Hi Helen,
We circulated this document at the Future Birth event in 1996 when Marsden Wagner was on the speaking team. It has been adapted in several countries to reflect local conditions, the most recent one that I saw was for Thailand where the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Foundation of Thailand prepared a variation for use in Cambodia, where they were presenting training workshops for maternity professionals (about 18 months ago now).
The original version is specifically designed for the US scene (see the point about circumcision, as an example) and so would need to be adapted for use in OZ. Personally, I think that the NMAP takes its place here, and because this document is aimed at strengthening midwifery practise, it follows that the resultant care would be more mother friendly.
Cheers
Andrea
At 05:36 PM 20/03/2005, you wrote:
Found this online whilst surfing and wondered if Australia is looking to implement this kind of idea too (or an adaptation of same). I have only heard of the WHO/UNICEF Baby friendly Hospital Initiative which is very much in use in Australia. Can anyone fill me in? It sounds like a great idea to me and should give ammunition to those midwives working in hospitals striving to make improvements in their care/minimize interventions. Maybe maternity coalition may be able to formulate something similar or maybe they have already! - if so, excuse my ignorance...
Helen Cahill
<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/steps/>http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/steps/
The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative
Ten Steps of the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative for Mother-Friendly Hospitals, Birth Centers, and Home Birth Services
To receive CIMS designation as "mother-friendly," a hospital, <http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/glossary/#BCenter>birth center, or home birth service must carry out our philosophical principles by fulfilling the Ten Steps of Mother-Friendly Care:
A mother-friendly hospital, birth center, or home birth service:
* Offers all birthing mothers:
* Unrestricted access to the birth companions of her choice, including fathers, partners, children, family members, and friends;
* Unrestricted access to continuous emotional and physical support from a skilled woman-for example, a <http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/glossary/#doula>doula or labor-support professional:
* Access to professional midwifery care. (<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/1/>References)
* Provides accurate descriptive and statistical information to the public about its practices and procedures for birth care, including measures of interventions and outcomes.(<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/2/>References)
* Provides culturally competent care -- that is, care that is sensitive and responsive to the specific beliefs, values, and customs of the mother's ethnicity and religion.(<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/3/>References)
* Provides the birthing woman with the freedom to walk, move about, and assume the positions of her choice during labor and birth (unless restriction is specifically required to correct a complication), and discourages the use of the lithotomy (flat on back with legs elevated) position.(<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/4/>References)
* Has clearly defined policies and procedures for:
* collaborating and consulting throughout the perinatal period with other maternity services, including communicating with the original caregiver when transfer from one birth site to another is necessary;
* linking the mother and baby to appropriate community resources, including prenatal and post-discharge follow-up and breastfeeding support.(<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/5/>References)
* Does not routinely employ practices and procedures that are unsupported by scientific evidence, including but not limited to the following:
* shaving;
* enemas;
* IVs (intravenous drip);
* withholding nourishment;
* early <http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/glossary/#Rupture>rupture of membranes;
* electronic fetal monitoring;
Other interventions are limited as follows:
* Has an <http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/glossary/#Induction>induction rate of 10% or less;
* Has an <http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/glossary/#Episiotomy>episiotomy rate of 20% or less, with a goal of 5% or less;
* Has a total cesarean rate of 10% or less in community hospitals, and 15% or less in tertiary care (high-risk) hospitals;
* Has a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) rate of 60% or more with a goal of 75% or more.(<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/6/>References)
* Educates staff in non-drug methods of pain relief and does not promote the use of analgesic or anesthetic drugs not specifically required to correct a complication. (<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/7/>References)
* Encourages all mothers and families, including those with sick or premature newborns or infants with congenital problems, to touch, hold, breastfeed, and care for their babies to the extent compatible with their conditions.(<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/8/>References)
* Discourages non-religious circumcision of the newborn.(<http://www.motherfriendly.org/MFCI/references/9/>References)
* Strives to achieve the WHO-UNICEF "Ten Steps of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative" to promote successful breastfeeding:
* Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff;
* Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy;
* Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding;
* Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth;
* Show mothers how to breast feed and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants;
* Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated;
* Practice rooming in: allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day;
* Encourage breastfeeding on demand;
* Give no artificial teat or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants;
* Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from hospitals or clinics.(References)
----- Andrea Robertson Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.birthinternational.com
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