URGENT ACTION REQUIRED - TAKE ACTION NOW
Your letters and emails DO make a difference!
On 27 April 2012, all State and Territory Health Ministers will meet at the Standing Council on Health to discuss the future of Homebirth in Australia.
An options paper has been prepared by Western Australia for consideration by other States/Territories.
One option being considered is that registered midwives will only be able to attend women with 'low risk' pregnancies who want to birth at home - this means no Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) at home.
Yet again, there has been no consultation with private midwives, women or consumer groups.
Midwives must be able to provide care for women wherever they choose to birth.
Click here and email your Health Minister and elected State and Federal representatives and ask for proper consultation.
If you have time please write your own letter to your Health Minister and their Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer from yourself or your group calling for proper consultation on the options and explaining your concerns. Click here for their contact details. (Suggested text below if you need ideas - the most effective letter is written in your own words.) Please forward to us at homebirthaustralia@gmail.com any replies you receive.
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Dear Minister,
I am writing today to urge you to consult with women and midwives on decisions made about the future of homebirth.
I understand that an options paper on homebirth will be considered at the upcoming meeting of the Standing Council on Health and that this paper proposes that homebirth with a registered midwife become an option that is only available for low risk women. I have very strong concerns about this.
Women have the right to choose where they will give birth and it is essential that they have access to skilled care wherever they choose to birth. Some women will continue to make the decision to birth at home irrespective of the restrictions that are placed on registered midwives. I am concerned that this proposal will lead to a situation where women are abandoned in their choices and left without a registered and accountable care provider.
This paper has been prepared without consultation with relevant stakeholders. Women and midwives have not had input into this document.
I ask you not to agree to any of the recommendations contained in the options paper until there has been proper consultation with stakeholders.
I also ask that you take action to ensure that women with risk factors who choose to give birth at home will not be forced to do so without a registered midwife.
Your Name and Address
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Birth Rights Human Rights
2012 Homebirth Australia Conference
Early Bird Tickets Extended until end of April!
27-29 July 2012
Keynote speakers - Jan Tritten
Jan
Tritten is the founder and editor-in-chief of Midwifery Today magazine
and a midwife who was in active practice from 1977–1989.
Registrations NOW OPEN - click here for more information and to register online.
Conference sponsorship packages available - email us for more details.
The 2012 Homebirth Australia conference will be held in Hobart, Tasmania on 27-29 July.
Bahai Centre of Learning & The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel.
MEDIA RELEASE
29 February 2012
Attorney General rejects AMA’s calls for homicide laws to be used to prosecute homebirth mums
Attorney General Christian Porter has rejected Australian Medical Association (WA) President Dave Mountain's calls for proposed Western Australian foetal homicide laws to be used as penalties for women who homebirth and those who support them.
The Attorney General told GNW7 News yesterday that he won't consider the WA AMA’s call to include homebirth related deaths in new proposed foetal homicide laws in WA.
‘To propose criminal charges for women giving birth and their midwives is an outrageous suggestion breaching women’s reproductive rights and Australia’s international legal obligations,’ said Homebirth Australia spokesperson Michelle Meares.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2010 that it was a woman’s right to choose where to give birth. The Court found in Ternovszky v Hungary that a woman’s right to choose the circumstances of becoming a parent is protected under Article 8 of the European Convention (right to private and family life). In its judgment the court also found the threat of sanctions are detrimental to a woman’s ability to choose home birth. This in turn constitutes a violation of the legal security for the exercise of privacy rights, and in particular, violates the principle of legal certainty. The High Court in Australia has made reference to numerous decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in several recent high profile cases.
Latest nationwide figures from 2009 show that there were 863 homebirths across Australia. There were 2 foetal deaths at homebirths. Homebirths had a 99.8% live birth rate. In the same period 2,339 foetal deaths occurred in hospitals or birth centres.
‘We would like to see the same level of scrutiny by the Australian Medical Association into why so many thousands of babies and also mothers are dying in Australian hospitals every year.’ Ms Meares said.
Over 2000 babies and more than 20 mothers are dying in childbirth across Australia in hospital in obstetric managed care each year.
‘In the United Kingdom, homebirth is supported by both the Royal College of Midwives (RMA) and Royal College of Obstetricians (RCOG) and many mothers birth at home safely. The ongoing refusal of the Australian Medical Association to support homebirth just doesn't make sense.’
‘Trying to ban or criminalise homebirth won't work and places mothers and babies at risk. We'd like to see them come to the table and work with us to improve homebirth options for women and their families.’
Contact: Michelle Meares 0439 645 372
Source - Statistics from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Australia's mothers and babies 2009 report
MEDIA RELEASE
27 February 2012
Proposed WA foetal homicide laws dangerous to mums and babies
Australian Medical Association West Australian President Dave Mountain has called for proposed Western Australian foetal homicide laws to be used as penalties for women who homebirth and those who support them.
‘This call to criminalise homebirth mums and their care providers is an outrageous and frightening suggestion,’ Homebirth Australia spokesperson Michelle Meares said.
‘While we absolutely support all steps to protect the safety of babies and mothers, the use of the criminal law system to police pregnant mums and their behaviour will take reproductive rights away from women by granting a foetus independent legal rights. What is next mandatory detention of pregnant mums and forced caesareans if they don’t comply with doctor’s orders?’
‘The medical decisions made by a mother who nurtures an unborn baby in her womb should be solely her legal responsibility and a woman should not be facing the threat of criminal charges for giving birth.’
‘To criminalise women for their birth choices in this day and age is completely unacceptable and unlawful as it breaches Australia’s international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW),’ Ms Meares said.
The suggestion by the West Australian AMA president to use the proposed laws in this way demonstrates a significant misunderstanding of the law of homicide. The NSW Council for Civil Liberties in a submission to a review of similar laws in New South Wales in 2010 noted that ‘for centuries it has been the position of common law that before anyone can be killed they must first be born.‘ The proposed changes in Western Australia would reverse laws that say a baby must be born alive to be considered a "human" for criminal purposes.
A review of laws surrounding criminal incidents and the death of an unborn child was held in NSW in 2010 by the Honourable Michael Campbell QC. He did not recommend that NSW introduce any other specific offences for the death of an unborn child and considered that current legislation responded appropriately. A submission by the NSW Australian Medical Association to this review also opposed the creation of a criminal offence which recognises an unborn child as a legal entity independent of its mother recognising that this would create ‘unecessary complications’ in obstetric care.
Homebirth Australia believes that the expansion of foetal rights has wider implications that must be considered and threatens women’s right to make consensual medical decisions during pregnancy and birth. These proposed laws impact on all women’s reproductive choices around abortion, pregnancy and childbirth and must be resisted in an open and democratic society.
‘To suggest that traumatised women who are refugees from obstetric medical care and their care providers, should be charged with a crime is a proposal to move back to the dark ages by the AMA WA President,’ Ms Meares said. ‘We need to ask why are these women so reluctant to return to hospital based obstetric care and how can we support them to give birth at home safely? ’
Contact: Michelle Meares 0439 645 372
Face of Birth - Coming To A Screen Near You!
Where the personal gets political - a documentary about pregnancy, childbirth and the power of choice.
From March the 8th to March the 31st 2012 screenings of The Face Of Birth are happening around Australia. Check out the screening list to find one near you click here.
MEDIA RELEASE FROM HOMEBIRTH AUSTRALIA
February 1 2012
In the wake of the recent death of a woman in Victoria, many parents around Australia today will be feeling sorrow for Caroline Lovell's tragic death and sadness for the family she has left behind. Her death following her planned home birth was the first incident of a mother dying related to a home birth in Australia since 1999 as reported by Australian government data.1 “The call for a ban on home births in yesterday's Herald Sun because of one maternal death since 1999 is completely illogical. Sadly many women died in Australian hospitals in childbirth last year - should we ban hospital births, too?” Michelle Meares, Homebirth Australia spokesperson said.
In Australia our maternal mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world at 8.4 in every 100,000 women. The latest statistics, from 2003-05, show only 65 maternal deaths occurred in Australia. None of these were related to home births.
“Home births have consistently been proved to be safe. Large international studies, including a Dutch study with over 500 000 women show there is no increase in deaths of mothers or babies when women birth at home with a midwife.
“Many studies show women who have a planned home birth have fewer interventions, including epidurals and inductions, and use of forceps, vacuum extraction or caesarean birth. Homebirthing mothers and babies are less likely to experience the complications associated with these procedures, including the significantly increased risk of death and severe complications for both that follows a caesarean birth.
More and more families are choosing to have a home birth in Australia, with a 33 per cent increase between 2004 and 2009. In the US, they've just recorded the highest rate of home births ever, with a 30 per cent rise in home births in the same period.
“The choice about where to give birth belongs with a woman and her family. Parents have the right to make decisions about their children -- what they eat, where they go to school and also where they give birth. To suggest that right should be taken away is ridiculous in today's democratic society,” Ms Meares said.
“The private midwives who attend homebirths are highly trained professionals who carry equipment for dealing with medical emergencies. Women who opt to birth at home choose to do so because they've decided that it's the safest place for their babies and themselves. Women choose a home birth because they want to give birth in the comfort of their home, with a midwife they know and trust. They want their families to be with them and they want to be in control of the experience.
“Caroline has been reported as being a homebirth advocate. When there was a threat to homebirths due to the Federal Government’s new midwifery legislation in 2009, Caroline responded the way thousands of women around the country did by sending submissions to a Senate Inquiry which have been reported in the media.
“Despite the Federal Government’s announcements around the National Maternity Services Plan in November 2011, planned homebirth has yet to be properly funded or supported.
“In the UK, where 22% of women reported that they would prefer a homebirth, the government has made a pledge to ensure that all women have the option of a homebirth, Australian women deserve the same”, Ms Meares said.
In 2009, there were 863 planned homebirths, representing 0.3% of all women who gave birth. The average age of women who choose a homebirth is 31.7 years, 75% are having their second or subsequent baby and 58.6% of homebirths occur in major cities. According to Dr Sarah Buckley, mother of four homeborn children, former GP and now writer on pregnancy, birth and parenting: “Homebirth is a safe option with significant advantages for mothers and babies. The extremely low need for intervention that happens when women feel private and safe in their own home, is reflected in lower rates of complications, including prematurity, low birth weight, infections, lacerations, post-partum haemorrhage and retained placenta, International studies support the safety of planned homebirth for healthy mothers and babies.”
For further information: Jo Scard 0457 725 953
(Report on Maternal Deaths in Australia, 1997-1999. http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442467619)
(Report on Maternal Deaths in Australia, 2003-2005. http://www.aihw.gov.au/media-release-detail/?id=6442464747)
Homebirth Australia is the peak homebirth body. Our members are consumers, midwives and related health professionals committed to ensuring the survival of homebirth as a birth option for Australian women.
Homebirth Australia aims to:
- support the rights of homebirth parents to choose how, where and with whom they give birth.
- increase public awareness and acceptance of homebirth.
- provide communication and support to members of Homebirth Australia.
- provide information to parents planning homebirth.
- provide information, support and networking to service providers.
- convene an annual national conference.
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Tell your local elected representative in State and Federal Parliament that a woman's right to access a midwife at home must be protected. Take action today.
Media Release
Demand for homebirth increases as Government abandons women and babies
26 October 2011
Homebirth Awareness Week will be celebrated around Australia this week by thousands of women, midwives and their families. The common theme will be the serious concerns that many have for the future of safe homebirth in Australia.
While latest figures show homebirth increased by 14.9% from 2007-2008 in Australia, there are fears that homebirth will become unavailable to the majority of women due to the restrictive policies being put into place and lack of access to midwives. Many women leave the hospital system traumatised from their first birth experience and this is reflected in the rise in home births in the latest national data. Yet Federal Government reforms to the maternity care system in 2009, has meant many of those women are no longer able to access midwives, but many will still choose to birth at home.
“In the last two years, the impacts of the maternity reforms has lead to a deterioration in options for women, greater risk for women and babies and a move from quality primary care to expensive secondary care,” Homebirth Australia spokesperson Michelle Meares said.
Overly restrictive legislation has meant that the number of private midwives attending births in Australia has dropped from 200 midwives in 2009 to only 90 midwives in 2011. Some women are having to birth at home unattended, some are being forced into hospital births they do not want. Regional and rural areas have been significantly impacted.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon said two years ago that it ‘would not be a good outcome’ if homebirth was driven underground due to the reforms being implemented by the Government and that Australian Health Minsters’ would ensure that women can make an informed choice to have a midwife attended homebirth.
At the Australian Health Minsters’ Conference in September 2009, Minister Roxon stated ‘I have made clear that I was concerned that as an unintended consequence of the national registration and accreditation process, that home birthing might be driven underground, that that would not be a good outcome.’ and ‘We have however ensured that women can make the choice if they're properly informed to still have a midwife attend to a home birth.’
“Now it is 2011, and the number of private midwives nationwide has dropped by 65% and new regulations may now prevent those left from attending many births such as women who have previously had a caesarean. Australian women who make the safe legitimate choice to birth at home are asking – will I have to hide to give birth?” said Ms Meares.
Homebirth Australia calls on the Federal Government and all Australian Health Ministers to ensure that Australian women can continue to access the care of a midwife at home and will not be abandoned by their Government for their choice of maternity care.
Homebirth Statistics Source: Australia’s Mothers & Babies Report 2008 available from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare online here – http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442472399
Press Conference - Health Minister’s meeting, health and hospital reform, homebirths, swine flu, IVF -http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/tr-yr09-nr-nrsp040909.htm
Media Contact: Jo Scard 0457 725 953
Homebirth Australia www.homebirthaustralia.org
Home Birth: An annotated guide to the literature
Download now [PDF]
This annotated bibliography provides citations and critical appraisal of original studies on home birth. Study selection was based on comprehensive searches of the following databases: EBSCO, PubMed, and Cochrane. This bibliography was published by the Division of Midwifery in the Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia in collaboration with the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Midwives Alliance of North America.
Call for Abstracts Closes Soon!
28th Homebirth Australia Conference
28 – 29 July 2012
Hobart Tasmania
Submissions are now open for Presentations at the 28th Homebirth Australia Conference. Abstracts are welcome on any topic relevant to the conference themes. The deadline for abstract submission is 5pm Friday 28 October 2011.
Conference Themes - Birth Rites - Human Rights in Birth.
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