Midwife

Associate Professor Hannah Dahlen, from the Australian College of Midwives, said evidence had long showed mothers have higher satisfaction rates when giving birth at home.

Midwife home birth as safe as hospital, says study

Louise Hall Home birth assisted by a trained midwife is just as safe for low-risk mothers and their babies as a delivery led by a midwife in hospital, a study of more than half a million women has found.

Angry mums against midwife legislation

Kate Dennehy A group of angry mothers and mothers-to-be have gathered in Brisbane to discuss tactics to overturn a Federal Government proposal they say will ban home births with a midwife.

Homebirth mothers being refused prescriptions

Kate Benson Doctors, fearing they will be sued, are refusing to prescribe drugs or order tests for women who want to give birth at home, and this is forcing mothers to give birth in hospitals or putting lives at...

Birth: a woman's right to decide?

Justine Caines The maternity reforms had the ability to place women as the focus of care, rather than the current practice of meeting the needs of organisations and practitioners first.

Your birth choices

The following information is designed to assist you with making choices about the type of care you would like throughout your pregnancy, and how you would like to give birth to your baby.

Using acupuncture to prepare for birth

Rebecca Mar Young Acupuncturist Rebecca Mar Young, who focuses on pregnancy, explains how acupuncture can help you prepare for birth.

Born in an ambulance

Nicole Salinas When I found out I was pregnant for the 3rd time I was over the moon. The emotions I felt with my other pregnancies and births came rushing back! I was sure I was going to go early and have a fast...

Birth rights

John van Tiggelen In many countries, home births are commonplace - and generally regarded as safe. So why in Australia, where such births are rare, is the Government discouraging the practice? John van Tiggelen...

Roxon joins mother of birthing battles

Leslie Cannold The Rudd Government's threatened ban on home births is moving closer to reality.

Baby steps as hospitals deliver a helping hand to home-birth push

John Elder Midwives working away from labour wards are to be covered by insurance under a pilot scheme, writes John Elder.

It's a woman's right to choose how she births

Monica Dux In five months' time, if my pregnancy progresses without complication, I will birth my second child at home, attended by two registered private midwives.

Birthing after July 1, 2010?

Melissa Maimann Essential Baby explains the changes to legislation and the consequences it may have for those birthing after mid-2010.

Same-sex parenting: Our story

Nicole Salinas Everyone’s definition of a “normal” family is different. We believe that children in general are very accepting and it’s the parent’s views that influence how other children will treat our son.

Emma's homebirth after two caesars

Emma I have had two “failure to progress” labours leading to two emergency c-sections. My third time around I was aiming for, and achieved, a HBA2C (home birth after two caesars)!

My "VBAC" story

Anne Anne shares the experience of her traumatic first birth and her successful attempt at a vaginal birth after caesar (VBAC) to deliver her second child, Lauren who was born weighing 5.76kgs!

How to have a positive caesarean experience

Melissa Maimann Caesareans have been the subject of controversy for quite some time. The purpose of this article is not to debate the relative merits of a caesarean or a vaginal birth because for some women, a...

April 08 - Rhythms of Life: A Waterbirth Story

Anni Taylor Born in a birthing pool in her family home, little Tessa Claire was embraced by the natural rhythms of family life. Carla shares Tessa’s waterbirth story.

Midwifery reborn in birth review

Julie Robotham Midwives would be allowed to prescribe medicines and their services could, for the first time, attract a Medicare rebate under reforms to maternity provisions proposed in a national review of birth...

Tips for a VBAC

Melissa Maimann Are you planning or considering a vaginal birth after a caesarean (VBAC)? With the Australian caesar rate up to 31% more and more women are reconsidering a subsequent caesar.