Planned home and hospital births in South Australia, 1991-2006: differences in outcomes Robyn Kennare, Marc Keirse, Graeme Tucker and Annabelle Chan, MJA 192(2), 18 January 2009 You’re going to be hearing a lot from the Australian Medical Association about That… Read More ›
midwives
Hutton’s Ontario Homebirth/Hospital Birth Study
The latest homebirth study is out. The last was from British Columbia; this one’s from Ontario. “Outcomes Associated with Planned Home and Planned Hospital Births in Low-Risk Women Attended by Midwives in Ontario, Canada, 2003–2006: A Retrospective Cohort Study” Eileen… Read More ›
Independent midwife clients granted a brief reprieve – or are they?
The West this afternoon tells us: “Homebirth mothers win reprieve”: Pregnant women wanting to give birth at home have won a reprieve after Federal Government and the States cut a deal today to allow midwives to continue practising without insurance…. Read More ›
Inaccurate contraceptive info from National Prescribing Service
One of the key pieces of information we need when choosing contraception is accurate data on effectiveness. What is the likelihood that your birth control will stop you getting pregnant? We are presented with pretty charts by family planning counsellors,… Read More ›
Rally in Canberra September 7: Homebirth: What’s the Crime? Guest post by Janet Fraser
This is a guest post by Janet Fraser, National Convenor of Joyous Birth, the Australian homebirth network, also blogging at Looking Glass Alice. It is cross-posted here. With a background in academia and feminist activism, Janet brings a wealth of… Read More ›
Homebirth to become illegal in a year.
I’ve been meaning to write a big post on this, but it just hasn’t happened. So here’s a little one. Read some background at “Homebirth Ban” “Maternity Services Review: Medicare payments to OBs up from $77m to $211m since 2004.”… Read More ›
First the good news
A Netherlands study showing that midwife-assisted homebirths are at least as safe for low-risk mothers as midwife-led hospital deliveries and Did you know that defence lawyers in NSW and other Australian states can subpoena counsellor records of rape victims on behalf of the alleged rapist? Without the victim’s knowledge?
Quickhit: Maternity Services Review and Homebirth
Further to our thread on the Maternity Services Review, check out ABC Unleashed: Homebirth ban, by Alison Leemen The Maternity Services Review report, released last weekend, was an attempt to delivery continuity of care and midwife-led services to more Australian… Read More ›
“The Doctors” TV – Fair and Balanced on “The Alternative Birthing Debate”
I just watched “The Doctors” on birthing. They called the show “The Alternative Birthing Debate”. I thought I’d live-semi-transcribe it for you. Some of this is quickly paraphrased, but the quoted material is not misquoted in ways (I hope) that… Read More ›
Midwifery-led care, the AMA, and the Cochrane Collaboration: who do you believe?
The Australian Medical Association on midwifery-led care in maternity services, September 2008: “[…] midwifery services were expanded without any reference to the medical profession and without any clear evidence base around the impact on safety and clinical outcomes for patients…. Read More ›