Re: [ozmidwifery] How long before synto is used?

[Stephen & Felicity]

Interesting, Megan.  The thing that is alarming to me in this scenario is not the possible cash motivation, but the fact that "scheduling" and "delaying" birth is considered to be something we as human beings have a right to do as a normal part of our birthing processes.  Also the "tsk tsk for shame" in this article seems to be solely directed at the birthing women, and not the professionals willing to intervene in the birth process to suit a timetable.  Women aren't doing their own Inductions and Caesareans.   ----- Original Message ----- From: Megan & Larry To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2006 3:31 PM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] How long before synto is used? We talk about choices, but look what we will do for free cash ???   Megan (whose 4th was born on his timing 2 weeks before the magic date)   Baby bonus creates hospital havoc 18jun06 THE introduction of the baby bonus on July 1, 2004, caused more than 1000 scheduled births to be delayed, a new study shows. In its May 2004 Budget, the Federal Government announced a maternity payment – $3,000 for every baby born on or after July 1. Research by Melbourne Business School economist Professor Joshua Gans and Australian National University economist Dr Andrew Leigh has shown there were more births on July 1, 2004, than on any other single date in the past 30 years. "We estimate that around 700 births were shifted from the last week of June 2004 into the first week of July 2004," Dr Leigh said. "But more troublingly, we found that around 300 births were moved by more than two weeks." The researchers also found that the share of births that were induced or delivered by caesarean section was high in July 2004. Dr Leigh said hospitals needed to plan for July 1 this year, when the bonus rises from $3,000 to $4,000. "Maternity hospitals should expect fewer babies in the last week of June and more in the first week of July," Dr Leigh said.