Homebirths to Become Illegal in Australia

by neilabraham | June 21, 2009 at 06:51 pm

1221 views | 42 Recommendations | 14 comments

Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law released last week, from July 2010 midwives could face a AUS$30,000 fine if they assist with a home birth in Australia.

It is expected that this will drive homebirths underground and put mothers and babies at risk in the absence of trained midwives.

Women's groups have accused the Rudd Government of stripping women of human rights by forcing them to use hospitals. Home Births Australia secretary Justine Caines said the new law took away the rights of women "It technically makes homebirthing illegal," she said.

The Royal Australasian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is against homebirths.

The overwhelming response from the Australian public is clear. They want the right to choose to have their babies at home. They say that the Government supports women's right to abort their babies, yet wants to deny their rights to choose where they can deliver their babies.

One rural woman commented, "What happens if a mother can't make it to hospital in time for the birth? We've all read stories about women who's labour progresses quickly and they have their babies at home, in cars on the way to the hospital, etc. How are people in the outback supposed to get into hospital in a hurry? And if they can't and a midwife is close by and can assist them, it seems the midwife can be de-registered simply by going to help. This has NOT been thought out properly."

The government clearly needs to give this more thought and provide a transparent community consulation period.

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Uwe Paschen

at 20:29 on June 21st, 2009

I think that is not the right approach nor logical.

I am glad to Australian public does not adder to this and wants to maintain the right to shows.

Common sense (not verified)

at 23:13 on June 23rd, 2009

Obviously, there's some conflict of interest going on between the ob/gyn community and the gov't rather than proper research being done re: birth safety. Infections and iatrogenically caused complications are WAY higher a risk in hospital births than home birth. Thus, banning homebirth is a stupid, unscientific idea. They need to read the article "Fish Can't See Water" by a guy from the WHO... Reveals a lot.

neilabraham

at 05:01 on June 24th, 2009

@Common sense - you are correct. It is a much greater risk of infections when birthing in hospitals. There has already been research done to support that fact, however it does not support the government's position so the government will ignore it.

Barbara McPherson

at 09:32 on June 29th, 2009

So, if a neighbour(unqualified) helps with a home birth that's ok, but if a trained mid-wife assists with a normal birth that's not. Of course, women should be able to choose whether to deliver their babies! At the very least, there should be a birthing centre physically removed from acute care hospitals which are often full of infectious bacteria.

neilabraham

at 21:55 on June 29th, 2009

Good point Barbara.

After July 2010 in Australia, any unqualified person could assist with a homebirth and not fear prosecution, yet a highly qualified and trained midwife faces a AUS$30,000 fine for assisting and potentially saving the lives of both mother and baby in the event of complications during the home birth.

Perhaps the next generation of midwives will be forced to go underground by getting training but not officially completing the course, therefore not being "Qualified" by the medical board and authorities.

How ridiculous is that? I could go on, but I'll stop there for now!

God save our midwives!

NotWonderful (not verified)

at 10:42 on June 29th, 2009

Wow! So, if a mother helps her daughter give birth in the outback, Grandma goes to jail?! How perverse can it be against the AUS people?!

To see how outrageous it gets in the USA, how about a man apparently "destroyed" for doing right! He seems to have disobeyed commands to discriminate against blacks & men at work and refused to lie about work-hours to allow his famous npo employer to not pay required OT wages. http://buzz.yahoo.com/article/1:50cd1a9a183758039b0841aa738c3f0b:06ae5af5805500b879aff7c39784909a;_ylt=AuZj2txYGGd_07GOFItZ3rE7vJZ4

neilabraham

at 22:10 on June 29th, 2009

Hey "@notwonderful" Grandma would be okay to assist with a homebirth after July 2010 as long as she is not a qualified midwife.

Its the life-saving midwife qualification that will get you fined AUS$30,000.

That's why unless the Rudd government does a backflip on this, homebirths in Australia will go underground next year. (Great work Mr K-Rudd. - Who's your next target Kevin? - the Blue Nurses? The Royal Flying Dr Service? The Salvation Army? Why don't you then kick them while they're down too, just to be sure!)

Fair shake of the sauce bottle Kevin! Leave our midwives alone!

Courtney Johnson (not verified)

at 05:07 on July 3rd, 2009

Why do they stop there? Why not ban ambo's from treating ppl until they are at hospital? Or a GP assisting someone having a heart attack in their waiting rooms? I mean really? Where is the logic?

I chose to birth my baby in a hospital, intervention was recomended, it went very badly. I thought for many months after 'If I had only stayed home".

neilabraham

at 03:37 on July 4th, 2009

Hi Courtney.

I am sorry to hear of your terrible experience in a hospital birth.

My wife just had another wonderful home birth a week ago. No intervention. No pressure. It was a peaceful, wonderful, natural event. Much better than any of the hospital births we experienced which were mostly hellish and full of fear and threats. We were ready to go to a hospital if complications arose, but thank God it all went well.

Neil

a dad (not verified)

at 22:34 on July 3rd, 2009

Excuse me but I find this an absolutely idiotic development in human affairs.

It doesn't even have anything to do with "rights" as more to do with NATURE ... A woman's body is built to give birth naturally. It ought to be encouraged! Making home birth illegal... what's next? .... you cannot have a piss in the forest? I really think that authorities should get more out of our lives rather than dictate how and when natural things like Birth are handled by the individual. Heck, the road to degeneration is paved with the dollars of powerful lobby groups like The Royal Australasian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Vested interests I say....If you have a home birth the hospital won't make any cash off you!

neilabraham

at 03:46 on July 4th, 2009

Good point "A Dad".

Vested interests you suggest? Could be. Who knows? You may be onto something there!

The government seems hell-bent on controlling all aspects of our lives instead of taking care of more important things that governments are supposed to be doing, like infrastructure projects, expanding our defense forces, trade, diplomacy, investing in science, medical research, etc.

The government should leave pregnant women alone and allow them to choose where they wish to have their babies and with whom. Midwives should be given much more respect for the professional service they provide home birthing mothers. To hell with the Royal Australasian College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. They can have their role to play in birthing IF women choose to use them, not IF they pressure the government to force women to birth in hospitals under their care.

Neil

Hannah456 (not verified)

at 20:16 on August 17th, 2009

It is so important that women be free to choose their birth places and attendants--for their health and the health and well-being of their children. I am disappointed by the government's move of control. The government of Australia should not think it OWNS the body or birth of a woman!

Mytheroftwo (not verified)

at 21:06 on September 1st, 2009

I am shocked, I am not falling pregnant this or next year with my third baby, as I was going to have a homebirth. This is a wiolation of women rights!

neilabraham

at 02:15 on September 2nd, 2009

Mytheroftwo, don't let the government win. We all need to stand up for the midwives of Australia who support home births and let the Australian Government know they have gone too far this time. Write or call your local Federal Member and let them know how angry this makes you feel and that they need to do something about this if they want to get re-elected next time.

This week I have heard from many full-time Queensland Health Midwives working in hospitals that they would actually prefer to work with women in their homes instead of forcing women into hospital beds, strapping them down and injecting them with strong pain killers, robbing them of their choice of a natural birthing experience.

The Australian Government promised to fix our hospitals by the middle of this year and when the deadline came around they broke their promise and backed out. Too hard. Instead, all they could decide to do was force more women into the broken hospital system which is already overcrowded, under funded and going broke fast.

Great idea Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, master genius hospital fixeruppera and election promise breaker! Go shake your sauce bottle somewhere else! Leave our homebirthing midwives alone! Be a man and stick up for the fair dinkum honest, hard working Australian women and give them back their birthing choices. After all it should be their choice, not yours!