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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Sad state of affairs for WA homebirth! Give me a break



Currently in Western Australia there are several options for having a baby.... you can check out this website; Having a Baby in WA - birthing options; the website offers information relating to most birthing options; Recently there has been much debate over Homebirth, with the Maternity Services Review and National Registration which now makes it law for midwives to have insurance cover and this is attached to registration; with an exemption to homebirth insurance for two years;

WA has a government run homebirthing program; Community Midwifery WA which provides a homebirthing option; the website carries valuable information for the women of WA including the pros and cons of Homebirth; The AMA has taken it upon themselves to object to this information saying that Homebirth is not a safe option and wants a warning on the website to alert women to this issue;
Today there has been great debate over this point; on the ABC radio show this morning; The health Dept chief medical officer Simon Towler says... that homebirth was a safe option... However the Health Dept says there has now been a warning included to the homebirth site,
now this is a very clever point; there is more than one way to skin a cat.....
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists do not endorse homebirths.
You can read their College Statement here.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist in the UK do support homebirths – see here for their joint statement with the Royal College of Midwives.

Read the article; "Website promoting homebirths amended";

The AMA's WA president David Mountain said the website information about home births was misleading and did not warn about the dangers involved....

The article also goes on to mention that women should speak to an expert in this area.... well that has to be a midwife an expert in the 'normal process'.
51 WA doctors 'too dangerous' to treat patients without rules
In one case, an obstetrician found guilty of conducting rogue surgery has been allowed to continue practising - but has been banned from using forceps when he delivers babies

Another story over the weekend..... Parents sue over botched forceps birth....."A BABY boy could be left with brain damage after a WA obstetrician's bungled attempt to use forceps during his delivery".

I challenge the AMA Dr David Mountain to please put a "a warning for low risk women having a hospital birth for all iatrogenic injuries caused by a hospital admission for birth". More than 2,500 people die from hospital related injuries.... the Cesarean section rate is higher than ever..and still there are injuries and deaths associated with that....the risks for women having an unnecessary cesarean far outweigh the risks of a homebirth...see the ican website for the facts. .....

Give us a break AMA; Why don't you listen to what women want!

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