Save HBAC in Australia

Urgent Call to Action

Women's rights to choose where and how they give birth are once again under threat

In Western Australia in late June, a private midwife attended a HBAC.  Her case is currently under investigation.  The information we have is that she operated within her scope of practice and followed the ACM guidelines completely and the woman birthed beautifully at home.  However the hospital where she was booked into in case of the need to transfer, reported the midwife.  She has since had restrictions placed on her registration.  She was given only 36 hours to respond to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).  Women in her care, who are due to birth in the coming weeks are left without a midwife, and her livelihood has been taken away.

This sets an extremely serious, and worrying, precendent.

This is not an isolated incident.

In recent months we have been appalled, but not suprised, that over one third of all private midwives have had reports brought against them in the last 12 months.  Our information suggests these reports are spurious and they are not complaints by the families who contracted the midwives to provide care.  This is not about safety or quality care but rather, about progressing an ideology that only supports medical dominance in childbirth and ignores established rights for individual women to determine how their body is or is not treated.  Typically the midwives are unable to attend homebirths while their case is under investigation.

Many women choose homebirth because they have previously had a traumatic hospital birth.  Many have had previous caesareans.

Lets look at the statistics for VBAC success rates:

• 6.7% Private Hospital VBAC Success rate (NSW)
• 16.2% Public Hospital VBAC Success rate (NSW)
• 80-90% Private midwives VBAC Success rate

No wonder many well informed women who want a VBAC choose homebirth with a private midwife!  Their right to make this safe, legitimite choice must be protected.

We must take action.  What will be next?  Are you too old? too young? too many? or have  another reason you don't fit the illusive idea of a 'perfect' pregnancy?

We are asking you to please consider taking action:
Join the facebook group that has been set up by the midwife's supporters - Save HBAC in Australia (over 1000 people joined in the first 24 hrs)
http://is.gd/ACMsXm
 
Talk to family and friends, spreading the word about this issue
 
Most importantly, call / write to the people below expressing:

• your anger/concern that women's rights to choose where and how they birth are being eroded
• that the actions being taken are resulting in a situation that is less safe for mothers and babies than would otherwise be the case
• that you ask/demand that a woman's right to choose homebirth be supported and respected

Mr Martin Fletcher
CEO
AHPRA
G.P.O. Box 9958
Melbourne VIC 3001
Ph: 1300 419 495

The Hon. Dr Kim Hames
Minister for Health, WA
28th Floor, Govenor Stirling Tower
197 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Ph: 08 9222 8788
Fax: 08 9222 8799
minister.hames@dpc.wa.gov.au

The Hon. Nicola Roxon
Minister for Health and Ageing
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Ph: 02 6277 7220
Fax: 02 6273 4146
Nicola.roxon.mp@aph.gov.au

Ms Tracy Martin
President
Australian College of Midwives
PO Box 87
Deakin West ACT 2600
Ph: 1300 360 480
Fax: 02 6230 6033
tracymartin000@gmail.com
 
There are links to other Health Minister's contact details and further information on the facebook page.

Please get in touch with us to alert us to any issues you are having with accessing care from private midwives due to the new legislation and regulations.  This is very important as we continue to campaign to protect our birthing rights.