"Its midwifery Jim, but not as we know it - - -"

The Australian maternity system is in crisis. Everybody is aware of the looming “illegality” of Registered Midwives attending home births, and many families have been stirred into action. New blogs (such as my own), websites, protests, visits to politicians, submissions to parliament, press releases and news articles. It has been wonderful to see the response from the general public to this travesty – to this blatant disregard for basic human rights, and I thank every person who has written letters and attended or will attend rallies. What has upset me most about the protest is the focus being on the Midwife and not the woman and her right to choose what she feels is the safest birth for her. Don’t get me wrong, my midwife heart is devastated – but somehow the main protests seem to miss the point entirely.

This is all about a medical dominion over childbirth and therefore over women. One particular philosophy (and not necessarily the philosophy with the scientific evidence to back up its claims, just the most common) has reached out its tentacles to once and for all crush all opposing philosophies. (“Our way or the wrong way!”) For the majority of women, going along with the medical system is almost a part of our genetics – but for some – free thinking is important. And what these women discover is that there is a better way for them – a way more aligned with their own philosophy. A way with more compassion, more heart, more power, more truth, more comfort and respect: and because of these things – more safety. By calling for the government to pay for home birth, to fund it through Medicare, it has brought national political attention to a quiet yet growing group of informed women who choose to do things a different way to medical dogma. The flow on from this has served to shine a light on the powerful medical lobby who is calling for the severe restriction and regulation of Midwife practice, and to remove certain choices that women have previously had about their own births. And they have succeeded.

Now, some very positive things have been happening on the political scene. Senator Fielding has come out in support of Registered Midwives being able to continue to attend home births and so have the Greens Party – and the latest news is that discussion with the Senate has been positive .

For a look at the recent rally go to -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhfSJlWbMaU&feature=PlayList&p=CC6EA57B9C8EDDB1&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

To see the Greens Media Release about their position on home births go to - http://greens.org.au/node/5013


Maybe a way will be found for Registered Midwives to continue to legally practice in women’s homes. But if home birth Midwifery does remain legal, in some respects it is too late. Midwifery as we know it has changed forever – regardless of what happens now. Some regard this as a good thing – I am heartbroken. Home birth Midwives who have been practicing for years will not automatically be able to continue with their practice – they will need “further education” to ensure that they conduct themselves more in line with medical line of thought and ‘professional standards’. Women will be “allowed” to birth at home only under certain circumstances (and the guidelines will be strict) and will not be free to determine their own situation and evaluate their own risk according to their own individual situation. Home births will only be “allowed” when the woman and midwife work in “collaborative practice” with a willing doctor. I wish to be very clear – all women and all midwives should seek a good working relationship with the medical community – true collaboration is essential for the ultimate care for women. Some women will very much need the skills of obstetricians during the course of their pregnancy and birth. But for the majority – this care is unneeded and unwelcome and should not be forced upon a woman who is experiencing a normal pregnancy and birth. The bottom line of this collaborative practice that the government wants to implement means supervision and ensuring the woman complies with all medical protocol – that is if a woman can find a doctor willing to work in this way in the first place. The medical regulation of midwifery practice is not of any advantage to the woman who chooses not to follow the standard recommendations of medical protocol. Women have a right to good information about the pros and cons of all aspects of their care– something they DO NOT get from the medical profession. The standard approach is “we have examined everything scientifically for you because it is too complicated for you to understand without a medical degree, and we have come to the conclusion that this is the best course of action. Trust us.” Women also have the right to choose a different course of action – a right that is rapidly being denied her. A Midwife’s role is to assist the woman in gathering information that will help her make a decision, help her apply it to her own individual situation, provide an open and honest support system for the woman to fully explore the consequences of her decision, and then to support the woman (and facilitate) her choice. The heart of midwifery – that of being with women and supporting and enabling her decisions will be lost under protocol and bureaucracy. It is still called ‘Midwifery’ – but it will not resemble anything that truly represents the heart and essence of a Midwife.