How do we understand the effects and impacts? We don’t! March 18, 2016 No Comments Do you know in Australia, with the exception of indigenous populations, there has been no major improvement in maternal mortality over the past 10 years even given the high level of interventions during pregnancy and birth. Yet the burden of maternal
The ‘doctor knows best’ culture that still dominates our maternity wards not only infantalises women, it is downright dangerous to the health of mothers and babies. Time and time again, when a mother’s instincts are jettisoned, it ends in disaster. We’ve seen this clearly in Bacchus Marsh. While there is still much to be revealed
Is it safer to have a baby at home or in a hospital? Depends on your country. A review article published several months ago came to a startling conclusion: For low-risk pregnant women, it is safer to have a baby at home than in a hospital. The data upon which the review was based came from Britain. But earlier
‘Spontaneous labour in a normal woman is an event marked by a number of processes so complicated and so perfectly attuned to each other that any interference will only detract from the optimal character. The only thing required from the bystanders is that they show respect for this awe-inspiring process by complying with the first
On this anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights let us work towards women birthing in all babies starting life in an society that respects human rights. December 10 is the anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations (UN) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR sets out a certain set
The Roar Behind the Silence: why kindness, compassion and respect matter in maternity care For many years there has been growing concern about the culture of fear that is penetrating maternity services throughout the world, and that the fear felt by maternity care workers is directly and indirectly being transferred to the women and families they
A Healthy Baby Isn’t All That Matters November 16, 2015 Wise words from Cristen Pascucci We hear all the time, “a healthy baby is all that matters.” That’s simply not true—especially when, all too often, “healthy” means merely “surviving birth,” for both moms and babies. That’s not nearly good enough. The truth is that in this day
Childbearing is an important rite of passage, with deep personal and cultural significance for a woman and her family. Pregnancy and childbirth are momentous events in the lives of women and families, representing simultaneously a time for extraordinary joy and a time of intense vulnerability. The significance of pregnancy and birth is an often underestimated
Thousands getting unnecessary surgery and other harmful hospital treatments: as reported in the Canberra Times About 6000 people – or 16 a day – had ineffective treatments that cost up to $4400 in both public and private hospitals in 2010-11, a Grattan Institute report says. The researchers analysed some treatments that are effective but should not be done
Lessons learned from pilot phase of the sexual and reproductive health program in crisis and post-crisis settings in the Asia Pacific region (SPRINT Initiative) June 25, 2013 By: Kristen Beek, Sarah Chynoweth, Carina Hickling, Amy Watts, Anthony B. Zwi, Anna Whelan, Angela Dawson, Human Resources for Knowledge Hub,UNSW, UTS and WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Midwifery
