Hospitals are dangerous places full stop! I wish I'd stop hearing about friends who have contracted nasty infections after being admitted, the last one near fatally. Of course there are risks with childbirth, and as previously stated, I wasn't the ideal candidate for a homebirth, so came up with a third solution.

The hospitals when I was having my children seemed to recognise that there is a risk of being in hospital, and discharged healthy Mums and bubs with support from a visiting nurse pretty quick smart.

For healthy women with no evidence of complications, and in reach of hospital assistance in case of problems, and a readiness to seek that assistance early, home may be best. A relaxed and calm place with a experienced midwife, surely can help the birth on. I recently read a peice by a English doctor who wanted to ban Dad's from the birth saying it inhibited the mother giving birth. Seems that control is the order of the day.

Monica,

Excellent article. Just know that most commenters on this site (and all sites?) are cynical instant experts with nothing better to do than dump their anger on easy targets. This seems to be true no matter what the topic or opinion.

So don't take their negativity too seriously.

Just to elaborate further on what Shadow Minister has stated, indemnity insurance is not being withdrawn from home birthing midwives, it's just that they will be required to pay for their own indemnity insurance, the same as any other health professional is currently required to do when in private practice.

If a health professional is employed by a public hospital, then the hospital pays their indemnity insurance premium. If they work in private practice, then they must pay their own insurance premium, based on the risk associated with the field that they work, and their estimated income generated from their practice.

I don't think that midwives specialising in home birthing are to be outlawed, it's just that these private midwives will be required to pay their own insurance, and rightly so.

When any health professional performs a procedure that has inherent risks (eg. home birthing), they can be legally responsible for any adverse outcome where they may be judged to be negligent. I think that home birthing midwives have been out of the legal firing line until now, so they will need to implement risk management policies and will probably think twice about taking on some cases. Surely this is a good thing for the safety and welfare of women?

'Excellent article. Just know that most commenters on this site (and all sites?) are cynical instant experts with nothing better to do than dump their anger on easy targets. This seems to be true no matter what the topic or opinion.'

.....

.....

I think he's nailed it! Too true!

Let's face it, men really shouldn't even be able to talk about giving birth let alone being there. It's secret women's business. I think male doctors who are obstetricians are part of a secret misogynist conspiracy to take away women's maternal power. They fear the life giving power of women, and get cheap thrills out of examining their private parts too.

They don't understand or appreciate the pain of giving birth, so they should be arrested if they even discuss the topic. They have NO RIGHT to any opinion whatsoever!

It's even debatable whether men should have any involvement in childrens lives at all. They're all potential paedos!

There is nothing to stop a mother giving birth to a child at home.
All that happens is that if the birth goes wrong and the baby is injured there is no insurance to help support the injured baby.
There must be some reason why insurance companies think that there is a high risk to home birthing if they don't provide indemnity insurance to midwives.
All those actuaries can't be wrong.