Prenatal
Homebirth Australia suggests the following statement:
Quality and safety is a central feature of this framework. The right of women to informed consent is acknowledged as is a health professionals right to provide clinical information and advice. Health professionals have a responsibility to provide balanced information and to be confident that information is understood. Women have a responsibility to demonstrate they understand this information and to articulate ongoing decisions.
Homebirth Australia understands that this document and the approach from Government will be risk adverse. This approach does not however need to come at a cost of removing established rights of women. It would be prudent to address the fact that a growing number of women with what most obstetricians would consider a 'risk factor' are choosing homebirth and will continue to do so. If this is understood and articulated there is a much better chance to develop understanding and appropriate clinical pathways for consultation and referral. By ignoring or shunning the women that make these choices we risk underground practice and birth without a skilled attendant. Homebirth Australia does not support women being put in this position and hopes that government will accept this approach as part of a risk adverse strategy.
In the case of rural and remote Australia it seems perverse logic to accept that current options are 'safe' for women (removal from their families and the risk of road side birth whilst travelling in labour) while the care of a registered midwife at home is seemingly less safe.
