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Couldn't agree more Kirsten. Maggie is from my home town and is one amazing woman!!! Pleased you enjoyed yourself Sue and yes..... NZ midwives finally have it good - or at least better than we do at the moment!!
Kiwi Kim
-------Original Message-------
Date: 30/10/2004 6:29:02 p.m.
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Maggie Banks midwifery intensive and NZ midwifery
*sighs*
You make me so homesick..... What the hell am i doing here??????
Kirsten
Darwin
~~~start life with a midwife~~~
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2004 5:32 PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] Maggie Banks midwifery intensive and NZ midwifery
> Hi,
> I have just returned from a midwifery intensive held at Maggie Banks home
> in Hamilton, New Zealand.
> Fantastic venue, great food, and very midwife-centred (not
> obstetric-centred) hands on midwifery skills.
> The workshops are limited to 10 visitors, and our group had 3 from
> Australia and 7 New Zealanders.
>
> We covered shoulder dystocias, breech births, unusual presentations (cord
> prolapses, shoulder presentations etc), PPHs,resuscitation techniques,
> suturing, and intubation. Most of the work was done through discussion of
> case scenarios which therefore covered all aspects of the mother and
> baby's wellbeing and it was fascinating being aware of everyone's
> experience in birth as well as their life experiences, and how these
> affected their midwifery decisions and perspectives.(Maggie is the author
> of "Breech Birth Woman Wise" and "Homebirth Bound" - both available
> through Birth International.)
>
> I was really blown away by the ease of practice in NZ - the midwives have
> full prescribing abilities, have access agreements to all the hospitals
> and their PI insurance is covered in their yearly subscription to NZ
> College of Midwives.
> I knew all this stuff intellectually, but what I hadn't witnessed before
> was the way that working in a country where midwifery care is the norm
> becomes so self-affirming for the midwives. One of the newest midwives
> there, had taken on a case-load of 52 births in her first year out, some
> of them homebirths, and she had received $1950 for each woman she assisted
> (governement paid) , with a $450 extra payment for homebirths (which
> usually goes to the second midwife - a legal requirement at homebirths).
> This translates as over $100,000 for her first year of work.
>
> It wasn't the money that blew me away, it was the struggle free attitude
> of the midwives. Why do you need a GP back-up they asked? In NZ the GP's
> gave up attending births when the midwives were granted their current
> status with rights to prescibe and request pathology etc, so all blood
> tests, swabs, u/sounds etc are all managed by the midwives - if needed of
> course. When they take a woman into hospital, be that a planned hospital
> birth or a transfer in from a homebirth, the midwives can simply close the
> door of the hospital room, wait til baby's born, then take the family home
> when they're ready. No fight, no fuss, but more help there if required.
> Hmmm.
>
> I realise that the NZ midwives and community worked damn hard to attain
> their current work status, and I realise that something similar is what
> we're all working for over here, but boy, was it hard to get on the plane
> to come back home. And why are all you NZ midwives working over here when
> you've got such a great system??
>
> I know a number of Australian would-be midwives who are getting their
> wings ready for NZ, and I've also heard that their numerous B(Mid) courses
> are very willing to take in some Aussie counterparts!!
>
> Back to the Midwifery Intensives.
> The cost was about $500 (Aust) plus airfares of $400-$500 depending on
> who you fly with. (Freedom Air goes straiht into Hamilton airport from
> most large airports). All other costs are inclusive. Spectacular setting
> (and a great hubby who cooks superbly), which really helps you to
> understand Maggie's birthing perspective, but also the reality of birthing
> in rural and low risk settings.
>
> Maggie holds these intensives about once every month throughout the year.
>
> Really inspirational, not too scary and a great way to both relax and
> learn.
>
> Sue Cookson
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>
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>
>
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