I've sent this to GD... FYI B Dear Geraldine and Producers of Life Matters,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on your Program yesterday. We very much appreciate the chance to discuss the issues of women's choices in childbirth in more than 30 seconds!! I apologize for being less concise at times than I had hoped. Your decision to use a panel of speakers was a credit to you and helped cover a broad range of issues efficiently. A key point I had wanted to say on air is that the National Maternity Action Plan is not about homebirth. We recognize that, notwithstanding all the research evidence on the safety of homebirth attended by an expert midwife, home is not most women's idea of the safest environment. It is crucial for a good birth outcome that women give birth where they feel safe. For this reason the National Maternity Action Plan argues the case for women to have universal access to one-to-one, continuity of care from a known midwife regardless of where she chooses to give birth - whether at home, in a birth centre, or a hospital delivery suite or theatre. In short, it is the MODEL OF CARE rather than the LOCATION of birth that research shows produces such positive outcomes for mothers and babies. I have attached a copy of the draft National Maternity Action Plan for your information. The Plan summarizes the latest research evidence on midwifery care. It explains the basis for our view that this would benefit all women and should be embraced by governments as a mainstream part of Australian maternity services. The Plan is in final draft form and will be launched nationally in August once endorsements have been finalized. I hope you will read it. I respect your skepticism, Geraldine, about the broader appeal of midwifery-led care. Your reservations are no doubt reflective of the views of a majority of your listeners. What most women don't realize is that one-to-one midwifery care is a 'Rolls Royce option' in maternity care. I am convinced if women only knew on a wide scale what this care offers they would be queuing in the streets at the doors of community midwives in their thousands. Certainly women in New Zealand (and Canada and the UK too) are voting with their feet in their thousands and choosing a midwife as their lead carer, as you mentioned on air. Again, thank you for the air time on these issues. regards Dr Barbara Vernon National President The Maternity Coalition -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
