BIRTH ACTION NEWS

MC Qld Planning Sunday 19 Feb

2012-02-05T19:29:00.000-08:00

All welcome to attend MC’s Planning Day for 2012

Sunday

19^th February

10:00 – 4:00

177 Frasers Road Mitchelton

Come along and learn more about Maternity Coalition.

Connect with other families and be updated on current

issues and campaigns.

Hear about the many ways you can help shape maternity services in Australia.

Children very welcome

Please bring a plate to share for lunch and a gold coin donation for morning and afternoon tea.

RSVP ildikokeogh@yahoo.com

or 0419 756 240 by the 15 February

Face of Birth Film Screening Tuesday 13 March

2012-02-05T19:00:00.001-08:00

and

presents

7 pm Tuesday 13 March 2012

Schonell Cinema, UQ St Lucia campus, Brisbane Qld

Tickets: $20

Purchase now online @ http://www.webticketing.com.au/DisplayEvent.aspx?eventid=216

About the film Face of Birth

Scientific evidence shows that how we are born has a huge impact on our health and happiness - as babies, children and, for some of us - for the rest of our lives.

Home birth mothers believe that they are making the best and safest choice for themselves and their babies. Mainstream medicine in Australia, unlike the UK, thinks otherwise.

This is a film about families that choose to give birth at home, the midwives and health professionals who support them and a system that works against them

MC QLD Branch Meeting

2011-07-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

All welcome to attend MC’s next meeting

Come along and learn more about Maternity Coalition.

Be updated on current campaigns and listen to the many ways you can help shape maternity services in Australia.

Wednesday 3^rd August

10:00 – 12:30

218 Gladstone Road, Dutton Park (opp Pope St)

Please bring something to share for morning tea.

Children very welcome

RSVP ildikokeogh@yahoo.com

Phone Ali 3844 3048 by 1^st August

MC QLD Branch Meeting

2011-06-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

QLD Branch Meeting

All welcome to come along and learn more about Maternity Coalition.

Listen to the many ways you can help shape maternity services in Australia.

Wednesday June 15^th

10:30 – 12:30

NUNDAH NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

14 Station Street, Nundah

Children welcome. There is a lovely playground for them to enjoy

Please bring something to share for morning tea.

RSVP ildikokeogh@yahoo.com by 16 June

Nundah Community Centre http://www.nundahcc.org.au/

2011-06-08T19:13:00.000-07:00

Volunteers needed for MC Stall at PBC Expo 24 - 26 June

MC QLD is once again having a stall at the Pregnancy, Babies and Children Expo at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank on 24-26 June and we'd really appreciate some help.

If you can spare a few hours on either day we'd love to hear from you. Please email ildikokeogh@yahoo.com with your name, contact details and availability as soon as you can.

This is a great opportunity to share information about Pregnancy, Birth and Postnatal Options.

Tickets are free and can be downloaded from www.pbcexpo.com.au/brisbane-ticket/

2011-05-31T03:30:00.001-07:00

Mums celebrate caring midwives

IT was the International Day of the Midwife recently, and Goondiwindi mothers were quick to sing the praises of the Goondiwindi Midwifery Group.

The practice, in its third year of operation, has proved to be a success story. So much so that similar groups will be developed throughout the Darling Downs.

The Goondiwindi Midwifery Group Practice was the first of its kind on the Downs and offers a continuity of care model of service.

This model ensures women receive their pregnancy, birth and post-natal care from a known midwife.

And now that the government has committed to providing Australian women with medicare rebates for private midwifery care, more birth choices are accessible and available.

Former Goondiwindi resident, Alecia Sutton had her first baby using the Goondiwindi model.

“It is great to have a one on one relationship with your midwife, you know that she is just a phone call away and you develop the confidence to have the birth you want.

“The benefits of such services include a feeling of empowerment from the confidence developed with a one to one relationship, a heightened knowledge of mothers on pregnancy and birth, and less medical intervention during birth. “These combining factors contribute to a better start for mothers and their babies,” she said.

An upcoming community meeting with Maternity Coalition Queensland and The Australian College of Midwives Queensland will inform local women of the birthing choices available.

If you would like more information about this meeting please phone Ildiko Keogh on 0419 756 240, Alecia Sutton 0401033348 or Meghan Keleher on 0439 184 837.

Consumer Representation Survey and Training

2011-05-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone

As you might already be aware, the Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies is working in partnership with MC Qld and Health Consumers Queensland to develop and evaluate a pilot consumer rep training program. For those in Queensland, QCMB's april newsletter is attached here with information about how to get involved in the project. We are particularly excited by the project because, uniquely, it is being developed by consumers, for consumers. (Jo Smethurst, Ali Gaffney and I are working on it, with QCMB.)

One of the things the project needs now is advice for experienced maternity consumer representatives (from all over, now just those in Qld) about the training needs of beginning consumer reps. To this end, we have created a brief survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JJVDQWV If you are an experienced consumer rep, we would be really grateful if you would take a few minutes to complete the survey. The first workshop is due to be delivered on June 30, so we really need your input ASAP, but certainly no later than June 1.

It would also be great if you could forward this request throughout your networks so that we can get feedback from as many experienced consumer reps as possible.

We will keep you posted about the progress of the project!

Cheers,

Bec.

Bec Jenkinson

Maternity Coalition

Queensland Branch President

qldpresident@maternitycoalition.org.au

(h) 07 3351 4834

(m) 0439 765 633

Maternity Consumer Representative Training Program

The Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies has partnered with Health Consumers QLD and Maternity Coalition to develop, implement and evaluate a pilot training program specifically for consumer representatives of maternity services.

This pilot training program aims to support consumers to be actively involved in policy, service planning and evaluation decision-making about maternity services in Queensland. The pilot will target areas with maternity facilities planning significant maternity model of care changes.

If you’ve ever been pregnant and have an interest in improving your local pregnancy, birth and post-natal care options then you can be a part of this training program. It’s not essential, but you might also identify with one of the following characteristics:
• are currently active in a maternity consumer organisation
• have an interest in policy, planning, service delivery and evaluation of maternity services
• live in an area where your local maternity facility is planning significant changes to the way in which women receive care (model of care changes) and are interested in maternity issues – or you may want your local facility to plan some significant changes!

Training participants will not need any specific skills or qualifications. Efforts are being made to ensure a broad demographic of consumers will participate in the training.

The first training workshop is planned to take place in Brisbane on Thursday, June 30, 2011 with another workshop planned for early 2012. We’ll give participants the assistance they need to attend the workshop. Workshop participants will receive on-going support through:
• on-line resources
• networking with other consumer representatives across the state
• mentored by consumer consultants and/or other experienced consumer representatives.

How you can help
We would also like you all to spread the word about this project in the following ways:

For consumers:
Let fellow consumers and consumer groups know that they can access this training.
Register your interest in participating in this training. Call 07 3346 3069 or email consumerconsultantali@gmail.com

If you’re an experienced consumer representative and would like to support and mentor another person, please call or email us on the contact details above.

For maternity workers:
Keep an eye out for consumers who might be interested in consumer representation and this training program.

Contact Health Consumers QLD for advice and support to facilitate a positive relationship with your consumer representatives. Ph: 1800 613 251 or 32340611

For more information contact:
Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies
Ali Gaffney, Bec Jenkinson or Joanne Smethurst
Ph: 07 3346 3069

Trivia Night Fundraiser for Cambodia

2011-04-28T04:38:00.000-07:00

Vicki Chan, midwife extraordinaire has recently been in Cambodia helping set up a new birth centre for local families through LifeOptions.

LifeOptions is a Health Education organisation that established in Australia, and works in Thailand, India, Nepal and Cambodia. In recent years, the not-for-profit organisation has moved into selected areas in Cambodia to improve healthcare. Now, birth and health centres have been opened, and LifeOptions is helping to create and improve schools, toilets, gardens, roads, etc., to improve and save lives in these communities, that face every day battles with poverty, hunger, diarrhoea, respiratory problems, and women’s health issues, including many mothers dying during childbirth and abortion.

In an effort to support LifeOptions and the community they help, this fun night will raise much-needed funds. The aim is $2000 for a life-saving tuk-tuk ambulance... any money raised above that amount will go into other projects in the community.

Time:Saturday, May 7 · 6:30pm - 11:00pm

Location: Upstairs function room @ Maroochy RSL Memorial Avenue
Maroochydore, Australia

Trivia will be run by Trivia Time (with prizes on offer), the bar will be open, and a selection of great prizes will be on offer, including (so far):

-vouchers from local businesses
-photography packs
-framed art
-massage vouchers
-beauty services vouchers
-chiropractic vouchers
-CDs/DVDs
-Instrumental accessories
-signed AFL (Lions) and NRL (Cowboys) jerseys.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

1. Transfer funds (tickets are $35 p/head) to
Alison Chan
Commonwealth Bank
BSB 064121
ACC 1000 8207
Please put your full name as your transaction description.

2. Send an email to cambodiatriviafundraiser@hotmail.com outlining how many tickets you would like, the amount you have transfered, and a postal address you would like them sent to.

Please spread the word - all are welcome. Tickets will be $35 p/head and seating is limited so tickets must be pre-booked. ALL FUNDS RAISED will go to supporting LifeOptions Cambodia.

Trivia night facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=111837502232364

For more information on LifeOptions, check out:
http://www.lifeoptions.asia/ <http://www.lifeoptions.asia/>
or add their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150170304733103&id=664578102&aid=342223#!/pages/LifeOptions-Direct-Empowerment-Cambodia-Nepal/105539079473682?sk=info <http://www.facebook.com/pages/LifeOptions-Direct-Empowerment-Cambodia-Nepal/105539079473682?sk=info>
or read Vicki's blog:
http://vicki-chan.blogspot.com/2011/03/making-of-birth-centre.html <http://vicki-chan.blogspot.com/2011/03/making-of-birth-centre.html>

International Day of the Midwife 5km celebratory walk.

2011-04-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone

What are you doing to celebrate International Day of the Midwife? If you are in Brisbane and up for an early start, it would be great to see you at this special event! See info below.

Cheers

Bec.

Australian College of Midwives Queensland Branch is delighted to invite you all to attend our International Day of the Midwife 5km celebratory walk.

Midwives and their supporters around the world are walking to raise awareness of global inequalities in maternal and newborn health.

On 5th May 2011 the Australian College of Midwives Queensland Branch (ACMQ) will lead midwives and mothers in a 5 km walk from Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) to Mater Mothers Hospital to mark International Day of the Midwife 2011. Over 340,000 women die each year, with millions more suffering infection and disability, as a result of preventable maternal causes. The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is committed to reducing inequality, through greater access to essential midwifery care worldwide, particularly in developing countries where 90% of maternal deaths occur.

Here in Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are almost three times more likely to die while pregnant, during labour and up to six weeks after giving birth than non-indigenous women. We want to see all Indigenous mothers and babies accessing safe maternity care through increased Government commitment to culturally appropriate maternity services. To this end the ACM has established the Rodanthe Lipsett Scholarship fund to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander women to study to become midwives. Entrance is free but any funds raised at the walk in Brisbane will be donated to this fund.

The walk on the 5th of May is the start of a journey that finishes at the ICM Congress in Durban in June 2011, a global gathering where 3000 midwives will share evidence of what works to reduce maternal mortality and improve the care and support available to mothers and newborns around the world.
Please see attached flyer and press release about this event.

How you can become involved:

• Join us for the walk: invite your family and friends and the women and families you have cared for!

• Print the flyer and display prominently in your workplace - Click here for FLYER

• Send the Press Release to any News, Radio, Newspaper or other media contacts you may have. Click here for Press Release

• Please RSVP Jane Menke j.menke@griffith.edu.au with 'IDM walk RSVP' in the subject line

• See updates for the event on facebook: 'International day of the Midwife 5km walk'

GOLD COAST HOSPITAL BIRTHING SERVICES, MODELS OF CARE WORKSHOP

2011-04-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

As part of a project to implement the recommendations of the Birthing
Services Review, the Gold Coast Hospital is holding a Workshop. The
purpose of this workshop is to guarantee a space and time for the
voices not yet heard to contribute to this process. Please expect to
participate in small and large group conversations with this shared
purpose.

WHEN: FRIDAY 6th May 2011
TIME: 1-5 pm
VENUE: SHARKS FC
The Functions Centre
Cnr of Musgrave & Olsen Ave
Southport

Facilitated by Scott Arbuthnot
Small & large group conversations about:
Continuity of care models around Australia & options for the GCH
Current research: Midwives @New Group Practice Options (M@NGO, RCT)
Logan Hospital Midwifery Group Practice for vulnerable women- the
experiences of the women & midwives
Models of care and partnerships with Doctors
Midwives working in the Birth Centre, sharing their experiences as MGP
midwives
Women & families share their stories & experiences of Birthing Services at
GCH
Young Parents voices- ‘What are their choices?’ – Presented by YHES House

Participation from consumers, GP’s,
Staff, midwifery and medical is essential to
this process.
This is an exciting opportunity to participate
in the redesign, of your Birthing Service & the
journey to the new Gold Coast University
Hospital.

To help with numbers for afternoon tea,
please RSVP by the 4th May, if you are coming to:

Anne Moore, Midwifery Practice Project
Manager, via e-mail:
anne_moore@health.qld.gov.au
or text: 0401 049 715

Help with children will be available

If you are a Gold Coast local or have an interest in Gold Coast birthing options, please consider attending. Deirdrie Cullen has been our consumer rep on the project and would happily answer any inquiries you might have about the workshop. Her email address is dd@split-image.com.au.

Could you also please let Bec Jenkinson know if you are planning on attending so that she can ensure MC is represented by a number of reps: qldpresident@maternitycoalition.org.au or (h) 07 3351 4834 (m) 0439 765 633. Thank you.

birth choices television commercial

2011-03-29T02:58:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Midwives Australia and Maternity Coalition are applying to SBS TV for some sponsored airtime for television commercial raising awareness of birth choices, as part of the SBS Foundation's support program for community and not-for-profit groups. To be successful, we need your help

We need to provide a 30-second TV-ready commercial. Nic Edmonstone, noted Brisbane film maker specialising in birth films, has offered her creative support to the project but we urgently need digital images and footage related to birth, pregnancy care or early motherhood. Please circulate this request far and wide via all your networks, and lets see how many beautiful images we can collect

Given SBS's focus on cultural diversity, we are particularly keen to include some images/footage which show culturally diverse birth practices/traditions. So please make an extra special effort to extend this request to those who might be able to share such images in particular

Before sending us any images or footage, please ensure that you have permission of all people depicted in the footage/images to share them, and for them to be potentially included in a TV commercial. Midwives Australia and Maternity Coalition will not use the images for any other purpose and we hope that the involvement of Nic Edmonstone in the project will also give people confidence that their images will be treated with the utmost respect.

Please send digital footage/images to tvcommercial@maternitycoalition.org.au as an attachment.
In the text of the email please include your name, address, email address and telephone contact details. Please also include the following statement: "I give Midwives Australia and Maternity Coalition permission to use my attached footage/images for a TV commercial raising awareness of birth choices. I have permission to share this footage/images from all people depicted. I acknowledge that my footage/images may not be used in the final TV commercial and that the TV commercial is part of a proposal to SBS television that may be unsuccessful. I understand that my footage/images will not be used for any other purpose."

Thank you for your help – we will contact everyone that submits images/footages to let you know the outcome of our proposal.

Kind regards,

Sarah Kerr
National President
maternitycoalition.org.au

sarah.kerr@maternitycoalition.org.au

08 8369 2101 or 0417 381 598

The Homebirth Shindig!

2011-03-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

Homebirthers! Midwives! Homebirth supporters! Friends & Families!

Please come celebrate the past, present and future of our home birth community!

Saturday March 12, 2011, 5pm – 10pm

Helensvale Community Centre (South Hall)

31 Discovery Dr., Helensvale QLD

(only a few minutes off the M1)

PROGRAM

5pm – 6pm: Happy Hour and Raw Chocolate Smoothies!

5.30pm – 6.30pm: Singer/Songwriter Maryen Cairns on “Rock Maid to Mummy & More”

6.30pm: Dinner vegan, dairy free & gluten free food by ANA’s Catering, plus a couple of roast’s and a variety of homemade deserts

7.30pm Guest Speaker Dr Sarah Buckley Author of “Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering”, well known GP & Homebirth mum!

8pm – 10pm Lilobao & The Serpentine Dancers African Drumming & Dancers!

Interspersed with mother & son duo

Josie & Ethan Kernaghan

Face painting for the kids/ HMA stall/ Home-grown Arts & Crafts stalls/ Fabulous Raffle!!!

Tickets:

$20 p/p or $50 per family (+ $15 for extra tribe members) includes dinner and soft drink tickets for each person

Children under 5 are free

Prepaid tickets are preferred: on sale at support groups or by direct deposit: email treasurer@homebirth.org.au for details

The facebook event link is: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199882620024592

Please email treasurer@homebirth.org.au numbers of adults and children coming to the event so we can make sure we get catering numbers right!

“It's been about 5 years since we've celebrated as a community. Let's reconnect with old friends and meet new ones on March 12. Be inspired and revitalize your homebirth spirit when you listen to our guest speaker, the awesome Dr. Sarah Buckley! Enhance the community by sharing information; build new relationships; dance to the rhythms of home grown beats or watch the tribal dancing of Lilobao and the Serpentine Dancers. A scrumptious dinner, music, and dancing - what better way to bring a community together?!” Hollie Singleton, HMA Convenor

Please note all funds go to the Home Midwifery Association in support of homebirth choices and keeping your local support groups active.

This event is also listed on Facebook! Please "Like" our page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199882620024592#!/pages/Home-Midwifery-Association-QLD-Inc/157800367603126 and share this event with your friends!

Feel Free to forward to all like minded people!!!

MC Qld Branch annual Orientation & Planning Workshop

2011-02-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

On Sunday Feb 27, MC Qld Branch is holding our annual Orientation & Planning Workshop (agenda to follow shortly). Please circulate this information throughout your networks - especially in regional Queensland.

Last year, we saw a number of key milestones in the reform marathon - Medicare for Midwives is now a reality and the Queensland government has committed to expanding women's access to continuity of carer models by 2013. We also have involvement in a long awaited Consumer Representative Training project, under the auspices of Qld Centre for Mothers and Babies.

In 2011, our work will be focused on bedding down those milestones and ensuring that women remain central to their implementation. As the work begins in hospitals across Qld to create or expand continuity of carer models (in order to meet the government target by 2013), we will need an unprecedented number of consumer representatives making their voices heard. As Midwives take up the opportunities afforded by access to Medicare, we need to continue our work resolving the challenges of collaborative arrangements and also raise awareness in the community about this new care option. And of course, for MC to continue to be a vibrant and relevant consumer voice in birth reform, we need to have a special focus on membership and recruitment.

If you're already an active member of MC, if you have ideas or special interest in any of the above focus areas for 2011, or if you have a strategy that you’d like to propose, then you’ll want to be there to help shape our direction for 2011.

If you’re a relative new comer to the world of birth reform activism, this day is a great way to learn more and get involved. Whatever your interests, however much (or little) time you have, there is some way that you can help MC. Maybe you’d like to host a movie night or tell your birth story at an event? Maybe your curiosity has been piqued by the notion of consumer representation? Perhaps you are willing to open your home as a venue for branch meetings. Maybe you prefer work behind the scenes, caring for children, cooking a meal or driving other members to meetings – these are critical contributions that allow MC members to do the work that we do. Every effort makes a difference – enables us to keep driving forward in the campaign for “Every woman, Every choice”.

Please come along! Come to find out more. Come to meet other like-minded people. Come to dip your toe (or your whole leg) into the waters of birth reform.

Who: You (babes-in-arms welcome)

Where: 177 Frasers Rd, Mitchelton

When: 9am to 3pm, 27 Feb 2010

What to bring: A delicious dish for a shared lunch; Gold coin donation for morning tea; Your ideas, energy & enthusiasm.

RSVP: by email or phone to Ildiko Keogh by February 18.

07 32890184
ildikokeogh@yahoo.com

Consumers in regional Queensland who may need sponsorship for travel to attend are encouraged to contact Ildiko to discuss.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Cheers,

Bec Jenkinson

Maternity Coalition

Queensland Branch President

qldpresident@maternitycoalition.org.au

Would you like extra support in pregancy and for your birth

2011-01-21T02:47:00.000-08:00

Are you pregnant? Know someone who is pregnant? There are midwifery students all over Queensland who need to do 'follow-throughs' as part of their course requirements.

'Follow-throughs' are designed to allow students to build relationships with woman and her family that is consistent and continuous. These relationships are an invaluable way for midwifery students to learn about providing support when and where it is needed most.

With your permission midwifery students will attend your antenatal appointments, contribute to your care during labour and birth and visit you within the first few weeks after your baby is born. Students will be involved as much or as little as you like and you can withdraw at any time if you find it doesn't work for you. Best of all it doesn't cost anything!

Why not get in touch with your local university or hospital if you’d like this kind of support.

Medicare for Midwives

2011-01-21T02:44:00.000-08:00

Understand how Medicare will work for private practice midwives in a range of settings from
midwives who have worked in private practice.

January 29 8.30am – 4.30pm
Griffith University Nathan Campus, Brisbane

You will be provided with information about applying for Medicare eligibility, becoming a
Medicare provider, collaborative arrangements, establishing a business and sustaining your
private practice through change.

Liz Wilkes – Liz is a private practice midwife who has represented the Australian Private Midwives Association on the national Maternity Service Advisory Group and NHMRC Collaborative Guidance group. Liz has an intricate knowledge of the legislation and funding arrangements of the new reforms. Since the introduction of Medicare in November Liz has
become one of the first midwives in Australia to have a Medicare provider number and has established a private midwifery group practice in Toowoomba called My Midwives.

Due to the postponement of this workshop in Maleny due to flooding we are now conducting the workshop at Griffith University Nathan Campus on Saturday 29 January.

Registrations will be accepted until January 27.
The workshop will cost $125 and will include morning tea and afternoon tea.

A Business Resource folder and e-records will be available on the day.

This extremely interactive workshop is designed to allow you to put your application for eligibility together within the workshop and to facilitate you having assistance to do so.

MEDICARE FOR MIDWIVES - Get ready and GO FOR IT!
To register:
email Midwives Australia at info@midwivesaustralia.com.au
or phone 0427323621

Queensland Floods

2011-01-14T02:52:00.000-08:00

On behalf of Maternity Coalition Qld Committee,

With such tragic loss of life and destruction resulting from the floods across the state, know that our thoughts are with all of our members and their friends, families and midwives in flood affected areas.

For the families who have welcomed wee babes during these tumultuous days, we hope that their births mark a beacon of hope and a beginning of rebuilding in the most life-affirming way.

Stay safe.
Sincerely,

Bec Jenkinson

Maternity Coalition Queensland Branch President
qldpresident@maternitycoalition.org.au

Birth into Being film/talk night with Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova and Dr Sarah Buckley

2011-01-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

MC QLD are excited to have Elena Tonetti-Vladimirova, the maker of the film "Birth into Being" come to Brisbane in January 2011. She was involved in the early days of the water birth movement in Russia that has forever changed birth across the globe.

A film/talk night is being held with Elena and Dr Sarah Buckley.
Thursday 27 January 2011
6.30pm to 8.30pm
Chermside Library, meeting room 1
375 Hamilton Road
Chermside (plenty of free parking around the library, pool and Kedron Wavell Services Club)

Check out this website http://www.birthintobeing.com/ for info about the film, Elena and the workshop she'll be running in Brisbane that weekend.

She will be showing a 20 minute section of her film 'Birth as we Know it) then she and Dr Sarah Buckley, author of Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering, are doing a joint talk.

Find out more about Sarah's incredible work at www.sarahbuckley.com

The evening will be an informal, playful discussion and presentation, covering topics:
· Preparing for conscious birth, what it takes, what can be done.

· Ecstatic hormones, ecstatic birth: birthing for safety, ease and pleasure.

· Motherbaby: two are one

· Questions from the audience are welcome.

Tickets: $15 if you pre-pay by Monday 24 January 2011. $20 at the door. Birth partners are just $5 extra.

How to book: Email jsmethurst@maternitycoalition.org.au and say how many tickets you'd like then transfer the correct money to the Maternity Coalition bank account with a reference that starts with QLD and then your surname. For example "QLD Smethurst."

Bank account details:
Maternity Coalition, Commonwealth Bank
BSB 063 167
Account number 10108586

We should have a PayPal account set up by next week as another payment option. I will post details once that option is ready.

Seating is strictly limited and it's going to be a popular event so book early so you get your seat.

If you are expecting a baby - please come along and hear things about birth you'll hear from no-one else. This info applies whether you are birthing with a private obstetrician or midwife or public hospital or at home. Please bring along your birthing partner (only $5 for them to come along too) and let your other friends know. You will hear invaluable information that will help you and your baby get the best start in life together.

If you are a midwifery student - please pass this note along to all your peers so they get the once in a career opportunity to hear two of birth's 'greats' talk about why birth matters.

If you are a birth worker - please come along and bring your colleagues and clients. You will not be disappointed.

If you belong to another maternity group, please forward this note to all your members.

This is probably going to be MC QLD's only fundraiser for the year so please support it by sending this info to your networks and getting this message out far and wide.

Any questions, please email Jo Smethurst at jsmethurst@maternitycoalition.org.au

Huge thanks to Elena and Sarah for coming to MC with this idea. We are very grateful.

Early Bird Registration for PAssage to Motherhood Conference

2010-12-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

Only 3 weeks until the first early bird fee deadline for The Passage to Motherhood Conference, Michel Odent & Sara Wickham and Christina Smillie workshops around Australia and NZ, Maggie Banks and Complementary Therapies workshops in Brisbane.

Huge savings..and extra discounts for consumers, ABA/LLLNZ ...volunteers and student midwives not working as health professionals

Early bird registration deadline is 31st December

http://www.capersevents.com.au/passage-to-motherhood/

Consumer Representation and Political Advocacy Training Day

2010-10-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

ON September 18, 2010, MC Qld held its first ever training day for Consumers. The dynamic day focused on Consumer Representation and Political Advocacy skills. It was great to see people connecting in such an inspiring and educational way.

Here’s what participants had to say about the day:

"I think holding a training day like this at least every second month would be fantastic for myself as a consumer rep"

"Thank you for providing this opportunity to learn more about providing care to families as a consumer representative"

"I really enjoyed the day. It was so great to spend a day with such wonderful women discussing such an important subject. I felt the day was really positive and I now feel really empowered to be able to be a consumer rep on committees etc"

A humourous role play set the scene and the group teased out what it means to be a consumer rep, discussing the skills needed to do the job. It was great to meet new people and hear their enthusiasm for consumers to be fully informed and empowered in their decision making.

Many thanks to Hazel Brittain, Director of Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies, who spoke about accessing and interpreting evidence. These are important skills for consumers to know and it was great to have Hazel’s support and expertise.

Many thanks also to Di Farmer, State Member for Bulimba, who explained how to effectively lobby your member of parliament. Di’s practical advice gave us a plethora of strategies to use in developing and sustaining campaigns for birth reform. So thanks again Di for your time and knowledge.

A big thanks to Mel Hilditch and the Kyabra Community Association Inc for providing an excellent venue, Rebecca Jenkinson for her excellent facilitation, Bruce Teakle for his dramatist skills and of course to all the participants for making the day a huge success.

Transitions Postnatal Support Group

2010-10-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

Jane Campbell-Kaye and Suzanne Lister are running another of their Transitions Groups.

This is a Postnatal Support Group starting soon (Thursday 28 October) at the Quaker House,10 Hampson Street, Kelvin Grove.

Their new space is beautiful - the room looks out on a huge rainforest block. They take advantage of the bushwalk quite a few times for inspiration and the space seems to foster deep sharing in the group as well as time out to connect with nature.

The group allows for up to 10 mothers and their babies (preferably pre crawling).

There has been such positive feedback from women who have attended – who have relished the sense of community, connection, support and depth.

Here’s what women have said about Transitions:

"Being a part of this group gave me the opportunity to talk about some very real issues that I otherwise wouldn't have been comfortable sharing in another mothers group. E.g. relationship issues, body changes, sex, motherhood! The guidance and facilitation that Jane and Suzanne provided allowed us to talk about these issues in a way that felt safe."

"I really looked forward to coming to Transitions each week - it was a gentle and fun way to explore what it means to be a „mum‟ and all the changes to my life and relationships this new identity brings. I loved the chance to meet like-minded women and felt very supported by Jane and Suzanne. It was great „me time‟ and „me and baby time‟. Thanks so much."

"Having a safe and warm environment to come to each week helped to open up my heart post-baby. The trust and connectedness facilitated by two wonderful, experienced women created a bond strong enough for all members of the group to continue meeting past the workshop's completion. We are still meeting four months later."

"There is so much that I gained from this group that is hard to put into words. It was nurturing, supportive, honest/real, encouraging, helpful, humourous, and yummy (i.e. delicious morning teas!)."

See their website for more details http://www.postnatalsupport.com.au/

Or contact:
Jane Campbell-Kaye
3379 1896
jane@activebirthyoga.org

Suzanne Lister
0435 523 813
suzlister@postnatalsupport.com.au

Ecstatic birth and beyond - invitation to seminars on Oct 29

2010-10-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

Sarah Buckley is holding two half-day seminars in Brisbane on Friday Oct 29 with Birth International.

In the morning she will look at the hormones of labor and birth and the superb design of the female body for birthing safety, ease and ecstasy. Explore how this system is affected by various interventions and along the way, look at how birth has evolved and how our mammalian cousins, including cats dolphins, elephants and orang-utans give birth.

In the afternoon explore the hour after birth, and how this time is crucial to long-term heath and wellbeing for mother and baby. Topics cover the hormones involved, and the impact of interventions, including active management of third stage and separating mother and baby.

You can book for half- or get the full dose of birth ecstasy with the whole day.

These seminars were great in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra with midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, and various other birthies, (BTW you will also learn why birth is so addictive).

Book here:
Physiology of birth https://www.birthinternational.com/events/event/59/0
Hour after birth https://www.birthinternational.com/events/event/59/0

Training day on consumer representation and advocacy/lobbying skills

2010-08-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

Anyone interested in getting more involved in birth reform but not sure what they can do?
Already active but wanting to feel more ‘polished’ ? Then this is a day for you.

Come along on Saturday 18 September 2010 from around 9.30 to 4.30 (times to be finalised)

WHERE: Brisbane venue
COST: None except to get to Brisbane
WHY? Passionate about birth? Want more women/families to experience pregnancy, birth and post-natal care that is supportive, empowering and which gives women choice, continuity of carer and control?

This is a great chance for new members, and older experienced members to all get together and share info, knowledge and wisdom. To find out more, contact Jo Smethurst - (07) 3256 8127 / 0424 493 201 jsmethurst@maternitycoalition.org.au

Footprints On Our Hearts: Caring For Grieving Families

2010-08-25T05:10:00.000-07:00

This conference will provide midwives and clinicians with the theory, knowledge and skills in supporting families when a baby dies.

Date: Saturday 30 October 2010
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
Venue: Conference room, level 1, Mater Medical Centre, 293 Vulture Street, South Brisbane
Parking: available

Morning and afternoon tea and lunch provided.
Trade displays will be on show during the day.

Audience
Midwives, nurses and other health professionals
Please note: RCNA CPE points to be advised.

Speakers
Dr Judith Murray, Lecturer, The University of Queensland—Keynote address
Mr Alan Richardson, Clinical psychologist/lecturer—Grieving Men and the Couple’s Journey
Ms Liz Crowe, Social Worker—Children’s Grief
Dr Lucy Cooke, Neonatologist—Perinatal Mortality in Queensland
Ms Trish Wilson, Midwife/Counsellor—The Grief of the Carers

Program
• Keynote address
• Guest speakers
• Workshops—you will be able to attend three out of four workshops.

––Precious memories: mementoes and photographs to support memory creation
––But why did the baby die? Trying to find answers to difficult questions. Clinical investigations and perinatal death.
––Death, dying and bereavement support for different cultures
––Dealing with difficult situations: traumatic grief, end of life care and what to say to grieving parents.

Please contact Sally De La Cruz on 07 3163 5146 or sally.delacruz@mater.org.au for registration details.

Birth activists rally at the Press Club to meet PM

2010-08-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

About 35 women rallied at the National Press Club last Thursday in the hope of talking to Julia Gillard, PM about the midwifery reforms. Unfortunately all the big players (incl PM) went in the back door so they didn’t’ get to see Julia at all.

Here’s what Georgia from Canberra said:

“Lots of media. However we were not allowed to stand on the side of the National Press Club we had to stand across the road and they wouldn't let one of us stand there to hand out media release. Also 3 Aust Federal Policemen were there as well standing out the front making sure no one crossed the road. However the media did come over to us so we handed them media release and info about why we were there. Also at the end when it had finished Channel Ten someone Remington came over and he was talking and had his camera and we gave him a media release.There was a group for climate change and something about insulation as well. But the media came over to us it must have been the purple shirts and our loud voices. I did a quick head count and I counted about 35 women so it was a good turn out. The rain held off and it didn't start till 2pm as we were leaving. So I am on a high."

”

New MC National Blog

2010-08-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

There is a new blog from MC national – featuring Federal issues The first post was about the medical veto. Check it out and ‘follow’ it. : http://maternitycoalitionnational.blogspot.com/

Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies August 2010 Newsletter

2010-08-23T04:55:00.000-07:00

Choosing Where to Birth: What You Want To Know
The Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies is developing an online database called Birthplace to provide information to women about all birthing facilities in Queensland. We wanted to know what information would be most useful, both to help women make decisions about where to have a baby and help women know what to expect from their planned place of birth. To find out what information to include, we ran the My Birthplace Study and asked women to tell us what they would like to know. Here is what they said: Top 10 most important questions to ask a birthing facility when deciding where to birth:
1. Can my support people (e.g. partner, companion) be in the birth room when I’m having my baby?
2. Can I choose what position I want to be in during my labour and birth here (e.g. squatting, sitting, moving around)?
3. Does this facility have an intensive care unit for babies (i.e. a ‘NICU’)?
4. Can my partner stay overnight (and is there a cost for this)?
5. Would other women recommend this facility to their friends?
6. How many women have skin-to-skin contact with their baby straight after birth?
7. Will my support people (e.g. partner, companion) be made to feel welcome?
8. What methods of pain relief can I have?
9. Can I have a vaginal birth at this facility if I have had a caesarean section ('C-section') before? 10. Can I ask to have an epidural for pain management?

As you might expect, we also noticed some differences in what was important to women based on where they lived. For example, women from rural and remote areas of Queensland said they also wanted to know how far a birthing facility was from their home and whether there were places near the facility that their family and friends could stay.

Thank you to all the women who took part in this study – your opinions are extremely valuable to us and will help us to make Birthplace the most useful it can be to women and their families in Queensland. Birthplace will be launched in December 2010 www.havingababy.org.au/birthplace http://queenslandcentreformothersandbabies.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ctlhjd/hrhjjdtdj/r

For more information about Birthplace or the My Birthplace Study (or to tell us whether you agree or disagree with what women have told us!) please contact Aleena at http://www.blogger.com/info@havingababy.org.au

Survey Update The “Having a Baby in Queensland: Your Story” survey for 2010 is well and truly underway. The survey asks women about their experience of maternity care in Queensland so that we can find out what is working well in maternity care in Queensland, and what needs to be improved. At the beginning of July, women who had a baby in February were invited to take part in the survey. We’ve had a fantastic response, with over 1000 women completing the survey so far. If you had a baby in March, you should receive your invitation in the mail shortly, if you have not already received it. When you do get it, you can either fill in the question booklet and send it back to us, call us on 1800 704 539 to organise a time to do the survey over the phone or complete the survey online at www.havingababy.org.au/yourstory http://queenslandcentreformothersandbabies.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ctlhjd/hrhjjdtdj/y

Women who had a baby in April and May, your turn is coming! You can expect your invitations in the mail at the start of September and October. If you would like to complete the survey, but you didn’t have a baby between February and May this year, the survey is not open to you yet, but will be shortly. Fill in your details at www.havingababy.org.au/contact_us http://queenslandcentreformothersandbabies.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ctlhjd/hrhjjdtdj/j and we’ll let you know when the survey is ready for you to complete.

A big thank you to everyone who has already completed the survey, and to everyone else, we look forward to hearing your story.

Presentation at the 12th International Conference for Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP12)
The 12th International Conference for Language and Social Psychology (ICLASP) was held at Griffith University, Southbank campus in Brisbane in June, 2010. The conference, held every two years, brings together those interested in communication from a language and social point of view, exploring the many facets that can contribute to how we communicate with each other. The centre took the opportunity to present its work to the international audience present at ICLASP12. With two of our chief investigators, Cindy Gallois and Bernadette Watson, leading the Centre’s presentation, all presenters enjoyed showcasing the work of the Centre to an audience not directly involved in maternity care, bringing about new ideas to help advance our work.

Those who presented at the conference were: Michelle Heatley - Results of a survey on maternity care providers’ attitudes towards birth and collaboration
Yvette Miller - Listening for change: Results from the Having a Baby in Queensland pilot survey Rachel Thompson - The Having a Baby in Queensland book: Developing a resource to promote informed choice in maternity care
Aleena Wojcieszek - The Having a Baby in Queensland website: Techniques for effective online communication of pregnancy, birth, and postnatal health information.

If you would like any more information, please feel free to contact us: www.qcmb.org.au/contact_us http://queenslandcentreformothersandbabies.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ctlhjd/hrhjjdtdj/t

Centre welcomes new appointments
The QCMB recently welcomed the appointment of experienced midwife Hazel Brittain, current President of the Qld Branch of the Australian College of Midwives, to lead the Centre as acting director until the end of the year. An adjunct Associate Professor with Griffith University, Ms Brittain is taking a six month secondment from Logan Hospital where she is the current Nursing and Midwifery Director of Women and Children’s Services. Ms Brittain said she believed in informed choice for women and their families in maternity care, increasing access to continuity of care and carer models for maternity care, and improving collaboration between maternity carers. Ms Brittain will lead the centre until January 2011 when Professor Debra Creedy, the Head of Nursing at the National University of Singapore, will take on the role of Director.

Professor Creedy has a background as a registered nurse and clinical psychologist and is a past President of ANZAME, The Association for Health Professional Education. She has co-authored a textbook on health psychology, as well as more than 100 journal articles and book chapters. Her clinical research involves randomised controlled trials on effectiveness of counselling interventions to assist distressed postpartum women; models of best practice (e.g. promoting breastfeeding) and implementation of evidence into practice. Professor Creedy has also conducted nursing education research on PBL, use of web-based technologies and leadership development.

The Centre’s Indigenous Program update
Indigenous Program leader Patrice Harald met with Indigenous mums and community groups in and around Brisbane in March and April, with the aim of finding ways to improve maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums. The talks centred on ‘what is informed choice’ and what do Indigenous parents mothers and fathers know about the services provided by hospitals and hospital staff. Patrice has also been busy promoting and distributing the ‘Birthplace’ survey and the ‘Having A Baby In Queensland’ survey to community and government agencies to gather birthing stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and to improve participation in the two surveys.

Special QCMB Projects:The Having a Baby in Queensland book – supporting you to make informed decisions about your maternity care.
The team at the Centre have started working on a book for pregnant women, which will be distributed through GPs. The first edition of the book will be a pilot to gauge if giving women the book has any impact on their pregnancy and birth. A thousand women will be given the book and will be asked a series of questions after their baby is born, while another 1000 women who have not been given the book will also be asked the same series of questions about their labour and birth. Designed to be provided to women in the early days of their pregnancy, the book closely follows the decision points contained in the new state-wide pregnancy health record. The book will briefly describe the options and provide women with the available evidence about the options in order to better enable women to make an informed decision, and to encourage women to discuss their preferences with their care providers.
The decision points that will be covered in the book include: model of care, scans and antenatal tests, mode of birth, induction of labour, vaginal examination, fetal monitoring, pain management, episiotomy, and the third stage of labour. Unlike most pregnancy books which contain the do’s and don’ts of pregnancy and birth, the Having a Baby in Queensland book will fill an information void which currently exists in maternity care. The book is designed to encourage active participation and equal collaboration between women and their care providers. It is anticipated the book will be ready to be handed out to women in December this year and we would really appreciate your help in getting this right. Consumers and clinicians if you would like to help review and comment on the information being produced please contact Hazel Brittain by email h.brittain@uq.edu.au

Working together in maternity care: the Maternity Collaboration Project
All maternity carers want what is best for their client. However sometimes differences arise between carers, such as midwives and doctors, as to what this means and how it can work well in practice. The goals of the Maternity Collaboration Project is to look at ways to improve how maternity carers work together between themselves and with the women they provide care for. Working together is also commonly referred to as “collaboration” in maternity care. At the moment, we are currently meeting with carers who already have a collaborative approach to care to find out what has and hasn’t worked for them. We also hope to work closely with our Collaborative members (a group of carers, managers, and consumers who act as a reference group for the Centre’s work) to generate an approach to care that will provide best care for Queensland women. For more information about the project, please contact Michelle Heatley m.heatley@psy.uq.edu.au

Expressions of Interest: Chair and Members of the Statewide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternity and Neonatal Care Group.

2010-08-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

The Statewide Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Network is seeking expressions of interest from clinicians and consumers wishing to be involved in the Statewide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternity and Neonatal Care Group.

SMNCN members have identified the need for a Statewide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternity and Neonatal Care Group to:
Establish expert Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation on all Queensland Health (QH) maternity and neonatal working groups.
Increase clinician and consumer knowledge of resources that are appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander maternity and neonatal care.
When requested, provide assistance to engage clinician and consumer support for QH projects to progress the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes (2009, Council of Australian Governments).

It is planned that the Group will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month, from
1330 -1500 hrs. Videoconferencing and teleconferencing facilities will be available for all meetings.
The first meeting is scheduled for:
Date: Wednesday 27 October 2010
Time: 1330 -1500 hrs
Venue: Conference Room 1, Level 14, Block 7, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Naida Lumsden, Principal Project Officer, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service (Ph. 07 3636 9789 or email Naida_Lumsden@health.qld.gov.au ).

Please forward your expression of interest, including whether you are applying for the position of Chair and/or Member, full name, current position and employing facility/district, by email to Naida_Lumsden@health.qld.gov.au by COB Thursday 16 September 2010.

Transition to Fatherhood ~ Men's challenges and opportunities as fathers

2010-08-23T04:40:00.000-07:00

A free informative & experiential Gestalt community group for men becoming fathers on Tuesday 31 August

"What's your experience since the conception/birth of your child?"

Gestalt Therapy supports personal growth by building self-awareness.

Gestalt Therapy is a relational approach and explores new options for living a fulfilled life.

Please let all the men you know who are soon to become fathers, or have recently become fathers, or thinking of becoming fathers about this about a one-off evening for men.

This is a mens’ group, run by a man, Michael Menzel, who is currently finishing his Masters in Gestalt Therapy, and has recently become a father himself. There is no cost to this evening, as it is part of his final preparation for his Masters.

Date/Time: Tuesday 31 August from 7pm to 9.30pm

Place: Quaker Meeting House, 10 Hampson St., Kelvin Grove

Cost: Free

Contact for bookings: Michael Menzel
m/p 0410 829 090
email: michael.menzel64@gmail.com

Misogynistic? You decide

2010-08-18T21:23:00.000-07:00

This UK The Guardian story 'Midwives attack hysteria over home births' is gobsmacking.

The article speaks of the intense medical lobbying and strategically released journal articles which are downplaying the benefits of home births

the respected medical journal the Lancet to wrote, in a recent editorial,

“women have the right to choose how and where to give birth, but they do not have the right to put their baby at risk".

Perhaps this is how ‘collaboration’ will work here in Australia – women will have the right to choose where and how they birth – as long as it’s what the doctors want!

And this:
Disputes involving obstetricians, now account for almost two thirds of the £800m NHS medical litigation bill. "That means 15% of maternity budget going to lawyers and clients".

Birth Reform YouTube video

2010-08-18T21:19:00.000-07:00

During every election campaign all the major parties monitor social media sites like YouTube to gauge what voters are interested in.
To that end a video has been made about birth reform, and the current challenges we’re facing. Please check it out and share it far and wide with colleagues and friends via email, Facebook, Twitter etc.
It would be great to get 50,000 hits by tomorrow!
Follow this link to view it and have your opinion noticed.

Mackay women talk to PM

2010-08-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

A group of midwives and mothers confronted Julia Gillard in Mackay about Medicare for Midwives ~
"the visit to Bucyrus - one of the world's largest providers of mining equipment - wasn't without its moments, with Ms Gillard forced into an awkward meeting with a group of women protesting against changes to midwifery regulations, after being steered in their direction by Labor candidate for the marginal seat of Dawson Mike Brunker.
The women, who had managed to infiltrate the event despite being without any of the safety gear worn by media and Ms Gillard's team, want greater access to Medicare and prescribing rights, which they say have been limited by changes to midwifery regulations.
While Ms Gillard handled the situation well, telling the women she understood the issue, it was nonetheless an embarrassing moment for the prime minister"

Read the full story published in the Sydney Morning Herald here.

MC Qld's contacts updated

2010-08-06T05:59:00.000-07:00

The contacts for MC's Qld Branch have recently been updated here on Maternity Coalition's website.

While you are there:
- Find out about MC Qld
- Look at our amazing list of consumer representatives
- Find out how to get involved (*Branch Support,* Community Awareness,* Consumer Representatives, * Lobbying, * Meetings, * Stay Informed)

Midwives’ Gathering - Sat 14th Aug

2010-08-06T05:54:00.000-07:00

See flyer below:

The Passage to Motherhood Conference: Call for Abstracts (due 31st Aug), Sponsorship and Exhibition information

2010-08-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

Capers Bookstore have recently put a call out for Abstracts to their Passage to Motherhood Conference to be held at the Bardon Centre in Brisbane, 4-7 May 2011. Confirmed international speakers include Christina Smillie, Michel Odent, Sara Wickham and Maggie Banks.

The Passage to Motherhood Conference

A conference for midwives, paediatricians, obstetricians, maternal and child health nurses, lactation consultants, university academics and educators, childbirth educators, physiotherapists, psychologists, sociologists, general practitioners, breastfeeding counsellors, consumers and therapists.

Conference themes
• Preparing for birth and parenting
• Midwifery care
• Early breastfeeding and postnatal support

Abstracts could relate to challenges in midwifery, traditional midwifery practice, socio-cultural influences, ethics, partnerships, men and birth, mental health, politics, consumer voices, rural midwifery, place of birth, complementary therapies and pain relief.

Our program committee will consider any topics related to pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and the early postnatal period. We welcome both research articles and reflections on practice.

In submitting an abstract, please indicate whether this is a poster, plenary paper or concurrent session or workshop, and whether you will participate with your poster if your abstract is not selected for oral presentation.

Conference plenary sessions will be 15 minutes (+5 minutes for questions), and concurrent sessions will be up to 45 or 90 minutes.

Click here for more information including PDF files for:
* The Call for abstracts - the deadline for submissions is 31 August 2010.
* Exhibition and sponsorship opportunities package

UK Lancet homebirth editorial and RCM reply

2010-08-02T05:51:00.000-07:00

Homebirth - proceed with caution
The Lancet, Sat 31 July 2010
Editorial in UK medical journal The Lancet - Home birth: women are advised to proceed with caution when deciding to give birth outside hospital setting.

The Royal College of Midwives UK released this response:
RCM release: Midwives comment on the Lancet editorial on home birth

Commenting on the Lancet’s editorial “Home birth – proceed with caution,” published today (July 30), Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives said: “We are deeply disappointed and dismayed that Lancet has published an editorial indicating that women would choose to harm their baby in favour of their own needs by choosing a home birth. The editorial also cites research that is incomplete and methodologically flawed. There is no evidence to suggest that hospital births are safer than homebirths. A hospital birth cannot be thought of as being intrinsically safe and the increasing medicalisation of childbirth cannot or be used as a reason to deter women from choosing midwifery-led care options, such as home birth.”

Mothers & midwives share their concerns about the "collaboration" regs with Nicola Roxon in Brisbane

2010-07-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, mothers and midwives met with Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon on the campaign trail at the Wynnum Hospital. They thanked her for Medicare for Midwives and then talked about how they felt the collaboration regulations the Government have introduced will derail the $120m maternity reforms.

This form of ‘collaboration’ sees women needing to have a doctor’s permission before she can claim Medicare rebates for her private midwifery care. Women also run the very real risk of losing their midwifery care at a moment’s notice with no right of recourse or appeal if the doctor decides to withdraw from the ‘collaboration agreement.

See pictures below...

Age newspaper article: Midwives attack new 'veto'

2010-07-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

Click below for the article in today's Age:

Age newspaper article: Midwives attack new 'veto'
JULIA MEDEW, Sat July 31, 2010

In response, Liz Wilkes wrote the following letter to the editor:

As a midwife in private practice I provide care to women both at home and in hospital. I have great relationships with doctors where I live yet none will enter a signed agreement with me. Midwives in private practice will have to have a collaborative arrangement in place for ALL women, not just those birthing at home. Midwives always work collaboratively with doctors – we need to and our licence to practice requires us to. What this determination does is limit women’s ability to get a Medicare rebate for care from a private midwife to those who have a signed agreement with a doctor or have the doctor acknowledge all aspects of care. Doctors have no incentive to work this way, have a financial disincentive to participate and often have a philosophical difference in the way they provide care. I am distressed that after 6 years of study and 15 years of practice I am now reduced to having a doctor agree to the care I provide before my women are funded for their care.

Liz Wilkes

Private Practice Midwife

Toowoomba QLD

Letters to the editor can be emailed to: newsdesk@theage.com.au

ACM Educational Meeting Wed 25 Aug - safe sleeping, midwives & doulas, breech birth

2010-07-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

See flyer below for seminar and rsvp details for ACM Qld's upcoming educational seminar on Wed 25 August, 1700hr-2000hr at RBWH.

* Professor (Adj) Jeanine Young - Safe Infant Sleeping: On-line training keeping us on-track in reducing infant mortality

* Associate Professor Fiona Bogossian - Midwives and Doulas Working Together

* Associate Professor Joan Webster - Evidence For Practice

* Professor Ian Jones with midwives, Ann Clarke & Marion Lengronne - Breech Birth: Facilitating Informed Choice

Upcoming Birth International workshops

2010-07-30T06:03:00.001-07:00

Click here and below for upcoming workshops by Birth International, including:

Rising to the challenge: Caesareans
Brisbane - Wed 13 October

Rising to the challenge: OP labours/VBAC
Brisbane - Thurs 14 October

Sarah Buckley presenting:

The Hormonal physiology of normal birth
Brisbane - Fri 29 October

The hour after birth
Brisbane - Fri 29 October

Sherokee Ilse presenting:

Empty Arms - Making a difference when a baby dies
Brisbane - Tues 5 October

"Collaboration" media

2010-07-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

Online article quoting Maternity Coalition on 6minutes.com.au: 'Secret' medical veto angers midwives
Wed 28 July 2010
Read comments here.

AMA's press release on Medical News Today website: Collaborative Arrangements Will Provide Better Care For Patients
Fri 30 July 2010

Ch 9 news story: Concern over rise in cesarean numbers in Qld

2010-07-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

Video - Ch 9 news story: Concern over rise in cesarean numbers
Thurs 29 July 2010

Two minute news story about the rising caesarean rate in Qld. Featuring FBC patron and radio announcer Robyn Bailey, Dr Gino Pecoraro and and midwife in private practice Andrea Codega.

News article: MIPP "bails up" Gillard in Melbourne

2010-07-29T05:05:00.000-07:00

Another example of the ongoing campaign by mothers and midwives to bring attention to the "collaboration" issue during this election campaign...

Deakin battle brings PM Julia Gillard to Ringwood
Maroondah Leader, Thurs 29 July, 2010

The surprise visit went off without incident, apart from an independent midwife who bailed up Ms Gillard as she headed for the exit.

“At the moment the government are completely squashing us to be able to support women in homebirths, they’re trying to eradicate independent midwives,” Melinda Morieson, of Midwives Naturally, explained to media afterwards.

Ms Morieson said she was not happy with Ms Gillard’s response, who said that “giving the women the choice, it is really important” and asked her to contact Mr Symon.

Courier Mail article: Fears persist over midwife-led Gold Coast birth centre

2010-07-29T04:59:00.000-07:00

Courier Mail article: Fears persist over midwife-led Gold Coast birth centre
Janelle Miles, Wed 28 July, 2010

Comments below the article include some from Bruce Teakle and Mary Sidebotham.

Message from Birthtalk

2010-07-29T04:56:00.000-07:00

Been impacted by your birth and not been to Birthtalk yet? Want to help pave the way for better understanding about traumatic birth? A registered midwife is undertaking research in Brisbane, as part of her Masters of Midwifery study, to raise awareness of the potential for childbirth to cause emotional trauma or stress to women. She hopes her research will inform practice for health care professionals working with women in order to prevent or reduce the incidence & impact for women and their families. To participate, you need to live handy to Brisbane, have NOT been to Birthtalk, and be willing to undertake a 1 hr interview, and also to attend a Birthtalk meeting post-interview. To find out more, just email us at info@birthtalk.org
(Click here to go to our contact details & email link).

The Art of Mindful Birthing workshop, Sun 22nd Aug, Bris

2010-07-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

See below for a message and flyer from Georgina Kelly:

Hello Lovely Women

I’m running a one day workshop of The Art of Mindful Birthing in August – flier attached. This will be slightly different from the usual 4 wk series that I run. The venue is new too, so I’m enjoying the sense of freshness.

I’d love your support in passing this flier on to any women who may be interested – pregnant women, women hoping to be pregnant, women who are processing past births, women who work with pregnant women etcetera!

Thank you!

Love Georgina

ps: sliding scale is possible for women with limited finances

Mothers protest midwifery regulations outside Gillard/Roxon launch in Brisbane today - photos, ABC news video, press release and MC letter to Roxon

2010-07-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

Today PM Julia Gillard & Health Minister Nicola Roxon held a mental health funding announcement at the Convention Centre at Southbank, Brisbane. A number of mothers protested outside about our concern with the new midwifery regulations (as described in our previous post).

A HUGE THANK YOU TO everyone who was able to attend at such short notice and to everyone who said they wanted to come but couldn't make it.

See below for photos, a link to ABC News coverage, the press release MC Qld distributed to media afterwards and a link to the letter from Maternity Coalition to Minister Roxon outlining our concerns.

Link to video footage of ABC News story.

MC Qld's Press Release:

Brisbane Mums snubbed by Gillard & Roxon today

At 10.30am this morning a vocal group of Brisbane mothers gathered outside Prime Minister Gillard’s mental health launch at the Brisbane Convention Centre, to protest about doctors' control of midwifery practice and reduction of women's choices as a result of new Federal Government regulations.

“We welcome Julia Gillard’s announcement about increased funding for mental health. Suicide is the leading non-direct cause of death for new mothers. We know that good quality maternity care, including from a known midwife, is likely to be protective against post-natal depression”, said Melissa Fox, West End mother of two and Vice President of consumer group Maternity Coalition’s Queensland Branch.

“Last night a letter of concern was sent from maternity consumer advocacy group Maternity Coalition to Health Minister Roxon. This morning we mothers were very disappointed that neither politician met with us to hear our concerns”.

“The Government has committed $120m to Medicare for midwives. We call on the Government to remove the legislative barrier to enable the reforms to work. No action on the part of the Government would result in no improved access for women to midwifery models care ”.

Click here for the letter sent by Maternity Coalition's National President Lisa Metcalfe to Health Minister Nicola Roxon and cc'ed to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, setting out our concerns with the regulations.

Gold Coast Birth Centre article by journalist Dad

2010-07-27T05:15:00.000-07:00

Click below for a very personal two page article in the Gold Coast Bulletin about the recent Gold Coast Birth Centre protest, by journalist and Dad Dwayne Grant.

Maternal instincts
by Dwayne Grant, Gold Coast Bulletin, Sat 24th July, 2010.

I may be at the Friends of the Birth Centre meeting as a journalist but my status as a birth centre dad carries more weight.

Doco series on UK maternity services starting tonight 8.30pm, SBS

2010-07-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

One Born Every Minute
For official website click here.

8.30pm, Tues 27 July (for 8 weeks)
SBS

Every minute of every day, a baby is born in Britain. One Born Every Minute is an 8-part series that celebrates what it is really feels like to become a parent, by taking a bustling maternity hospital and filling it with forty cameras. Filming from the reception desk to the neo-natal ward; from the operating theatre to the birthing pool, this ground-breaking new series observes the dramatic, emotional and often funny moments that go hand in hand with bringing a new life into the world, from the perspective of the soon-to-be parents and family, as well as the hospital staff. 2010 BAFTA Winner for Best Factual Series. (From the UK, in English) (Documentary Series) *New Series* PG CC WS

The National Childbirth Trust in the UK released this statement about the series:

NCT COMMENT ON NEW CHANNEL 4 SERIES ‘ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE’

Released on 09/02/2010

Background

‘One Born Every Minute’ is a new documentary series on Channel 4 that follows the day to day life in a maternity ward. Filmed over a month the series highlights the intense experience of bringing a new life into this world from the perspective of the soon-to-be parent, the family, and the maternity ward staff.

Quote

Elizabeth Duff, Public Policy Officer, NCT says:

"‘One Born Every Minute’ shows the importance of the day a child is born in the parents’ life, with a narrative reflecting their thoughts, hopes and fears.

"This first day in the life of a new family deserves every chance to be wonderful – the NCT wants the experience of birth to enrich parents’ lives and give them confidence in their new roles. For this to happen, maternity services need midwives to provide continuous support to women in labour and their partners. The birth environment should be comfortable, relaxing and a place that is fit to start a family.

"‘One Born Every Minute’ shows the reality of maternity services today. The midwives do their job well under great pressure. Caring for a wide diversity of women, from every walk of life and with a variety of clinical conditions, they are overstretched and under-resourced – ‘firefighting’ instead of being able to give calm and continuous support to parents on the day their lives change forever.

"NCT has concerns about the challenges encountered by parents and staff in the maternity service environment. However, we are pleased to see the programme and its associated website http://lifebegins.channel4.com/ highlighting important issues about childbirth and maternity care. NCT offers support, information and contact opportunities to parents around the childbirth experience and the transition to parenthood."

Animation of birth

2010-07-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Click here to see an animated 4 min film "From Conception to Birth" on TheVisualMD. Watch the baby wriggle and turn through the pelvis from 3.00mins.

Seminar: "Midwifery practice and the Law", Sat 11 Sep, Sunshine Coast

2010-07-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

See below for a flyer for a seminar being organised by Update Education:

Midwifery practice and the Law
*Protect yourself*Protect your colleagues*Protect your clients*
With speaker Hugh Carter, Barrister at Law and Specialist in Health Law

Topics include consent given by adults, adolescents and the legally incompetent
Medical negligence, confidentiality and the duty to inform
The status and rights of the unborn and end of life decision-making

Sat 11 Sept 11th, 8.30am - 3.30pm
Alexandra Beach Resort, Alexandra Parade, Sunshine Coast, Qld

Blog spotlight #2: The Unnecesarean - World Cesarean Rates: OECD Countries

2010-07-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

A recent post on the blog The Unnecesarean showed a table of "the cesarean rates of OECD countries from 2004 to 2008".

World Cesarean Rates: OECD Countries

OECD Health Data 2010, released on 29 June 2010, is a comprehensive source of comparable statistics on health and health systems across OECD countries. According to its website, “it is an essential tool for health researchers and policy advisors in governments, the private sector and the academic community, to carry out comparative analyses and draw lessons from international comparisons of diverse health care systems.”

Click here to see the post and see where Australia sits.

Blog spotlight #1: Science & Sensibility - "Cascade of Normal" diagram

2010-07-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

Check out a power point slide "Cascade of Normal" from Vicki Van Wagner's talk on midwifery in an Inuit region of Arctic northern Canada, at the Normal Labour & Birth International Research Conference, held 20-23 July in Vancouver. It's shown in Science & Sensibility's latest post Live blogging is hard.

IMPORTANT update from Maternity Coalition: The medical veto over Medicare for midwives is now law

2010-07-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

The Government's $120 million national Maternity Reform Package is currently being implemented. From 1 November 2010 Medicare rebates will be payable for care from eligible private practice midwives, subject to certain conditions.

For the last nine months consumer and midwifery groups have been lobbying hard around the one key sticking point of these reforms – how midwives and doctors will work together. The government stated from the outset that the midwife would be required under legislation to work in a “collaborative arrangement”. Consumers and midwives have argued for the definition of these arrangements to be one which supported women's choice and access, and which did not give doctors control over women's access to Medicare rebates.

After months of suspense, the Determination defining "collaborative arrangements" was quietly signed into law by the Governor General on 16 July, without notification to stakeholders. The Determination can be downloaded from this link.

The Determination provides 4 options for collaborative arrangements. Each option requires the midwife to have some form of permission from a doctor, before a woman can receive Medicare rebates.

The minimum form of permission is an "Arrangement - midwife's written records" (section 7 in the Determination). This option requires a named doctor of a specific type to acknowledge "that the practitioner will be collaborating in the patient’s care", and that the named doctor has received copies of a hospital booking letter and a maternity care plan.

These requirements will make it very difficult for women to access Medicare-funded care from midwives in private midwifery practice. We don't expect midwives in private midwifery practice (working for themselves, not a doctor) to be able to find private doctors who are willing to enter collaborative arrangements with them. In some cases this may be possible under very specific conditions. However it is unrealistic to expect that private doctors will collaborate in the care of women planning homebirths.

Even for women planning births in public hospitals, these requirements for collaborative arrangements will make it extremely unlikely for them to be able to access Medicare-funded midwifery care. There is no reason to expect public hospital doctors to enter the required collaborative arrangements with private midwives. They have no incentive, and there is no sign that state governments are planning to push them.

In March 2010 when the Senate was debating this legislation, the Government stated that "There is no intention to provide a right of veto over another health professional’s practice". However, under intense pressure from the medical lobby, this is exactly what has occurred. Most importantly, it is women's choices and access to care which are being vetoed, to protect medical control of the maternity marketplace.

If these reforms are to deliver the "choice and access" promised to Australian women by Government, the medical veto must be removed. Midwives must be accountable to the women they care for, and to their regulating body, not to another profession.

Go here for today's press release from the Greens on this issue:

Greens Will Act to Help Midwives

The Australian Greens said today that midwives are furious with the Federal Government over recently released regulations governing the way they practice.

Greens spokesperson for Health, Senator Rachel Siewert has committed to immediate action on the regulations upon the resumption of Parliament.

“As soon as the Senate next sits, the Greens will move a motion to disallow the collaborative arrangements regulation,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

"Women are outraged that they have been told that Medicare rebates will be available for private midwifery care and now the reality is that this will be limited to those employed in an obstetric model which many women have said over and over again that they don't want," concluded Senator Siewert.

******What mothers and midwives can do right now to try to change this******

- Tell your Federal election candidates that you want them to remove the doctor's veto over women's access to Medicare for midwives. Ask them if they will commit to doing this if elected.

- Tell your candidates that you want them to protect women's rights to choice in birth, and ask if they will commit to this.

- You can give these messages by writing, phoning, or stopping and talking to your candidate while they campaign in your electorate. You can call talkback, write emails to the editor, or wave a placard at an event.

To find your Federal electorate click here.

Please contact MC Qld if you want to know more or if you would like someone to come with you to see your MP/local candidates. Email: qldpresident@maternitycoalition.org.au

Mumatopia launch - Sat 14th Aug, Ipswich

2010-07-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Get along if you can to the launch of Cas McCullough's fabulous venture Mumatopia. The twilight market will include stalls, speakers, free entertainment, light refreshments, raffles and goody bags. See below for details:

Trailer: Guerilla Midwife documentary

2010-07-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch a powerful, short preview of the documentary film "Guerilla Midwife" about midwife Robin Lim's work in Bali and Aceh. The film was made by her daughter, director Deja Bernhard. The film's website also has photos, poetry and more.

Guerilla Midwife
A 90 minute documentary film by Deja Bernhardt

Guerilla Midwife follows Ibu Robin Lim into the trenches of her work. From Bali, where hemorrhage after childbirth is a leading cause of death, into the Tsunami disaster zone in Aceh, where her battle is fought with only one weapon, love. In this culturally mesmerizing, heart wrenching documentary, you will discover why we must reinvent our protocols for pregnancy and childbirth in order to preserve our Planet's Humanity.

US obstetricians issue less restrictive VBAC guidelines, CIMS response

2010-07-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

See below for an excerpt from the Wed 21st July release from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

Ob-Gyns Issue Less Restrictive VBAC Guidelines

For Release: July 21, 2010

Washington, DC -- Attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and appropriate choice for most women who have had a prior cesarean delivery, including for some women who have had two previous cesareans, according to guidelines released today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

"The current cesarean rate is undeniably high and absolutely concerns us as ob-gyns," said Richard N. Waldman, MD, president of The College. "These VBAC guidelines emphasize the need for thorough counseling of benefits and risks, shared patient-doctor decision making, and the importance of patient autonomy. Moving forward, we need to work collaboratively with our patients and our colleagues, hospitals, and insurers to swing the pendulum back to fewer cesareans and a more reasonable VBAC rate."

In keeping with past recommendations, most women with one previous cesarean delivery with a low-transverse incision are candidates for and should be counseled about VBAC and offered a TOLAC. In addition, "The College guidelines now clearly say that women with two previous low-transverse cesarean incisions, women carrying twins, and women with an unknown type of uterine scar are considered appropriate candidates for a TOLAC," said Jeffrey L. Ecker, MD, from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and immediate past vice chair of the Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics who co-wrote the document with William A. Grobman, MD, from Northwestern University in Chicago.

The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) is a US coalition of individuals and national organizations with concern for the care and wellbeing of mothers, babies, and families. Their mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs. This is an excerpt from their response (click on link to read the entire release):

CIMS Responds to Promising but Conflicting Revised VBAC Guidelines

Raleigh, NC (July 23, 2010)-The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) supports the recommendations of the March 2010 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Statement on VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and is pleased by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) newly revised practice guidelines (Practice Bulletin #115) that encourage expanded access to VBAC and confirm a woman's right to labor after a prior cesarean. However, ACOG made limited changes to what the NIH concluded was a key factor that blocked access to VBAC -- ACOG's previous recommendation that VBAC should take place only in hospitals where physicians capable of performing an emergency cesarean, anesthesiology, and supporting staff are "immediately available."

The NIH reported that the "immediately available" recommendation, made by ACOG and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in 2008, was based on opinion rather than strong support from high-quality evidence. More importantly, the NIH concluded that in too many areas of the country certain resources are "too few" for all hospitals to comply with the "immediately available" recommendation. CIMS questions the logic of drafting clinical guidelines that in fact cannot be realistically implemented.

NIH found that malpractice liability concerns in light of the continued "immediately available" recommendation may continue to restrain providers who would otherwise support women's wishes for VBAC.

CIMS gives ACOG much credit in its efforts to incorporate women's autonomy, values and preferences in their revised VBAC guidelines, but urges ACOG to reconsider and remove the current selective barrier to women's access to VBAC stemming from the "immediately available" recommendation.

Gold Coast Birth Centre update from ACM Qld

2010-07-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

Australian College of Midwives - E-Bulletin
Wed 21 July 2010

Gold Coast Birth Centre re-open for business

The unexpected and unwarranted closure of the Gold Coast Birth Centre at 5pm on Thursday 15 July without warning or consultation sent shock waves through the birthing community in South East Queensland and beyond. The Australian College of Midwives Queensland was first notified of the closure through their close links with Maternity Coalition. Action commenced immediately with Friends of the Birth Centre organising a rally in Little High St in front of the CEO’s office on Friday 16 July. ACMQ, Maternity Coalition, Friends of the Birth Centre notified people in the maternity reform network to attend the rally.

500 women and their families gathered at the Gold Coast on Friday at 11am with widespread media action. Deirdrie Cullen led the MC and FBC women in this rally with Dr Kerry Peart from Griffith University and a large number of student midwives joining the rally. Associate Professor Jenny Gamble, media spokesperson for ACMQ, and Deirdre Cullen (FBC) gave many media interviews throughout Thursday night, Friday and Saturday and spoke passionately at the rally about this being an example of poor obstetric behaviour rather than a safety concern.

A link to Channel 9 coverage of the rally posted to YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/janiceingerman

A link to Channel 7 coverage of the rally:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/queensland/watch/20905521/

Concurrent to the rally being held at the Gold Coast a number of other important meetings and contacts were made. Dr Mary Sidebotham, Vice President of ACMQ and Liz Wilkes met with the Chief Nursing Officer and Dr Belinda Maier, Midwifery Advisor and subsequently with the Director General for Queensland Health, Mick Reid. The DG assured prompt action to re-open the Birth Centre and committed to an independent enquiry of the Gold Coast maternity service with consumer and midwifery involvement.

Hazel Brittain ACMQ President, contacted midwifery managers at the Gold Coast Hospital, while Jocelyn Toohill and Rosemary Blyth supported local midwives and assisted them to deal with the situation. The QNU and local MP’s were briefed.

Following the rally, a noisy group met with the CEO in an impromptu meeting to air concerns. The CEO cited withdrawal of “support” by obstetric consultant staff as the reason for the closure. A core group of women and midwives met with the CEO from 5:30pm and just before 8pm completed negotiations with decision to re-open the Birth Centre immediately. The first birth in the re-opened Birth Centre occurred just after dawn on Saturday morning to a woman who had been rallying and speaking to the media at the rally – women are amazing.

This incident highlights the tenuousness of midwifery group practice and the ability of midwives to provide continuity of care. ACMQ have recently discussed safety and clinical care at the GCH Birth Centre reference group and there have been no reports of concerns. It is extremely important that midwives recognise that these actions are indications of poor collaboration on the part of some specialist obstetric staff and call for appropriate management of all professionals working in the pubic sector.

ACMQ would like to thank the women, babies, husbands, midwives, student midwives and other consumers who gathered at such short notice to support this important and safe service. ACMQ will continue to seek a public statement from the CEO of the Gold Coast District that the service provides high quality midwifery care, excellent clinical outcomes, and that there are no concerns about public safety. We will push for independence in the GCH maternity service review and ensure midwifery and consumer representation.

Go Queeensland maternity reformers - what a team effort!

Wesley Maternity Conference "Legal and Ethical Issues in Maternity Care" Wesley seminar - special rate for MC & HMA members extended til Fri 30 July

2010-07-21T01:51:00.000-07:00

Organisers of the Wesley Maternity Conference "Legal and Ethical Issues in Maternity Care" have kindly extended the special $125 rate for all MC & HMA members up to & including 30 July.

Legal and Ethical Issues in Maternity Care
Saturday 7 August 2010
Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower

The Wesley Maternity Conference is an opportunity to learn more about legal and ethical issues, advocacy, evidence-based practice, the consumer perspective and much more.

For more information including details of MC's speakers click here.

Consumer Representative sought - Informed Consent Reference Group

2010-07-21T01:29:00.000-07:00

See below from Health Consumers Queensland. Please contact HCQ for an Expression of Interest form if you would like to apply...

Consumer Representative sought - Informed Consent Reference Group

The Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Service is requesting HCQ's assistance with the recruitment of one (1) consumer representative for their Reference Group.

Mariee Piper, Informed Consent Program Manager, Queensland Health, has provided the following information about the consumer representative role and reimbursement rates.

The consumer representative would need to:
- Attend quarterly Reference Group meetings which will be 2hrs in duration (next meeting Wednesday 4 August, 2 - 4pm) and located at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Level 14, Block 7, Herston Road, Herston. Members serve a 2 year term.
- Actively contribute to the reference group by reflecting the consumer's experience and having a voice in how informed consent in relation to medical procedures is strategically conducted in Queensland Health.
- Have an open interest in, and knowledge base of, informed consent to be able to receive and disseminate information, identify and problem solve issues relevant to the Informed Consent Program.
- Be prepared to read and review documents in preparation for meetings and on occasion comment via email on documents between meetings.
- Have a mechanism to feedback information to other consumers and to represent other consumers' views.
- We encourage consumers who have experience in and representing Adults and Young Adults (18-24years) to apply as this group is currently under represented on this reference group.

The reimbursement rates for the consumer representative are:
- $96 for meetings <4hrs (includes preparation time)
- $159 for meetings >4hrs (includes preparation time)
- Motor vehicle allowance (varies depending on the cc of the vehicle- $0.58 to $0.70/km)
- Consideration will be given to reimbursement of reasonable travel and accommodation to attend meetings and forums.

Health consumers who would like to express interest in this consumer representative position need to register as a member of HCQ's consumer network. If you are not already a member you can register at www.health.qld.gov.au/hcq/network_reps/rego_form.asp

If you are interested in nominating for this consumer representative role could you please complete the attached expression of interest form and return this to Olivia Spadina (details below) by 30 July 2010.

Contact details:

Olivia Spadina, Senior Policy Officer
Health Consumers Queensland
PO Box 48, Brisbane QLD 4001
Ph: 07 3234 0611 / email: dshcq@health.qld.gov.au

If you require any further information about this position and the nomination process please contact Olivia Spadina on 07 3234 0611.

Thank you for your assistance.

Kind regards

Secretariat
Health Consumers Queensland
Ph: 1800 613 251* (toll free) / 07 3234 0611
*Mobile calls to this number may incur extra charges depending on your mobile phone service provider.

ACM - E-Bulletin: Beaudesert petition

2010-07-21T01:24:00.000-07:00

In regards to Beaudesert Maternity services (see previous post for background), please see below...

Australian College of Midwives - E-Bulletin

Dear friends and colleagues,

Many of you will be aware of the current consultation surrounding provision of maternity services in the Beaudesert area.

It is important that we collect the views of the local and wider community to demonstrate support for provision of local maternity services for women.
An e petition has been generated to demonstrate to government that there is support for the provision of midwifery led services in the Beaudesert areas.

I would ask you to take the time to go the web linked page and sign the petition (click here).

Whilst you may not personally be involved with or affected by provision of services in Beaudesert this is an important statement to make in support of all women being able to access services locally throughout the State.

Please pass this message on through your networks and encourage your friends and colleagues to show their support too

best wishes

Dr Mary Sidebotham
Vice President
Australian College of Midwives
(Queensland Branch)
Ph 338 21378
M 0434932303

m.sidebotham@griffith.edu.au

GC Bulletin article: Mum defends birth centre after stillbirth

2010-07-21T01:22:00.000-07:00

Gold Coast Bulletin article:Mum defends birth centre after stillbirth
, Tuesday July 20th, 2010.

calmbirth® course with Sharon Gavioli in Brisbane - Sat 31 Jul-Sun 1 August

2010-07-21T01:03:00.000-07:00

See below for a message from Sharon Gavioli:

To my fellow birth workers and supporters,

There is another calmbirth® course coming up in less in 2 weeks on Saturday the 31st and Sunday the 1st of August from 9-5 each day. The course is held at Kybra at Runcorn which is just off the gateway.

Currently there is only space for 2 more women and their partners available.

The program aim is to address the beliefs and fears women and men have around birth and then from this platform offers tools to enable the women to reconnect to her own innate inner resources. It also provides men and other support people a clear understanding how to support themselves and the birthing woman. For more information about calmbirth see www.calmbirthbrisbane.com.au

I personally feel the program offers a new way for women and their partners to embrace their baby's birth. It provides simple and effective understandings and tools for all birth and all birth settings.

From the words from a woman who attended the calmbirth® program: "The birth was an unexplainable incredible experience, I felt total calmness and confidence throughout the entire birth, She was born as I'd hoped." Lisa

I would appreciate you sending this email and flyer to your networks and any friends who you feel may be interested.

With thanks,

Sharon

Sharon Gavioli RN,
Grad, Dip, Childbirth Education
Ad. Dip. Counselling
Reg. calmbirth® Practitioner
p. 0417 083 803
e. sharon@calmbirthbrisbane.com.au
www.calmbirthbrisbane.com.au

Courier Mail article: Almost half of Qld women birthing in private hospitals having caesareans

2010-07-21T00:56:00.000-07:00

Caesarean deliveries on the rise in Queensland private hospitals
Courier Mail, Monday 19 July, 2010

ALMOST half of Queensland women giving birth in private hospitals are having caesareans and the numbers are rising.

Queensland Health figures show 48.6 per cent of the almost 19,000 mothers who delivered babies in private hospitals last year had caesarean sections.

That compares to 27.6 per cent of the 43,000 who gave birth in the public sector.

Overall, 33.9 per cent of Queensland mothers in 2009 delivered their babies via caesarean, compared to 30.9 per cent nationwide.

For the whole article go here.

Today's GC BC media plus link to birth centre activism photo album

2010-07-19T05:27:00.000-07:00

Two great articles from today's Gold Coast Bulletin:

Coast birth centre pushes on
Stephanie Bedo | July 19th, 2010

A single phone call was all it took to spark a rally at which hundreds of locals protested against the centre's sudden closure last week.

A telephone contact tree sprung into action on Thursday night and within hours women far and wide knew about the rally at Southport that would help save the Gold Coast Hospital's Birth Centre.

Deirdrie Cullen was a woman on a mission.

As founding member of Friends of the Birth Centre Gold Coast branch, she knew whom to call.

Through text messaging, email and shout-outs on social media, word spread fast 'be there at 11am Friday to show your support'.

The main players were Friends of the Birth Centre, the Maternity Coalition and Gold Coast Home Birth Group but they sparked many other organisations to join in.

Birth centre to remain open during review
Stephanie Bedo | July 19th, 2010

GOLD Coast Health District chief executive Dr Adrian Nowitzke has this afternoon announced the Gold Coast Birth Centre will remain open while an external review of maternity services is undertaken.

Dr Nowitzke said the review would look at the entire service and cover birthing, gynaecology and clinical and corporate governance of obstetricians and midwives.

He said the review committee would comprise interstate and independent members and would be represented through doctors, midwives and consumers.

``At the end of the day we've caused distress to people on the Coast,'' he said.

``We take that very seriously and we're very sorry for that.''
Dr Nowitzke said he wanted to make it clear he fully supported the midwifery model of care, as did the obstetricians.

He said midwifery was constantly changing and the hospital had to change with it, which was one of the reasons for the review.

Facebook photo album - Mothers & midwives working together - Birth Centres in Qld

Whether you are on Facebook or not, you can click on this link to see a photo album showing some of the history of many, many mothers and midwives in Qld supporting birth centres. The slides are from a power point presentation of over 250 slides by Maternity Coalition's Qld Branch called "Passion, Politics and Parents - Birth Reform in Queensland since 2001".

Listen or download: Sue Kildea on ABC Radio National - Birthing on country for Aboriginal women

2010-07-19T04:33:00.000-07:00

As flagged in our previous post, go here within the next week to listen or download Sue's interview (13 mins). It includes her description of an exciting new joint statement at the Breathing New Life Conference between ACM, RANZCOG & ACRRM which is supportive of trialling a model similar to the Inuit model.

Birthing on country for Aboriginal women

By Maria Tickle

Thursday, 15/07/2010

The stories of Aboriginal women from remote communities who were transported to Darwin to give birth because their community didn't have medical support are compelling.

In Francesca's words "It takes a long time, always them watching and they put you onto a lonely machine, no company, no-one to rub you, just a green bowl and cold water to wash your face in."

Michealis says "When I had the baby there were big mobs of people and male doctors watching. I was on the bed and told open my legs up. I didn't like being there, I didn't like the men being there and I didn't like being watched. It was such a shame job."

This way of giving birth may change if a model of community birthing which has been successful in Canada for the past 20 years is adopted here.

Last week the president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Midwives, Ted Weaver, gave support for a trial of such a program whereby indigenous women from the community are trained as midwives.

In this report: Sue Kildea, Professor of Midwifery, Australian Catholic University and Mater Mothers Hospital in Brisbane

Listen to or download story.

Click on:
Thursday 15 July 2010
1145 Birthing on country for Aboriginal women

Gold Coast Birth Centre REOPENED - media roundup & FBC meeting tomorrow 10am (Mon)

2010-07-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

See below for a media roundup of the protest against the closure of the Gold Coast Birth Centre.

Photos, comments, stories and updates are on the Save Gold Coast Birth Centre Facebook group. The group has grown to almost 1500 members in just over 48 hours!

Friends of the Birth Centre's Gold Coast branch are meeting on Monday at the Southport Library from 10am, so get along if you can!

MEDIA:

Article in Gold Coast Bulletin plus VIDEO: "Birth centre open and baby comes too", Saturday 17 July, 2010.

THE Gold Coast Hospital's Birth Centre was reopened in the nick of time for Karen and Ben Trevers-Grace following a tumultuous 24 hours in which the centre was closed, picketed and then forced to re-open and then was became the scene of the birth of their second son.

Mrs Trevers-Grace of Coombabah said after yesterday's rollercoaster ride, she was relieved to hear the good news.

''We got a call from the CEO himself at 7pm to tell us it was reopening and we were so relieved,'' she said.

''I think it showed because my body realised it was safe to give birth and two hours later I was in labor.''

Editorial in Gold Coast Bulletin:"Mums-to-be need better treatment", Saturday 17 July, 2010.

Article in Gold Coast Bulletin plus VIDEO: "Mum power reopens Coast birth centre", Saturday 17 July, 2010.

Article in Courier Mail: "Protests get Gold Coast Hospital's birth centre reopened", Friday 16 July, 2010.

After a full day of negotiations, Dr Nowitzke agreed to reopen the centre.

Maternity Coalition Queensland branch president Rebecca Jenkinson called the closure ''an attack on women's choices''.

Online article on ABC: "Families in shock at birth centre closure", Friday 16 July, 2010.

7 News video story, Friday 16 July, 2010.

Online article on Prime: "Mums and midwives rally after birth centre closure", Friday 16 July, 2010.

Article in Gold Coast Bulletin plus VIDEO: "Hundreds march to save Coast birth centre", Friday 16 July, 2010.

Article in The Australian: "Protests after Gold Coast Hopsital's birth centre closed over safety concerns", Friday 16 July, 2010.

Call for EOIs for assistance to attend HCQ's Patient Travel Assistance Forum - Mount Isa - Tuesday 3 August 2010

2010-07-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

See below...

Health consumers living in the North, Far North and North West Queensland and the Gulf are invited to express interest in attending a forum Health Consumers Queensland is holding in relation to Patient Travel Assistance.

Health Consumers Queensland (HCQ) aims to strengthen the consumer (patient) perspective in health services policy, systems and service reform and improvement by providing the Minister for Health with information and advice and by supporting and promoting consumer engagement and advocacy.

HCQ is hosting a targeted forum for consumers in the North, Far North and North West Queensland and the Gulf in relation to the Patient Travel Assistance on Tuesday, 3 August 2010 at The All Seasons Hotel, Rodeo Drive, Mount Isa from 6:30 pm to 9.00 pm. Attached is further information about the forum.

The purpose of the forum is to gather a cross section of consumers' perspectives in the North, Far North and North West Queensland and the Gulf about current issues relating to the Patient Travel Assistance and to explore solutions and strategies to improve outcomes for health consumers.

Limited sponsorship (accommodation and travel) is available to those consumers who would otherwise be unable to attend this event.

Applicants wanting to attend must complete an expression of interest form. Those wanting sponsorship and/or support need to indicate this on page 3 of the expression of interest form.

The expression of interest form can be returned by email, post or fax to HCQ as per the details on the application form. If you require assistance to complete the form, please phone (07) 3234 0611 and a member of the Secretariat will be able to assist you.

Please note this document contains attachments which are over 1MB to download from your computer. If you have difficulty in accessing, reading or printing this, please contact Health Consumers Queensland on 3234 0611 and we can assist you.

We look forward to seeing you at the forum.

Kind regards

Secretariat
Health Consumers Queensland
Ph: 1800 613 251* (toll free) / 07 3234 0611
*Mobile calls to this number may incur extra charges depending on your mobile phone service provider.
********************************************************************************

Gold Coast Birth Centre CLOSED yesterday - RALLY TODAY 11am

2010-07-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

See below for Maternity Coalition Queensland's press release sent out last night.

Join the Save Gold Coast Birth Centre Facebook group to stay updated.

PRESS RELEASE: Thurs 15 July

Gold Coast Birth Centre shut without notice – women rally

The closure of the Gold Coast Birth Centre this afternoon at 5pm without consultation or explanation has left Queensland women outraged and preparing to rally. Hundreds of women will be left without their expected birth care as a result of a completely unexplained closure.

Rebecca Jenkinson, mother of two and President of Maternity Coalition Queensland branch said that women will be travelling from all over the South East to protest. “There have been rumblings for months about hostile attitudes from the Gold Coast Hospital management. Now this closure has occurred today without consultation or proper process.”

The best quality evidence shows birth centre midwifery care to be at least as safe as standard birth care. “Transfers to medical care are a normal and safe part of birth centre care and adverse outcomes occur in all models from time to time. But these women are in a birth centre metres away from a regular birth unit – on the same floor even. This closure is an attack on women’s choices.”

“At a time when both the Federal and State Governments are looking to expand midwifery choices for pregnant and birthing women it seems that Gold Coast Hospital are out of step with what’s happening across Queensland and Australia. In fact, the state government is planning to open another Birth Centre in Toowoomba by the end of this year because this model of care is so popular with families.”

Maternity Coalition were involved in the lobbying which led to the election commitment to establish a Birth Centre at the Gold Coast Hospital. “Five years on, the Government should be moving to expand this model of care, and give all women access to continuity of carer from a known midwife” Ms Jenkinson said. “We call upon the Minister for Health to act urgently to protect women’s access to this kind of care – a model of care that has repeatedly been shown to be safe and is in great demand from women” Ms Jenkinson added

Women are gathering from 11am at Little High Street, Southport with their babies to demand that the Birth Centre be immediately reopened.

For more information contact Maternity Coalition Qld Media Spokesperson: Joanne Smethurst, 07 3256 8127.

Sue Kildea on Radio National tomorrow approx 11.30am (Thurs 15 July)

2010-07-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

Sue Kildea will be on ABC Radio National's Bush Telegraph program tomorrow approx. 11.30am. She will be discussing birth on country and her upcoming trip to Inuit communities in Canada. Listen in or listen to the podcast afterwards.

Professor Sue Kildea is the Professor of Midwifery and Clinical Chair of Midwifery for the ACU and Mater Health Service.

She is a registered nurse and midwife with clinical, management, policy, education and research experience across both acute care and primary health care settings. Together with Molly Wardaguga, a Senior Aboriginal Health Worker from Maningrida, Professor Kildea was the joint recipient of the UTS Human Rights Award in 2004 for contribution to advancing reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. She has performed World Health Organisation and other consultancies in Vietnam, Mongolia and Indonesia and worked as a midwife in South Africa. She is currently a chief investigator on 3 NHMRC grants, 4 government funded grants and tenders, 3 internal grants (evaluations). Professor Kildea will be presenting at the Normal Birth conference in Vancouver in August 2010.

And yet MORE homebirth media!

2010-07-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

ABC online article: "Support for plan to assist home births in remote areas", Tuesday 13 July, 2010:

Three peak bodies for childbirth are pledging their support for a program to allow mothers in remote areas to have babies in their communities, rather than travel to cities.

The Australian College of Midwives, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the College of Rural and Remote Medicine have backed the proposal, which is modelled on a similar program in the Inuit community in remote Canada.

The Australian Opinion piece by Debbie Slater, Childbirth Australia: "Homebirth statistics", Tuesday 13 July, 2010.

Blog post on midwivesVictoria: "MANA critique of Wax et al, Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010", Monday 12 July, 2010.

Sydney Morning Herald article: "Home births a lonelier option due to midwife insurance risk". Features quotes from the Australian College of Midwives, Homebirth Australia and homebirth mother Tilly Mitchell. Sunday 11 July, 2010.

Blog post on Science & Sensibility: A Research Blog About Healthy Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond from Lamaze International: "Meta-analysis: the wrong tool (wielded improperly)", Saturday 10th July, 2010 by Amy Romano.

Border Mail article: "Dannii ‘showed home birth safe’", Saturday 10th July, 2010.

Daily Telegraph article: "Dannii Minogue shows new baby Ethan to the world via Twitter", Saturday 10th July, 2010.

The Australian Opinion piece by midwife Barb Cook: "Impossible midwives: private midwifery care", Saturday 10th July, 2010.

Blog post by Jennifer Block (US author of "Pushed"): New AJOG Home Birth Study Political?, Thursday 8th July, 2010.

More homebirth media

2010-07-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

* “Dannii Minogue has baby boy, home-birth plan scrapped” – SMH, July 7

* Opinion piece: “Home birth not worth risk, Dannii” - Herald Sun, July 9

* Story: “Dannii's bouncing bundle of controversy” - 7pm Project, July 8

* Video: “Risks involved with home birth” featuring an interview with obstetrician Dr Gino Pecoraro. Search for “home birth” here - 7pm Project, July 8.

* “U.S. home birth risk review 'political': MD” – CBC News, July 2

But Dr. Michael Klein, an emeritus professor of family practice and pediatrics at the University of British Columbia, said the U.S. conclusions are "crap" that don't consider the facts.

"It's a politically motivated study that was motivated by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology who is unalterably opposed to home birth, and they probably were quite happy to publish this article because it fits with their political position," Klein said.

* Blog post: “A new meta-analysis on the safety of home birth?” Science & Sensibility: A Research Blog About Healthy Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond from Lamaze International, July 5

The meta-analysis is compromised by the inclusion of a deeply flawed study that relies on birth certificates and includes preterm births, unplanned home births, and home births attended by unqualified providers. In the only analysis in which the researchers excluded this study, the significant excess of neonatal mortality disappeared.

TODAY -Third stage of labour education session at Mater Mothers Hospital with Kathleen Fahy

2010-07-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

Optimal third stage of labour care for women at low-risk of postpartum haemorrhage: theory, evidence and practice

Dr Kathleen Fahy RM, PhD
Professor of Midwifery, Newcastle University

Friday 9th July

15.00-16.00

Conference Room 5.1, Mater Mothers' Hospital, South Brisbane

All Welcome

For more information contact Jyai Allen: Jyai.Allen@mater.org.au

Professor Kathleen Fahy is the Editor of Women and Birth: Journal of the Australian College of Midwives. She is Professor of Midwifery at the University of Newcastle.

MC speakers at "Legal and Ethical Issues in Maternity Care" one day seminar, Wesley Hospital - Sat 7 Aug

2010-07-08T15:39:00.000-07:00

Bruce Teakle and Kylie Downie are speaking at the following seminar being organised by Marie Barton, Clinical Midwife Educator at the Wesley Hospital.

Legal and Ethical Issues in Maternity Care
Saturday 7 August 2010
Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower

The Wesley Maternity Conference is an opportunity to learn more about legal and ethical issues, advocacy, evidence-based practice, the consumer perspective and much more.

Topics & speakers include the following:

* Legal Issues and Risk Management in Obstetrics - Ms Marianna Kelly (Risk Adviser and Medico-Legal Adviser, Avant Law) & Mr Christopher West (Solicitor, Avant Law)

* Obstetric Malpractice - Dr Ted Weaver (RANZCOG President, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

* Applying Evidence to Improve Maternity Care: Moving Forward with Learnings of the Past - Associate Professor Vicki Flenady (Acting Director, Mater Mothers’ Research Centre

* Informed Consent / Informed Choice in Maternity Care - Dr Belinda Maier (Midwifery Adviser to the Chief Nursing Officer, Queensland Health

* Informed Choice: The Consumer Perspective - Bruce Teakle and Kylie Downie (Maternity Coalition)

* Ethics and Advocacy Issues in Practice - Mary Sidebotham (Midwifery Lecturer, Griffith University)

NOTE: MC members are welcome to register by Friday 16th July at the Early Bird rate of $125.00. No registrations will be taken after Friday 30 July, for catering purposes.

For further information, see the flier below or contact Marie Barton, Clinical Midwife Educator, Maternity Unit, Wesley Hospital:
Phone: 07 3232 7158
Mobile: 0408 454 314
Email: marie.barton@uchealth.com.au

EOIs for funded consumer places for ACM State Conference due - Thur 15 July

2010-07-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

We mentioned in a previous post that the Australian College of Midwives (ACM)'s Qld State Conference is being held at the Sea World Resort, Gold Coast from 15-17th September 2010.

Maternity Coalition Queensland has recently secured funding to support consumers wishing to attend the conference. We are able to fund conference registration, accommodation and travel costs of successful nominees. Consumers from all parts of Queensland are encouraged to apply, including those who may not previously have been members of MC.

Please email Bec Jenkinson, Maternity Coalition Queensland Branch President (qldpresident@maternitycoalition.org.au) if you would like to receive the EOI form below as a Word document, to fill in and submit via email by Thursday 15 July.

NSW seeks to reduce caesareans and support normal birth

2010-07-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

The Towards Normal birth policy in NSW was launched on Wednesday.

MATERNITY – TOWARDS NORMAL BIRTH IN NSW - A woman friendly birth initiative: protecting, promoting and supporting normal birth

This policy provides direction to NSW maternity services regarding actions to increase the vaginal birth rate in NSW and decrease the caesarean section operation rate; to develop, implement and evaluate strategies to support women and to ensure that midwives and doctors have the knowledge and skills necessary to implement this policy.

July 1, 2010
Sydney Morning Herald, Thurs 1 July, 2010
"Caesareans a target of $42m boost for hospitals"

NSW's runaway caesarean birth rate is set to be reined in by one-third under an ambitious five-year plan to normalise the process of giving birth and reduce unnecessary intervention in public hospitals.

The proportion of surgical births should be reduced to 20 per cent by 2015, from 30 per cent now, and first-time mothers would be attended by the same midwife throughout labour.

The option of labouring in water, although not necessarily water birth, would be offered universally under the mandatory policy.

International study claims triple neo-natal death risk for homebirths

2010-07-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

The Age, Thurs 1 July, 2010
"Home birth triples neo-natal death risk: study"

The study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology will inflame passions. But, say the researchers from Maine Medical Centre in Portland, the findings must be addressed. "Women, particularly low-risk parous [having given birth before] individuals, choosing home birth are in large part successful in achieving their goal of delivering with less morbidity [damage] and medical intervention than experienced during hospital-based childbirth," they write.

"Of significant concern, these apparent benefits are associated with a near tripling of the neonatal mortality rate among nonanomalous [without birth defects] infants."

The researchers pulled together data from studies in the US and in Europe. They considered a total of 342,056 planned home births and 207,551 planned hospital births.

The increased death rate was in neonates - babies in the four weeks after delivery. The team found double the number of deaths overall among those born at home and triple the number when they removed those with congenital defects from the calculation. The main causes were breathing problems during birth and failed resuscitation after delivery.

The Globe and Mail, Wed 30 Jun, 2010
"U.S. analysis on home birth risks seen as deeply flawed"

Patricia Janssen, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia’s school of population and public health, says that conclusion is “sensationalist” and based on data that are in some cases decades old, on very small samples and in some cases incomplete.

In many cases, she says, women included in the studies may not have planned to give birth at home. They may not have been attended by a properly trained midwife. And much of the data used were retrospectively, gathered using birth records, which may not include enough information.

Dr. Janssen’s most recent research, published last September, found no difference in outcomes between planned hospital births and planned home births. Similar results were found in an Ontario study.

MIDIRS: Midwives Information Resource Services, Thurs 1 July, 2010
"Home births in UK safe say midwives"

Commenting on the research on ‘maternal and newborn outcomes in planned home birth versus planned hospital births’ in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mervi Jokinen, Practice and Standards Development Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “It is certainly a study that will generate discussion around home births, and is important in adding to the body of evidence around this.

“Whilst it is interesting, I do question the validity of its findings for the UK. Comparison of the results is difficult because the study’s authors are working with data collected differently in many countries.

New York homebirth

2010-07-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

WITV/WGBH Newschannel 34
"Midwife Reform Bill Passes Legislature"

Licensed professional midwives would be able to practice independently under a bill that passed the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 61-0. "This is an important step forward for women's health," said Assembly Health Committee chair Richard N. Gottfried, author of the bill, A. 8117-B, which overwhelming passed the Assembly on Monday, June 28, by a vote of 95-17. The bill now heads to Governor David Paterson to be signed into law.

Professional midwives have been licensed in New York State for decades. They provide prenatal care, deliveries, and primary gynecological care. However, they are required to have a "written practice agreement" with an obstetrician or a hospital that provides obstetric services. The bill would repeal the requirement for a written practice agreement.

Article: "Does a lover really have first claim on breasts?"

2010-07-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

Sydney Morning Herald, Wed June 30, 2010
"Does a lover really have first claim on breasts?"

Women's bodies have become so associated with sex that now a mothers' magazine has called breast-feeding 'creepy'. Rowan Pelling is appalled.

Media: Toowoomba BC, Qld csecs, Dr Biter & ACM newsfeed

2010-06-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

Toowoomba Chronicle: "Bligh inspects new birthing centre" (25th June 2010)

Brisbane Times: "One in three Queensland babies born by c-section" (25th June 2010)

Queensland had the highest rate of caesarian-sections, with 33.1 per cent of births occurring in this fashion in 2007, while Tasmania had the lowest rate (28 per cent).

In Queensland, six in 10 c-section births happened without labour.

There has recently been a lot of online media around US obstetrician Dr Biter - listen to Rikki Lake talk on Blog Talk Radio and see the I Love Dr Biter Facebook group (with over 1700 members). This Youtube video features Dr Biter himself:

In an exclusive interview with SDNN, Dr. Biter finally speaks publicly about his mysterious suspension, reinstatement and resignation, Scripps Encinitas, natural birth and the women and men who backed him in his moment of need.

For more news articles about maternity care, midwifery and mothers check out this fantastic new feature on the Australian College of Midwives' website : Latest Press and News.

ACM Qld conference – early bird extension until 30 July

2010-06-29T19:46:00.000-07:00

The Australian College of Midwives QLD Branch's is holding it's State Conference at the Sea World Resort, Gold Coast from 15-17th September 2010.

Early Bird Registration has been EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 30TH 2010.

Click here for details: http://www.midwives.org.au/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=MIDW/ccms.r?PageId=10064

About the Conference
The aim of the conference to bring midwives and consumers together in a celebration to share stories and experiences. Together we will hear from an array of speakers who will highlight changes and contemporary issues in maternity care and provide a vision for the future.

Blog spotlight: Science & Sensibility - A new voice on patient safety in maternity care

2010-06-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

At the bottom of the right hand column of our blog we have listed some fantastic blogs we follow. Occasionally we'll highlight some posts within our blog.

“A new voice on patient safety in maternity care” is the latest post on Science & Sensibility: A Research Blog About Healthy Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond from Lamaze International. This post is from a new blog contributor, Tricia Pil. Her post links to a narrative she has written and published online in the medical journal Pulse, which describes the traumatic experience of the birth of her third child (warning, it contains some graphic descriptions). From the author description of her Pulse article:

Tricia Pil MD worked for six years as a pediatrician in private community practice. In the aftermath of the trauma, because of PTSD triggers present in the healthcare environment, she was unable to return to clinical practice. She went back to college, rediscovered a love of writing and earned a second undergraduate degree in English literature. She is now a science writer and health sciences project coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She hopes to use her professional background as a pediatrician, her personal experience as a patient and her skills as a writer to continue advocating for patient safety and for increased awareness of postpartum PTSD.

In her Science and Sensibility post Trish says:

In the coming months, I will be blogging about issues of patient safety, patient-centered care, medical errors, and support for clinicians, patients, and families in the aftermath of an unexpected adverse medical outcome. I will speak from the viewpoint of a pediatrician and a patient who has been on both sides of the table. I don’t know all the answers, but I hope to provide some useful information and generate your thought-provoking feedback. Your comments and suggestions for future topics are most welcome.

Looking forward to reading more posts from this courageous consumer advocate.

Survey about Australian Childbirth Conference – to be completed by Sun 4 July

2010-06-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

This survey has been created to determine whether it would be viable to have a childbirth conference or show held in Australia (Melbourne first) that informs women of their choices surrounding pregnancy
and childbirth. Responses due by Sunday 4 July.

Emerald rally media

2010-06-27T05:31:00.000-07:00

See below for online & tv coverage of the rally of 200 women to save the maternity service at Emerald hospital, Central Queensland.

* Central Queensland News online article: Passion, prams and people power

* ABC News Online article: Rally in Emerald to save hospital maternity ward.

* ABC TV News video: Rally to save Emerald hospital maternity ward Shows footage of the rally, town meeting and speakers including mothers and a representative from Queensland Health.

The Save Emerald Birthing! Facebook group now has over 1500 members! There are many, many stories from women wanting to save the maternity service at Emerald Hospital. There are also photos from the town meeting.

E-Petition for midwifery model of care for Beaudesert

2010-06-27T00:28:00.000-07:00

In a previous blog post, MC member Alison Gaffney reported about the public meeting held to discuss the proposed re-opening of the Beaudesert maternity service.

This E-Petition has been sponsored by Independent MP for Beaudesert Aidan McLindon, calling for a midwifery model of care for Beaudesert. The petition closes on 13 September.

From the E-Petition:

TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House that since the closing of the maternity ward in 2001, women in the Beaudesert region have been unable to access vital birthing facilities in their local area.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to introduce a midwife based model of care programs in the Beaudesert Hospital.

Birthing on Country Seminar - updated with time, location, map, parking & booking information

2010-06-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

***UPDATE***

This event will be jointly hosted by Mater Health Services, Australian Catholic University and Queensland Health.

9.00 am - 4.00 pm
Wed 7 July
Light lunch provided
Corbett Room, Whitty Building, Mater, South Brisbane.

The new Mater Mothers Hospital, the old Aubiny Place building on the hill and the Whitty Building all form a triangle. See the map below.

For parking information go here.

Places are limited so bookings are essential. Please email kathy.hassed@mater.org.au if you wish to attend and the number of seats required.

_______________________

With worry of possible closure of another rural Queensland maternity unit, we're pleased to announce an upcoming Birthing on Country Seminar being held in Brisbane on Wed 7th July. I'm sure we'll learn much from these wonderful guest speakers from Canada.

Emerald birthing services under threat - rally tomorrow

2010-06-23T04:24:00.000-07:00

Go here to check out the incredible Facebook group "Save Emerald Birthing" which has sprung up in response to a threat to birthing services at Emerald Hospital. It was only started two days ago, and already has over 800 members! There are scores of stories from women who have birthed at Emerald and those who have had to travel to Rockhampton to birth.

The town of Emerald is 266 kms west of Rockhampton, in Central Queensland. The hospital has approx 350 births per year.

This WIN TV online article describes plans for a rally tomorrow morning, Thursday 24th June at the Emerald Town Hall at 9.30am.

**** UPDATED THURS MIDDAY TO ADD:

Emerald FB group now almost at 1000 members!

ABC Online News article: Mayor urges permanent staff boost for Emerald hospital by Paul Robinson, Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:03am.

QH press release:

Answer to homebirth question

2010-06-23T04:14:00.000-07:00

Bruce Teakle, Maternity Coalition National Committee Member, recently answered a question in response to the update on the MC webpage, around what it all means for women due next year who want to birth at home with a midwife....

In answer to a question about what this means for women due next year:

Midwives need to buy PI insurance.

Women planning a homebirth after 1 July 2010 will need to find a private midwife who has purchased insurance. As many people will be aware already, the new national health practitioner regulations require all health practitioners from 1 July 2010 to have professional indemnity insurance.

Midwives currently have 2 choices in insurance:

1. The insurance policy sold by Mediprotect is only for antenatal and postnatal care. It is relatively low cost (starting at under $2000/year) and does not have specific requirements regarding eligibility or collaboration. The Mediprotect website (www.mediprotect.com.au ) gives some information about the policy.

2. The insurance policy sold by MIGA is subsidised by the Commonwealth Government, and is available only to "eligible midwives" according to the standard set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. It is much more expensive than the Mediprotect policy, starting at $5000/year for up to 29 births/year ($2250/year if not providing any intrapartum care in private paractice) and covers births in hospital. Comprehensive information about the policy is available from the MIGA website (www.miga.com.au ), including the policy document which lists requirements for "collaborative arrangements". These requirements include the midwife's responsibility to share certain information with a doctor or hospital.

There may be major differences in what each of these policies cover, so it is important for midwives to carefully consider their choice.

MIGA insurance requires "collaborative arrangements" or "communication of a care plan"

The requirements for "collaborative arrangements" in the first released version of the MIGA policy were problematic, requiring acknowledgements from hospitals of intent to collaborate in women's care, and receipt of the woman's care plan and test results. The policy was amended in response to midwifery and consumer feedback, and now makes allowance for insurance when hospitals are not collaborative (or haven't yet developed processes for collaboration).

Now the minimum requirement is for midwives to send a copy of each woman's care plan to the hospital, and confirm that the hospital has received it, and send other items of information about the woman's care to the hospital. This is of course subject to the woman's consent.

An update about this is provided at the MIGA website (www.miga.com.au ).

Services from "eligible midwives" will receive Medicare rebates

The good news is that from 1 November 2010, there will be Medicare rebates payable for the services of eligible midwives in private practice, subject to certain conditions. Rebates for midwifery services will be paid for specific "items" or types of visits with a midwife, in the same way as visits to doctors. Currently intrapartum (labour and birth) care at home is not rebatable, but antenatal and postnatal care for a woman planning a homebirth can be. The $ value of rebates is expected to be published soon, but midwives can be expected to usually charge more than the rebate for each service. These rebates, plus any Medicare Safetynet payments, will make care from eligible midwives significantly cheaper for women.

Midwives will need "collaborative arrangements" with doctors or hospitals

The conditions for Medicare rebates include the requirement for each rebatable item of care to be provided under a "collaborative arrangement" with a doctor. These requirements are listed in detail in the MIGA insurance policy, and are expected to become regulations to the Medicare for midwives law any day now. "Collaborative arrangements" require midwives to gain agreement from a doctor to collaborate with them in the woman's care. They also require women to book into a hospital, even if only as a backup plan.

For women planning a homebirth, the collaborating doctor can be expected to be a doctor authorised by a public hospital to enter such an arrangement. We now have 4 months for health departments and hospitals to work out what this means, and how they will do it. We don't expect it to be easy, especially to begin with, for midwives to gain agreement from hospitals on collaborative arrangements. We hope that state health Ministers and Departments work hard until November setting up policies, processes and expectations of public hospitals about collaboration with eligible midwives.

Women may need to be a bit pushy

While Australia's hospital systems are learning to collaborate with midwives in private practice, there is likely to be some extra work to do. Women planning a homebirth with an eligible midwife, and wanting to receive Medicare rebates for their care, may have to approach their hospital themselves to ask them to agree to collaborate in their care. If they don't get the right answer, they may need to escalate their efforts by asking the hospital administration to assist, and if that is unsuccessful escalating the matter further. Maternity Coalition, the Australian College of Midwives, state Members of Parliament and state health complaints agencies need to know about hospitals which refuse to collaborate with private midwives.

In the longer run

The establishment of private midwives as part of the health care system is a major reform. While it is currently very stressful for midwives and for many women, it will also have a big and (hopefully) positive effect on hospital culture and systems over time.

In time, we expect that processes will be established in some places to allow women to have continuity of care from their chosen midwife for hospital birth. This will be a significant challenge for hospital systems, and there are various options for how this might happen.

Good luck!

Bruce Teakle

Maternity Coalition National Committee Member

Update on collaborative arrangements for midwives by MIGA

2010-06-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

Click here for an Update on 18 June on collaborative arrangements from the insurer's website.

Collaborative requirements

Question

I am interested in securing formal Collaborative Arrangements, but I don't think I can obtain an obstetrician's or a hospital's agreement to collaborate with me before 1 July. Can I still be covered by the MIGA insurance?

Consumers Health Forum MBS workshops in Qld - Brisbane & Mt Isa - EOIs by 19 July

2010-06-19T16:02:00.001-07:00

Plase see below for advice from Health Consumers Queensland about upcoming Consumers Health Forum (CHF) consultation workshops in Brisbane and Mt Isa about Medicare.

Brisbane: Monday 2 August, 10:00am-3:00pm
Mount Isa: Tuesday 3 August, 10:00am-3:00pm

An Expression of Interest form needs to be submitted by 19 July. Please contact HCQ for the form: DSHCQ@health.qld.gov.au Please also let MC Qld know if you apply.

Consumer Health Forum of Australia (CHF) Consumer Consultation Workshop - Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Quality Framework Project

Health Consumers Queensland (HCQ) urges the members of our Consumer Network to express interest in participating in the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) consumer consultation workshop in Brisbane or Mount Isa in relation to the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is essential to the Australian health care system. The MBS's role is to provide rebates to consumers for medical services which are provided on a fee-for-service basis. It facilitates consumer access to a range of allied health, general practice and specialist medical services. As part of the Federal Government's current health reform plan, $9.3 million over two years has been allocated to develop and implement a new framework for managing the MBS into the future. The aim of the MBS Quality Framework is to ensure all services covered by the MBS are aligned with contemporary clinical evidence, are cost effective and affordable and result in improved health outcomes for all Australian health care consumers.

As part of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Quality Framework Project, funded by the Department of Health and Ageing, CHF is conducting a series of ten consumer consultation workshops. These workshops will allow CHF to engage, inform and consult with members to ensure consumer perspectives are adequately and effectively represented for consideration in the development and implementation of the new MBS Quality Framework.

The workshops are an opportunity for consumers to identify key issues regarding the proposed framework and to ensure that any new mechanisms put in place for listing, pricing and review of MBS items will be effective, safe and encourage better health outcomes for consumers. The aims of the workshops include:
� Identify key issues for consumers in the development of a Quality Framework for the Medicare Benefits Schedule and its key proposals:
� Introducing time-limited listing
� Evaluating time-limited items
� Establishing a system for monitoring and review of MBS items
� Strengthening systems for pricing and listing new services.
� Establish an evidence base about consumer concerns relating to the Quality Framework for the Medicare Benefits Schedule

The workshops are to be held in the following locations:
Brisbane Monday 2 August
Mount Isa Tuesday 3 August
Darwin Thursday 5 August
Canberra Wednesday 11 August
Sydney Friday 13 August
Melbourne Tuesday 17 August
Hobart Wednesday 18 August
Perth Tuesday 24 August
Adelaide Wednesday 25 August
Port Augusta Thursday 26 August

Locations will be announced at a later date.

For more information on the Project, please see the CHF Information Paper. It can be accessed here.

The Department of Health and Ageing have also released a Discussion Paper on the Quality Framework. It can be accessed here.

We are seeking workshop participants from health consumers who have experience with the MBS, or have a general interest in the area.

As places are strictly limited, please complete the attached expression of interest form and return it as soon as possible. Applications close on 19 July 2010.
Please contact Sarah Watt, CHF Project Officer at s.watt@chf.org.au or on (02) 6273 5444 (STD calls will be returned) if you have any questions or would like to discuss this project further.

Recent media: Birth trauma in today's Age, Homebirth in NY and 2 radio programs on caesareans in Australia

2010-06-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

**** Article in today's Melbourne Age newspaper about maternity services and birth trauma in Australia. It contains quotes from mothers, Sydney midwife in private practice Melissa Maimann, Jenny Gamble and Melissa Bruijn and midwife Debby Gould from Birthtalk:
Hard labour by KATHY EVANS, June 20, 2010

**** An article about the current situation for homebirth in New York:
Doctors’ Group Fights a Bill That Would Ease Restrictions on Midwives by ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS, 17 June, 2010

**** A recent replay of two Radio National programs (first broadcast Nov 2009)

Caesarean sections: part one of a two part feature, 7 June, 2010

Caesarean sections are on the rise. In Australia one in three babies are born this way, and once a mother has one caesarean she's got at least a 50% chance of having another one in a following pregnancy. The rising rates have got some people very worried. There can be serious consequences of caesareans, for both mother and baby, and they're not talking about it. In the first of a two part special Nicky Phillips looks at what factors are driving our caesarean rates.

This program is a repeat and was first broadcast on 2 November 2009.

Guests

Professor Caroline de Costa
Professor of Obstetrics, James Cook University, Cairns

Nicky Phillips
Reporter, Science Unit, Radio National, Sydney

Dr Vijay Roach
Obstetrician, North Shore Private Hospital, Sydney

Dr Jenny Fenwick
Associate Professor of Midwivery, University of Technology, Sydney

Presenter

Norman Swan

Caesarean sections: part two

Nicky Phillips has made this two part feature about caesarean sections. In this second program we take a look at some of the consequences of the operation and we'll meet two mothers who developed serious complications from their caesars.

This program is a repeat and was first broadcast on 9 November 2009.

Guests

Dr Chris Smith
Virologist, Cambridge University, UK

Kylie Heffernan
Mother

Sharon and Neil Evans
Parents

Professor Caroline de Costa
Professor of Obstetrics, James Cook University, Cairns

Professor David Ellwood
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Australian National University, Canberra

Associate Professor Jenny Fenwick
Associate Professor of Midwivery, University of Technology, Sydney

Nicky Phillips
Reporter, ABC Radio National, Science Unit

Presenter

Norman Swan

Important update from MC on the maternity reform process

2010-06-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

Click here for a detailed update on the maternity reform process, hot off the press, from Maternity Coalition. Many of the submissions from Maternity Coalition over the past year and a half can be downloaded at the bottom of the update. Maternity Coalition will distribute a further update as soon as we have more details.

Maternity Reforms Update
June 17, 2010

Background

Maternity Coalition are concerned about the requirements for collaboration in the insurance policy underwritten by the Federal Government. MC is aware of midwives who are unable to find collaborative solutions at their local hospitals and who cannot, therefore, meet requirements for insurance to continue to practise as a midwife.

Maternity Coalition wants to gain assurance from NMBA, State Ministers and the Federal Minister for Health that women’s birthing rights will be protected from 1 July.

This update will cover:

* National Registration and Accreditation Scheme insurance requirements
* Insurance options and “collaborative arrangements”
* Homebirth exemption criteria and the Safety and Quality Framework guiding midwifery care by Privately Practising Midwives attending homebirths
* Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) access
* Where this all leaves homebirth

***Edited on 19 June to note: This update from 17 June was edited yesterday (18 June) to reflect more recent developments. Please re-read it and continue to visit MC's website for updates. ***

Online article - "Private midwife insurance ‘expensive and unfair'"

2010-06-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

Click here to read the article "Private midwife insurance ‘expensive and unfair’" published on www.insurancenews.com.au on 15 June 2010.

Brisbane's Child - Pregnancy & Baby Issue

2010-06-17T17:02:00.001-07:00

Brisbane Child's current June 2010 Pregnancy & Baby Issue includes the following articles:

* Unplanned reactions - problems passed on through breast milk
* The rituals of rest - the sleeping practices of families around the world
* Behind the birthing bravado - learning to be wary of the suite talk of motherhood
* Delivering a decision - a mum-to-be changes her birthing venue
* Taking a cut - giving birth by caesarean when this was not part of the plan

Brisbane's Child is available free from a variety of locations including council libraries.

Participants needed for QCMB's Women's Labour & Birth Preferences Study

2010-06-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

The Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies (QCMB) is looking for women to undertake a survey for the following study:

Can you help?

We are conducting exciting new research on 'Women’s Labour and Birth Preferences' within the Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland.

We’d love to know your preferences if you are:

- female and not currently pregnant (does not matter if you have/have not previously given birth)

- at least 18 years of age

Participation involves completing a short (approx. 15 minute) online survey.

What’s in it for you?

To thank you for participating, you can go in the draw to win a $100 Coles Myer Gift Voucher.

Any risks?
Your responses to this survey are completely anonymous. If you choose to provide your personal details for entry in the prize draw, your details will never be stored or reported with your responses, and we will never pass your details on to anyone else.

Click here to go to the online survey.

Please feel free to forward this email to any of your female friends and colleagues who you think may be interested.

Thank you,

Gabrielle Stevens
Psychology Honours Student

Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies
The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
t. + 61 7 3346 3079 f. + 61 7 3346 3085
e. s4076134@uqconnect.edu.au
www.havingababy.org.au
www.facebook.com/pages/Queensland-Centre-for-Mothers-Babies/105110092867578
http://twitter.com/qcmb

Birth Support Circle workshops in Kuranda

2010-06-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Click on the flyers below to read about a series of birth support workshops being run by Jacqueline Conroy (Professional Counsellor) and Kellie McBride (Acupuncturist) in Kuranda for women in the Tablelands/Cairns area in July / August.

Face of Birth's Interview with Sheila Kitzinger

2010-06-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch part of Australian documentary production Face of Birth's recent interview with Sheila Kitzinger.

Face of Birth is a documentary currently in production. While recently filming expert interviews we offered those following the progress of our film the opportunity to pose a question of their own.

In this episode of MY SAY, Sheila Kitzinger responds to a question posed by our FACEBOOK audience during our recent 'FACE OF BIRTH' UK shoot, June 2010.

In the clip Sheila answers the question "How do we educate our Dr's to give women all the information they need to make an informed choice about how they want to birth?".

MC's stall at the Brisbane Parents, Babies & Childrens Expo this weekend

2010-06-15T21:57:00.001-07:00

Come along to this weekend's Parents Babies and Chidren's Expo at the Brisbane Convention Centre and visit the "Pregnancy, Birth and Postnatal Options" stall, hosted by Maternity Coalition (MC) Qld. Staffed by many wonderful volunteers from MC, Home Midwifery Association (HMA), Birthtalk and Caesarean Awareness Network of Australia (CANA), we'll have information, magazines, memberships and lots of other fun goodies to sell and give away.

When: Friday 18 to Sunday 20 June 2010
Open: Friday 10am - 4pm (last admission 3pm)
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm (last admission 4pm)

Entry is usually $14 for adults, but download a free entry ticket by clicking here.

Movie trailer: "Babies"

2010-06-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

Click here for the trailer to a film just released in the US. Let us know if you know if/when it's coming to Australia...

Capturing on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all, this nonfiction feature from award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmès simultaneously follows four babies, in Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco, and Tokyo, respectively, from birth to first steps. Every shot tells a story, as the adventure of a lifetime begins.

Are you an MC member?

2010-06-07T15:13:00.001-07:00

Are you currently an MC member? By joining Maternity Coalition you are making a valuable contribution to our ongoing work to improve Maternity Services for women across Australia. Membership of Maternity Coalition also puts you in touch with a broad base of members who talk birth and trust birth. As an individual member you receive Birth Matters Magazine, published quarterly. Individual membership costs $40 in Australia and $65 for overseas members. You may also gift an individual membership to a friend.

New memberships or renewals can be done online here.

If you would like to check the status of your membership, you can email: memberships@maternitycoalition.org.au

Health Minister Nicola Roxon - insurance for midwives

2010-06-07T00:22:00.000-07:00

Links to today's news articles re. Roxon's comments on insurance for midwives and homebirth:

The Australian: Private midwives to be covered by insurance

Sydney Morning Herald: Roxon optimistic about homebirth future

Minister Roxon's media release:

First Midwives to Benefit from Indemnity Insurance