On Monday I went to a meeting where I listened to the most inspiring birth stories. These stories where about couples who decided to have a home birth or a supported birth by a doula in a hospital.
Women spoke of the reasons why they have chosen this birth option for their birth- not being listened to, being ignored, felt they were on a production line, not told why things were done to them or a horrific birth experience with their previous child.
It was so sad that mainstream birth is so horrific that these women are 'forced' into searching out other options. There was a woman who was 34 weeks, 6 weeks to go who had yet to book into a hospital searching for a midwife who could offer the choice of birth she wanted.
There are so few midwives working independently because they cannot get professional indemnity insurance or admitting rights to a hospital. Doctors have monopolised these aspects for so long. It is now time to consider the safety of these women. If they could not find a midwife they claimed they would free birth - i.e. no attending midwife or Dr.
Why are Obstetricians, specialists in abnormal or high risk referred low risk healthy women for their care by GP's? Why can't Australia have a system like in NZ where midwives can be the leading care provider with referral options to the specialist if/when needed? Why are women so lowly they do not get any choice, especially if they have private health insurance? Why do some hospitals have a 90% caesarean section rate? Why do we spend so much money when care by a known midwife is the cheapest and by WHO the gold standard for healthy low risk women? People start asking these questions please!

You should check out the infant mortality rates among these alternative methods. It's all well and good if the birth goes fine, but if something goes wrong not having a doctor there can result in the death of your child. Most hospitals will allow you to have a lot of say in how you give birth. They can't actually force you to do anything you don't want. Bring your witchdoctor and ouiji board along if you want.

Babs “a system like in NZ where midwives can be the leading care provider with referral options to the specialist if/when needed?”

I can think of a single good reason and will illustrate it with examples

Whilst a midwife might get her jollies off in being a “leading care provider” she is not the be all and end all of the process.

The central focus must be the mother and her baby.

The only consideration which matters is “What is in the best interests of the mother/baby?”

Anything which detracts from that core and solitary purpose is a risk and should be avoided.

My examples.

My first child was born in a hospital with doctors etc in attendance and on hand during a 36 hour pregnancy. My then wife had a very dramatic labour, the baby being transverse.

The baby was eventually turned and presented as breach and was then delivered.

The doctor advised if the labour had lasted much longer, he would have performed a caesarean.

I am pleased we were not indulging some mythical believe in natural birthing process or I might well have lost both mother and child. I would note my eldest daughter suffered no ill effects from the labour or delivery.

My current partner, for her first birth was persuaded to do the natural thing. She ended up with some Rambo doctor/midwife team. She and the baby became exhausted in labour and her son was eventually born, distressed. He is dead now but my partner is convinced the drama of his birth resulted in oxygen starvation at a critical time resulting in frontal lobe damage. He suffered poor impulse control and learning difficulties all his life.

The point, I could well see how, if my daughter had been an attempted home birth, how she could have suffered the same fate and the same loss of life quality as a result.

I was surprised my present partner was even considered for home birth on the first child. In UK, where my first was born anything outside of a hospital was never planned nor promoted, thank God.

Dear babs,

I don't know much about childbirth in Australia as both of my sons were born in Los Angeles. I chose the "Lamaze" method of childbirth.
Which entailed special exercises in my seventh month, techniques, and education. I built the mental and physical conditioned reflexes which enabled me to not only overcome fear but consciously to direct the delivery of both of my children without anesthesia and without pain.

I was very lucky because for me childbirth was indeed a deeply satisfying and joyful experience.

The "Lamaze" method is on offer in all Maternity hospitals in Los Angeles under the guidance of your own obstetrician. All the exercise and breathing and relaxation technique classes are run through the hospital - and the classes are attended by both partners. It's a shared expereince.