The Australian federal government is set to legislate mid next year that it will no longer be legal for a private practising midwife to deliver a baby at home. Effectively they will be taking away women’s choice to birth their babies where they want to, a choice that has been women’s since humans first walked the earth. This choice continues to be available to women who live in countries like New Zealand, The United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands, countries whose governments support homebirth as a safe and valid option.

Sarah James, midwife, antenatal educator, mother of four and author of Midwife Wisdom, Mother Love said ‘Homebirth is not about a group of women dressed in tie-dye, chanting while they birth their babies under the shade of a gum tree. It is not a radical left wing movement full of women who haven’t done their research. Homebirth is a choice that well educated middle class women around the world make everyday. They compare the statistics, reflect on the studies and then choose the best birthing option for them, in some cases homebirth.’

James said, ‘A woman has the best chance of having a natural, trouble free birth when she is relaxed. If that happens to be at home, the woman should be allowed to choose a midwife supported homebirth.’

James had three of her own babies in hospital but then chose to have baby number four at home. ‘I wanted the experience of birthing my baby in the privacy and intimacy of my own home. I did my research, found an extremely experienced and competent midwife and then proceeded to plan a homebirth. It was both beautiful and empowering, an experience I’m glad I wasn’t denied.’

‘Women choose homebirth for many different reasons, fear of hospital, fear of intervention, not wanting to be parted from their children or simply because they know the place they will be able to relax and go with the birth process is at home.

The Australian federal government appears to believe that women are incapable of making an informed choice when it comes to birthing options. So much so that the government is prepared to limit women’s choice,’ James said.

It is important to realise that this debate is not about homebirth, but about simple human rights, a woman’s right to choose. It is debate that all women in Australia, whether they are passionate about homebirth or not, should be watching very carefully.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 10th, 2009 at 1:12 pm and is filed under Sarah's blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.