg and all!
What I want to know is, what is it about NZ that led to them embracing this MW approach to pregnancy and birth that we can emulate? Or is 'it' something that can't be replicated in Australia? I find that hard to believe that 'it' is something exclusive to NZ society - I'll hold out hope!

I have just written a paper for uni surrounding the whole NZ model of care and whats stopping it from happening here. There are realm of issues, but the closing quote in my paper was this 'Funding issues, the legal regulation of midwifery,and, closely related, the social and political power of the obstetric specialist -therapeutic regime' Reiger (2000)

Reference: Reiger,K. (2000) The politics of midwifery in Australia: tensions, debates and opportunities. Health Sociology Review. Vol 10:1 Jan 2000 pp53