Trend in midwifery & birthing?

[trini246]

If you were asked the question

"what are the trends in midwifery & Child Birth?" would you be able to answer it?

If so what would your answer be?

[LionsandBears]

A trade war by the AMA is attempting to prevent homebirths and undermine the recent changes that allow medicare rebates for midwifery services. Homebirths will most likely be outlawed by next year.

Eventually, all women will be required to be strapped down upon entry to hospital, filled with drugs and made to either push lithomy or have a c-section. Anyone who protests will be sectioned into a mental institution and have their children removed from them.

Ok, so maybe I'm a bit cynical, but recent events certainly make me believe my first 2 sentences are close to the truth.

[*Sparklez*]

A trade war by the AMA is attempting to prevent homebirths and undermine the recent changes that allow medicare rebates for midwifery services. Homebirths will most likely be outlawed by next year.

Eventually, all women will be required to be strapped down upon entry to hospital, filled with drugs and made to either push lithomy or have a c-section. Anyone who protests will be sectioned into a mental institution and have their children removed from them.

Ok, so maybe I'm a bit cynical, but recent events certainly make me believe my first 2 sentences are close to the truth.

unfortunately i agree, The so called freedom of choice in birthing is becoming short lived, You are always made to second guess your wants and are made to think that you are making the wrong decision for your unborn child, Womans ideal birth is slowly creeping out the window as many dr's are only willing to do what works for them and their practise, not whats in the best interest of their patients.

[trini246]

Its sad the way its all going, isnt it? When i was asked the same question i didnt know how to answer it as I thought there were more negatives than positives to the question but that was just my opinion

[~Kim~]

Great thread Trini, but a small suggestion. If you don't want it shut down, I'd ask for it to be moved to either pregnancy general section or labour/birthing.

Birth I can't really comment on, but I guess it depends on your location. Homebirth is common and publicly funded in the NT. The program is highly sought after. As are midwives for the bush....but we have a bit more bush than most states lol.

For us a trend is for Obstetricians to be as far away as possible - like if I want one I'd have to travel over 1500km, and we manage very well without one.

[RhiChiChi]

Interesting thread & responses so far, particularly from you Kim. Just goes to show, it really depends on where you live and what is available to what perhaps becomes choice or rather pushed upon you?

I agree with tashybabe in relation to the choices. IMO people (women) should have the choice to decide how & where to have their baby which seems to be less and less of an option particularly in relation to home births etc...

[trini246]

Who do I ask to move the thread? Sorry I wasnt sure where to put it.

Can it please be moved if the mods are reading this?

The reason I ask is because I have a feeling it will be an interview question when I decide to go back & study midwifery so want to know others opinions. There is little information about it around that I have found useful.

[deletedit]

The trend here is right towards natural birth - minimal interventions, skin-to-skin for as long as possible as soon as possible after birth, breastfeeding, the works. They ask you before doing anything interesting, like vitamin K or breaking your waters.

Its a little hospital with two GP/Obs and a team of midwives, the expensive procedures just don't register on their radar. They'll do them, but will try and avoid them at all costs. Anyone who knows they are going to be very high risk tends to go camp out next to a big hospital once they get very pregnant.

[onthefly]

I actually see two divergent trends.
One somewhat like Tashy describes, but the other as RumpledElf describes. There's a real tug of war going on. But, I think the result of this is partly good for parents in that there seems to be more public debate and information around than previously, including questioning the obstetric model of care and necessity (indeed, benefit) of many standard interventions. Some will be caught in the middle, however, with fewer options available to them.