The invaluable role of nurses Each year on 12 May, we celebrate International Nurses’ Day and reflect on the invaluable role of nurses in our health care system from the very beginning of life to the very end. Nurses are caregivers, role models, educators, mentors, and advocates and directly impact the health and well-being of
Remembering all mothers on this day 822 mothers will birth babies in Australia on this Mother’s Day 300, 000 babies will be birthed this year. Today, we celebrate mothers for the invaluable work they do for their children and families. We need to remember that we all come from pregnancy. A woman who went through
Midwifery - 100 years of progress The International Day of the Midwife celebrates 100 years since the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) was formed striving to ensure all women and their newborns have access to a trained midwife. The ICM has strengthened midwives’ associations globally to advance the profession of midwifery worldwide by promoting autonomous
Our call out to government - Respectful Maternity Care for all women Deep-seated resistance to addressing systemic disrespect for pregnant women in our health system is thwarting progress towards improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians. Women feeling disrespected during maternity care is an endemic phenomenon. The mistreatment is a longstanding and complex
WHO Interprofessional Midwifery Education Toolkit Too few midwives and other health professionals are getting the education and training they need to provide quality, respectful care to pregnant women and their newborns as well as to women needing care for sexual and reproductive health, as well perinatal mental health support. A key solution is to invest
A positive postnatal experience The WHO guideline maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience aims to improve the quality of essential, routine postnatal care for women and newborns with the ultimate goal of improving maternal and newborn health and well-being. It recognizes a “positive postnatal experience” as a significant end point for all women
Women’s rights to refuse recommended care All competent adults have the right to refuse treatment. A woman’s pregnancy status does not impact on her right to self-determination however uncomfortable and conflicted this may make others feel. Autonomy is essential for respectful maternity care. Queensland Health have developed a policy that recognises women’s rights to refuse
International Day for Maternal Health and Rights April 11 is the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights, when we celebrate every woman's right to respectful, quality, safe, and comprehensive maternal health care, before, during and after pregnancy. Ensuring this right as part of maternal health care practices is critical to improving both the experience
World Health Day One of the smartest investments a society can make is to foster the health of its mothers. A healthy, strong and confident mother gives a baby the best start at birth, influencing the long-term wellness of her child. Healthy mothers raise healthier children, which boosts the productivity and stability of communities and
Obstetric Violence as an Infringement of Basic Ethical Principles. Obstetric violence is still far too invisible; the word “violence” generates rejection. Obstetric violence is complex to define and typify, as it is a subjective experience. It has been widely analysed from legal, sociological, and clinical perspectives, but not equally so from the bioethical point of
