Homing in on their birthright

BY MARK BARBELIUK
24/03/2009 12:20:00 PM
ADVOCATES of home births are calling on the Federal Government to reject a recommendation in its maternity service review that could see an end to babies being born outside hospitals and birthing centres from July next
Members of the Sutherland Shire Natural Birth Group said the proposed changes effectively took away a woman's right to choose how and where she gave birth.
The controversial section of the review involves indemnity of midwives. The group said the proposed changes meant midwives could not obtain registration to practice without insurance.
"There are not enough of us for insurance companies to underwrite us,'' according to midwife Betty Vella, who has run a private home birth service for 12 years. "But that's never been an issue because of the trusting relationship between midwives and expecting parents.'' While the St George Hospital home birth service is covered by Medicare, the women describe it as inadequate, restrictive and unacceptable.
Sally Dillon said the government-funded service had a strict screening process that excluded first-time mothers, those with any sort of probable medical complications and anyone who previously delivered by ceasarean. Amber Johnstone said in the three years the St George Hospital service had run, about 50 babies had been delivered and the "success'' rate was 50 percent, meaning half the women who opted for home births ended up delivering their babies in hospital. At present, private home births are not covered by Medicare and those who opt to deliver at home pay $4000-$5000, which includes pre and antenatal care. A standard vaginal in-hospital delivery starts at $5800.
Brian Nicholson said home births were equally important for fathers. "It binds a family,'' he said. "I felt I was able to provide so much support and wasn't shoved to the side like I would have been in a hospital. "A lot of the home birth experience is about being comfortable in your head,'' Ms Johnstone said. "It's a far better experience.''
Sonia Gregson, from Helensburgh, wrote to Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon expressing her outrage at the changes. "The bottom line is that home birth should be a choice for all women and represents a significant cost saving to the government,'' she wrote. "Women who birth at home are less likely to have interventions including assisted deliveries and caesarean sections. "A home birth also provides the most likely option for a culturally and socially-appropriate birth.'' The Federal Government has yet to respond to the review.
Home birth advocates are urging people to write to the health minister or visit www.homebirthsydney.org.au
Should a woman have the right to choose how and where she gives birth?