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Well said Justine!
I recently attended an ACMI Seminar in WA on
Waterbirth. A neonatologist who spoke reported some statistics
which are worth emphasising in our talks with women, and letters
to media -
Babies born by caesarean section are 16
times more likely to need to be admitted to special care nursery due to
respiratory problems related to their mode of birth;
and
Babies born of women whose labours were
induced are 4 times more likely to be admitted to special care
nursery.
One would hope all mothers-to-be would regard these
statistics as compelling reasons to avoid both interventions if at all
possible. Keep up the great work! Regards, Lois
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 8:46 PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] FW: 60 Mins &
Caesarean Section
Hi all Here�s a message to Ann and a letter
to the Ed
JC
xx
------ Forwarded Message
From: Justine
Caines <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date:
Mon, 07 Jun 2004 23:45:27 +1100
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject:
60 Mins & Caesarean Section
Dear
Ann
I was disappointed to see your piece regarding the 60 Mins story.
I appeared on the show as the �natural birth advocate� I am in
fact the National President of Australia�s only national maternity advocacy
organisation, The Maternity Coalition. I work for 30 hours each week
(unpaid) to try and improve maternity services for Australian women, with
particular emphasis on enabling women to make a range of choices and to
receive better support (especially in the post-natal
period).
Considering you are passionate about choice you may like to
assist us to to provide a full scope of choice. Through our work and
research available we know that the majority of Australian women would choose
to be cared for by a known midwife if this care was funded. One to one
midwifery care is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the most
appropriate and cost effective care for normal pregnancies (around 80%).
In
New Zealand women have been able to choose either a midwife, GP or
Obstetrician for over 10 years. Before the choice was available 14% of
NZ women chose a midwife, now 70% of women do.
In Australia 0.2% of
women can chose to be cared for by a known midwife.
I would be happy to
talk with you about this further, and hope you can assist Australian women to
make the best choice for them. Below is a copy of a letter to the
Editor.
Kind regards
Justine
�����������������������������������������
Justine
Caines
National President Maternity Coalition Inc
PO Box
105
MERRIWA NSW 2329
Ph: (02) 65482248
Fax:
(02)65482902
Mob: 0408 210273
E-Mail:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Ann Peacocks piece praising the
60 Minutes on caesarean section birth sadly missed the point.
I
appeared on 60 Minutes as the �natural birth advocate� I am in fact the
National President of Australia�s only national maternity advocacy
organisation, The Maternity Coalition.
60 Minutes approached with a
story of the little known risks of caesarean section, that of emergency
hysterectomies after caesarean section. Although they were aware of the
information 60 Minutes did not reveal that in Victoria there has been a
140% increase in the last 3 reported years (20 in 1999 to 48 in 2002) of
emergency hysterectomy following caesarean section. On March 29 the Age
reported
�Professor King, who chairs the committee that gathers data
on childbirth in Victoria, said he believed that caesarean section should be
advised against where there was no medical reason for the surgery.�
Women should have choices in childbirth. Our organisation
has committed Mother�s across the country working voluntarily to improve
maternity services as they raise their own children. Anne reporting your
own experience does nothing to provide women with facts or enable them to make
informed choices about such an important life event.
Compared with
normal vaginal birth caesarean section increases the chance of the mother
dying by up to 6 times, many babies born by c/s require admission to intensive
care (due to respiratory distress as their lungs are not stimulated by the
birth process), in around 10% of cases babies are cut in the process.
And after all that the rate of urinary incontinence is similar for women
who have had natural births and caesarean section. In fact a study
actually found religious Nuns who had never borne children similarly suffered
incontinence . Women deserve to know the facts before they
choose.
�����������������������������������������
Justine
Caines
National President Maternity Coalition Inc
PO Box
105
MERRIWA NSW 2329
Ph: (02) 65482248
Fax:
(02)65482902
Mob: 0408 210273
E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
------ End of
Forwarded Message
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