BJOG says homebirth is safe

It comes as no surprise to homebirth midwives and homebirthing women that the latest research shows that homebirth is a safe option. To access the full text link click on:

http://www.bjog.org/view/0/searchResults.html?q=Perinatal+mortality+and+morbidity+in+a+nation+wide+cohort+529688+low+risk+planned+home+and+hospital+births

I am interested in what our RANZCOG and AMA have to say about this? Other countries successfully have midwifery driven maternity services, as the 'gold standard' of care as defined by the World Health Organisation, yet Australia still lags behind.

As it stands, RANZCOG still will not endorse homebirth. I suggest that this is a conflict of interest on their behalf as it does not serve obstetricians financially for women to birth at home as they are not the primary care provider. Interestingly, they also do not support free standing birth center births. Possibly for the same reasons.

The safety of both places of birth has been researched and practiced widely and the stats speak for themselves. Continuity of midwifery led care through antenatal, labour/birth and postnatal periods is not only safe, but the gold standard of care.

Interestingly, the Doctors Reform Society of Australia make the following statement:

8.2.3 The DRS affirms the right of women to choose to have home births where there are no serious or overriding contraindications. The DRS also recommends that health departments take appropriate measures to facilitate the availability of doctor and/or midwife assisted home births. This would include the provision of effective ambulance and hospital back-up where continuation of home birth becomes inappropriate.
http://www.drs.org.au/policies/policy08.htm

Furthermore,


4.8.3 The DRS believes that independent midwives provide a useful community health service and that this requires further investigation and support.

Right, so suggesting that unless we can access insurance by 2010 when the nursing councils almagamate, privately practicing midwives like myself will become deregistered, on account of the AMA. Yes, I can see that the AMA and RANZCOG would think that is certainly a useful community health service for THEM.

What will happen to homebirthing women when there are no midwives? Well, it is simple really. Women will continue to give birth at home either without a caregiver. Or they will find a midwife willing to practice illegally and I'd suggest that there will be midwives who will continue to practice with or without a lience.

Lets face it. There are more road side births each year because the government cannot or will not keep rural maternity services open. Rural women, in particular, face long stays from home or travel in labour. Now these are dangerous options. Yet the government do nothing, AMA and RANZCOG do nothing yet, they critise the women and the midwives who planned safe care and give birth at home.

Can you see any logic here or is it just me?

The research states very clearly, homebirth is a safe and viable option. Why isn't it supported in Australia?