RE: [ozmidwifery] Fw: PI Insurance - urgent - more interested midwives needed

[Tania Smallwood]

Just wanted to weigh in on this discussion…   I agree Lisa, there is so much fear and distrust of birth, and the processes that make it safe, that I don’t think insurance will make an ounce of difference per se, to the culture surrounding birth in this country. That’s not to say that it isn’t a positive step, and that we all shouldn’t be appreciative of the exhaustive efforts of those such as Barb Vernon, Joy Johnston and all the others who have worked hard to get this offer to the table.  I also know that there are many IPM’s out there who whilst agreeing that of course we should have fair and affordable access to insurance, for one reason or another would choose not to have it.  Whether that’s wise, or professional is another debate altogether, and I think that the reasons for wanting or not wanting to take up the offer of insurance would be equally as diverse as the opinions on any topic we have discussed on this list.    I keep thinking back to the first midwifery conference I went to in New Zealand, and whilst I’m aware that their system is not perfect by any means, it does have a few wonderful innovations such as no fault liability…but I digress…and I remember Karen Guilliland speaking passionately about how the impetus for change in the system over there came from a core group of dedicated and passionate midwives, in conjunction with the women of New Zealand, who demanded something better.  How do we get around the fact that we have a culture and generations of women here who believe that they are getting the best already, and that anything less than a private Ob in a private hospital is substandard, and more importantly, not as safe?  We have so much work to do to raise the profile of midwifery care, and to make it something that all women demand, and feel that they are deserving of.  Starting with the women who are of birthing age now is too late, I fear.  They are already heavily indoctrinated to think of birth as intrinsically dangerous, and as something that requires specialist care, especially if you can afford it.  I don’t know how many of my well meaning friends looked forlornly at me when we talked about choosing a midwife and planning a homebirth, and asked sadly why we had let our private health insurance lapse.  They actually felt sorry for me!  I found it incredulous to think that not one of my friends, all educated women, some already mothers themselves, saw any value in having a known midwife attend them for their labour and birth, let alone for all the wonderful ante and post natal care.  They just didn’t get why that was important to me.  So yes, I think we need to start with programmes in schools and preschools, normalizing birth, using the word midwife, birth, alongside the words joy, power, satisfaction and safety.   We need to have the idea of having your own midwife, regardless of where you choose to birth, in every little person’s mind, as the normal thing to do.  How we do that, I don’t know.  But I do think it’s worth us being open to looking at an insurance offer, given that it’s the first one we’ve had any proximity to in 5 years now, keeping in mind that it won’t be the answer to everything…   Sorry for the rant, but wanted to have some input while it was still in my fuzzy head (this cold just won’t go away)   Tania x   From: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of Lisa Barrett Sent: Tuesday, 5 September 2006 3:30 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Fw: PI Insurance - urgent - more interested midwives needed   Hi there Jo,   For the homebirth movement to move forward here we need to dispel the fear that women have surrounding birth, no amount of insurance can do that.   I don't think that because they are the only company offering insurance at the moment that is the main consideration at all.  Would you buy rotten fruit if it was all that was on offer ( not comparing rotten fruit with the offer at all you understand).   At the uni of SA student's can attend homebirths in fact I had a birth this week with a student attending.  How is it that they are able to and others eg in South Aus Flinders Uni can't.  Maybe it has more to do with politics of birth than insurance.   I am doing my best along with other independent's in this state to raise the profile of birth, insurance is not the only way to do this.   I do get fed up when on the odd occasion I have been with a woman birthing at the hospital at the attitude of some (by no means all) but catching the baby isn't the be all and end all of my job.  Getting the woman the birth she desires is way more important and if that means advocating from the side line I swallow my pride and get on with it.   All that said I would love as much as everyone else to have insurance as a rod to help me.  But it has to be right and open discussion is really important even before we blindly sign up to anything.   Thanks for your input Lisa   ----- Original Message ----- From: jo To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 10:48 AM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Fw: PI Insurance - urgent - more interested midwives needed   Hi all,   Although not a midwife yet I attended the Sydney meeting with members of ASIM as an HBA rep. The offer to me sounded good in that you are only paying insurance for the actual births you attend. It’s not just a 1 off fee. Therefore if you are a hosp mw who’d like to do a few hb’s a year you only pay insurance for those few you attend and if you are a full time city based hb midwife attended 30 births a year – that’s what you pay for.   The other issue to consider is that this is the only company who are willing to offer insurance to mw’s, there has been a lot of work done on this issue over the past 5 years and no other insurance company has been willing to come to the party. In order for homebirth to move fwd both for mw’s and women in Aus we need to secure insurance – then perhaps the student mw’s may get rights to accompany IPM’s to hb’s, hb mw’s may get rights in hosp to continue their care of the woman should a transfer become necessary, Publicly Funded hb may become a real option for women and it can only be a positive step in terms of raising the profile of IPM’s.   I suggest any mw who would like to raise the profile of the profession and help to make hb a real choice for Australian women register their interest and once the 200 are on a list discussions can begin on how it will all work.   Warm regards Jo Hunter National Convenor HBA HAS Coordinator Innate Birth CBE and doula   From: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of Lisa Barrett Sent: Tuesday, 5 September 2006 8:25 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Fw: PI Insurance - urgent - more interested midwives needed   Hi Everyone,   I'm interested to know everyone's thoughts on the PI.  I work solely as an independent and I must be honest I don't think this offer is great.  We shouldn't rush into anything just because we think PI gives us credibility.  I haven't really seen any huge discussion on this anywhere.  Has there been a gathering of Independent's that I missed to go into detail on this offer or even what we want and expect from our insurance?  We don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot yet again in our eagerness to portray ourselves as professionals.    Lisa Barrett ----- Original Message -----     From: Andrea Bilcliff To: Ozmidwifery Sent: Monday, September 04, 2006 6:48 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Fw: PI Insurance - urgent - more interested midwives needed   FYI...   ----- Original Message ----- From: Robyn Thompson   Please forward this on to as many midwives as possible.   It would be great if more colleagues could contact Dr Barb Vernon, Executive Officer, ACMI as soon as possible to add your names to the list for PI Insurance.  We need 200 before we can start the process, so far there are 90.   Let’s get the PI rolling for the greater good of our profession   Warm regards,  Robyn       [EMAIL PROTECTED]   -- No virus found in this incoming message. 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