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
National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence - 18 March 2022 Kindness is not a random act but a full-time commitment. It is respect for others and their inherent dignity. While the focus of the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is schools, in reality it should be for all of us.
Midwifery 2030: a woman’s pathway to health. This article explores a vision for safe, quality and respectful maternity care - Midwifery 2030: a woman’s pathway to health. This pathway considers four stages of a woman’s reproductive life: (1) pre-pregnancy, (2) pregnancy, (3) labour and birth, and (4) postnatal, and describes the care that women and
International Women's Day 2022 Today, we celebrate women's achievement; celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. We also focus on what is yet to be achieved. This year’s theme is #BreakTheBias. Gender bias and other forms of socioeconomic subordination, which are embedded in our society impact negatively on pregnant women, with the
