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Women have a birthing choice: group

29 Aug, 2009 12:48 AM
WOMEN wanting homebirths are under pressure to have their children before July 1 next year, according to the Ballarat Maternity Coalition.

And some women are considering limiting their families to just one child if homebirth midwives are refused professional indemnity support.

Ballarat Maternity Coalition president Faye Kricak yesterday said all women should have the birth they wanted.

"We don't go around saying people should have homebirths. It's just a right of choice," Ms Kricak said.

The coalition yesterday presented a letter to Ballarat MHR Catherine King asking her to support homebirth funding under the Medicare Benefits Schedule, with indemnity support for midwives.

The Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009 and two related bills currently under debate could make homebirths unlawful from July 1 next year under National Registration and Accreditation of Health Professionals laws.

"We just want to know yes or no if she supports all women's choice to choose a birthcare provider and a place of birth, Ms Kricak said."

She warned the legislation could put babies and mothers at risk.

"Does it take a baby to die at home without a midwife for things to change?"

Ms King said the Federal Government's $120.5 million national plan for maternity services recognised the role midwives play.

She said none of the proposed bills covering the area of midwives and nurse practitioners made home birthing illegal, but she had met with Health Minister Nicola Roxon about the issue.

However, draft legislation on a national scheme for health professional registering would affect midwives who undertake homebirths.

About 30 Ballarat Maternity Coalition members will attend a Homebirth Australia rally in Canberra on September 7.

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The so-called "health" system throws new mothers out of hospitals the next day after having a baby wheather the're ready (emotionally or physically) or not! With all these "accidental deaths" through negligence in hospitals (4,000 per year annually) that are covered up by governments, and superbugs etc, seems to me that it's probably safer to stay home anyway. Not only that, but who does the government think they are by dictating people's civil rights? Dictatorship belongs in North Korea and China, not in any "so-called" democracy!
Posted by Linda, 29/08/2009 4:48:54 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
The various governments should hang their collective heads in shame and embarrassment at what they are attempting to do to women in our country. Our female federal politician should be more aware of the rights of women with regards their choices. Women should not be dictated to about the natural choices they want to make in reference to their birtheing environments. Another basic human right being removed from Australian families. Hope the politicians are proud of themselves.
Posted by Mark of Napoleons, 29/08/2009 9:39:09 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
We've already seen babies die at home because families are unwilling to expose themselves to the added risks associated with hospital birth and it's interventions, and yet the focus is on preventing accessible midwifery care at home, not limiting harmful hospital practices. Where is the outcry against unnecessary interventions and their associated morbidity and mortality rates? Homebirthing attendants should retain their current attending rights, and families should retain their human right of choice.
Posted by Jenny, 29/08/2009 1:58:57 PM, on The Ballarat Courier
Women should have the right to choose who delivers their babies. I had mine in hospital and had injections and interference without my consent. I felt violated and scared and that my rights were overlooked and my opinion dismissed. The medical errors that occurred were traumatising to me and my children and in my opinion we were treated poorly, then sent home and things covered up. I can understand why mums would prefer home births so that they can have more control over such a big event and midwives should be allowed to legally attend and be fully insured in the process. We should move forward not backward into dictatorship. Bring back choice and support homebirth attendants and mums-to-be.
Posted by free choice, 30/08/2009 11:29:06 PM, on The Ballarat Courier

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CONCERN: Faye Kricak and baby Harlei Kricak outside the office of Ballarat MHR Catherine King to protest about the end of homebirths. Photo: Lachlan Bence
CONCERN: Faye Kricak and baby Harlei Kricak outside the office of Ballarat MHR Catherine King to protest about the end of homebirths. Photo: Lachlan Bence

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