A big YEAHHHHH from me as well.
I worked in Holland for a while with a Dutch midwife and saw this
wonderful maternity scheme in action. It allows the father to
continue to work during the early days of the puerperium as the
maternity aide is usually in residence 9 to 5. The service is
courtesy of the Netherlands Government for women that have
homebirths. I think the training is free as well, just as our
enrolled nurse program is here in oz.
In Holland the 'home maternity aide' stays in the home each day to
assist with household needs, cooking, other children, visitors,
ensures the mother gets a nap without disturbance etc. She assists
with the baby as well (if there is need) under the direction of the
midwife.
These wonderful maternity aides are educated in a scheme similar to
our enrolled nurse program. They undertake common core subjects for
the first few months then specialise in either aged care or maternity
care. Once graduated they can utilise their expertise in the
community under the supervision of the RN (aged care) or the
Community Midwife.
I wish the Lyell McEwin Health Service much luck in getting their
scheme off the ground. I hope the training scheme is government
funded and that women will be entitled to the service for free.
EVERY NEW MOTHER DESERVES TO BE MOTHERED ..... this will be a great
step forward towards Australia being seen to value motherhood once
again.
Jan Robinson
PS
For all you community midwives out there ... don't forget to tell
your mothers at home to write UNPAID WORK IS VALUABLE TOO across the
census form when they fill it in the paid work section.
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__________________________________________________________________________
Jan Robinson Phone/fax: 011+ 61+
2+ 9546 4350
Independent Midwife Practitioner e-mail:
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8 Robin Crescent www:
midwiferyeducation.com.au
South Hurstville NSW 2221 National Coordinator, ASIM
__________________________________________________________________________
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