Australian Birth rites

Casey - posted on 02/02/2010

That's right Dana they are simply making home births unsafe, the thing is if you need medical help I think most women homebirthing would of course go directly to hospital but the thing is with a healthy normal pregnancy most women will have a healthy natural birth if left to themselves. The thing is if you want a hospital birth with all the drugs in the world you should have that right but you should also have the right to have a non-hospital birth in a safe environment. Yes I'm a women but some how I still ended up with a brain! I would never put my child's life in danger but for me that includes not having dangerous drugs like pethidine during my labour I should have the right to make decisions about my body and my child's.

Dana - posted on 01/27/2010

I didn't have a homebirth (far from it, and I'm still trying to come to terms with it), but as far as I'm aware, there is always still a qualified midwife in attendence, right? So, if it is outlawed, then all that will happen is what Clara said above, women who are determined not to go to hospital (for whatever reason, possibly after having a bad experience like myself), will just do it on their own without qualified help.

What our nanny state is saying they want to do is to ensure we all have a "safe birth"; however, what they're really doing is to take our rights away for a qualified assistence. If they were truly worried about our safety and well being, then they would support us in our decision to birth our baby in a place where we feel safe to give birth and not stressed. I'm not a medical professional, but I'm quite sure that stress on the mother does not aid a safe birth. In fact, I would say that it was the main contributing factor to me ending up having a Cesarean and a horrible and painful recovery rather than the drug free birth I wanted so much. I was just so terrified, because of all we hear about what can go wrong that my body just wouldn't co-operate and didn't dilate at the rate it was "meant to".

Just my two cents worth.

Clara - posted on 10/28/2009

It shouldn't be something men even have a say in, even if they have years of medical schooling and obstetrics experience. It shouldn't come to a point where a woman has to lie to do what she feels is right for her and her baby(ies). But, try as men might, it's impossible to force a woman to hold the baby in if she "can't quite make it" to the hospital. Just a thought if such a law goes into effect--say, "well, I thought we'd have enough time to get to the hospital, but then I got the urge to push and didn't want my baby born in the car." How are they to know if you had a quick labor or not!

Tiffany - posted on 10/13/2009

Its so sad that people can actually have control over where us as women give birth to OUR babies what is this word coming to??

Simone - posted on 08/26/2009

That's stupid, it's like we have no control over anything anymore, not all of us are clueless.
I felt so disrespected when I was told I couldn't have a waterbirth because my water had broken too early and was shoved on a table when my body told me to stand, then locked in a frickken ward without my hubby, having my bubs shoved on my breast rather than exploring to find it. I was so scared having never spent a night in hospital in my life.. I resented my bubs and couldn't bond.
I'm an Aussie and was hoping to homebirth if we have another one. Instead if this goes through, I'll do what I was planning to do with my first, just call no one and have them in the bath alone. My partner sensed I was planning to do so but was of course opposed to the idea because 'what if something goes wrong'- then it wasn't meant to be I think.
I of course had a ridiculously easy birth after 3 days of labour, which I was mostly home for anyway. They just want to crowd the hospital system more..
Fair shake of the sauce bottle mate..

Casey - posted on 08/06/2009

Thanks ladies well we are being heard check this out:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25891706-29277,00.html

Tessa I had to laugh at the water birth thing simply because when I was laboring in the bath I was told three times that I wasn't allowed to have a water birth. I had a wonderful positive birth but this was one of the negatives, funny the only negatives I can think of involve doctors...hmmm. Check out this website to:
http://www.homebirthaustralia.org/
On there is a bit from Elle McPherson who had a really positive water birth.
And you should be able to find a way to the petition.

Tessa - posted on 08/01/2009

It's bad enough we're not allowed to have a water birth in Western Australia, now they want to outlaw home birthing.... ridiculous!

Louise - posted on 07/16/2009

I can't believe that middle aged male politicians think they have the right to ban home births! It is none of there business where we choose to birth our babies.

Belinda - posted on 06/30/2009

hey I am an Australian mum i can tell you that they would not want to put that law through as i am a strong believer in home birth it was only that it was my first that i went to the hospital but i always wanted to give birth at home.

Chelsey - posted on 06/26/2009

I am not from Australia but I will be praying that it doesn't go through. I can hardly believe how much any government can meddle in our personal lives telling us what we can and can not do. Please keep us posted as to what happens.

Casey - posted on 06/17/2009

Ok that link didn't work I'll try again

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=89...