Re: [ozmidwifery] Success!!!
BRILLIANT Best wishes to all and continued success Sue "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"Edmund Burke - Original Message - From: Maternity Ward Mareeba Hospital To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 8:52 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Success!!! It is now official as it is in todays Cairns Post and no doubt it will be on the news sometime. MAREEBA MATERNITY IS NOW TO BE A PILOT SITE IN QLD FOR A LOW RISK FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTRE. Thanks to the brilliant work done by the staff, the women, the community and MC, ACMI etc. Apparantly we can start 1 July. Policies are being madly written and all sort of paperwork produced as we will be under a microscope for a long time. Apart from that we have had 3 babies this week, multis who were in too good a labour to risk transferring, 3 very happy mums to birth in their own community. Cheers Judy***This email, including any attachments sent with it, is confidential and for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). This confidentiality is not waived or lost, if you receive it and you are not the intended recipient(s), or if it is transmitted/received in error.Any unauthorised use, alteration, disclosure, distribution or review of this email is prohibited. It may be subject to a statutory duty of confidentiality if it relates to health service matters.If you are not the intended recipient(s), or if you have received this email in error, you are asked to immediately notify the sender by telephone or by return email. You should also delete this email and destroy any hard copies produced.*** No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.9 - Release Date: 11/06/2005
[ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models
Hi all, I have posted here from time to time, but mostly I'm a lurker. I work in a team midwifery model at Warragul, where we have lots of midwives who believe in continuity of care, support the women as central to the whole prossess and have a supportive obstetrician to back us up. Our problem is in recruiting midwives to work in our model. Nobody wants to do "all that on call".They "want to have a life". After all these years of fighting for this type of thing it seems there are not enough of us around to fill this role. Many support the model in principal, but don't see how they can fit it into their own lives. Our team started just 12 months ago. It is a modified case load, with 1 night per week on call, and 1 weekend a month. We are "available" for our "own" women during the day. We provide midwife led care for up to 60 low risk women per year, and shared care for up to a further 60 "high risk" women who benefit most from having a known midwife with them in labour. We are meant to be 5, but have recently lost one, who would have rather worked as a team only, with no case load. To my knowledge there have been no applications for this position from with in existing staff, nor has there been a response to newspaper ads. It saddens me to think that this type of model will not be sustainable in the long term. Here we are in the position of having active finacial support from DHS after many years of lobbying for it, only to risk losing it all through lack of willing staff. This problem must be coming up for others in Victoria as caseload models are put forward in other regions. Any thoughts, suggestions, simmilar experiences? I am truely at my wits end. Sigh :( Thanks for listening Carol -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit to subscribe or unsubscribe.
FW: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models
Hi Kim We havent spoken for a while, when I read this message from Carol, I immediately thought of you. Are you interested? Carol it really is sad that midwives see being on-call a problem. Being on-call is much better than continuous shift work any time. I want to allay midwives fears of being on-call. Many Australian midwives like me are on call 24 hours, 7 days a week. We are not called out all the time, we enjoy our lives and still manage to provide a wonderful service for women. It wasnt until I took a break for 3 months in USA, after 18 years of being readily available for women, that I realised how much I did need a break. My problem was that I made such a commitment that I forgot to plan regular breaks. 3 months away gave me time to clear my head and from that I learnt to reduce my workload and plan some breaks. I am still on-call and enjoy the challenge of being there for women when they need my services. Now I have more time to be proactive with midwifery issues, have some time to travel, spend time with my grandchildren and enjoy life in general. For those who feel concerned about the on-call hours, let me reassure you it is much better when you are in a team or group practice, you can really get yourselves well established with on-call work and still manage to have a full life. A good cohesive team can work wonders together and women enjoy the warmth of good team spirit. This note is to encourage midwives to have a go at being with women in one-to-one or small team relationships, the personal and professional rewards are amazing. I am at the far end of my wonderful career now, as I look back I feel extremely happy and satisfied with the fact that I have been on-call for hundreds of women over 20 years of service in the home, and shift work in the hospital system 10 years prior to that. The world, the planet and the universe is better off by far, for the personalised care midwives provide women. My professional and life experience is overwhelmingly wonderful because of these mothers, babies and families, number 5 and 6 babies in some families, this makes on-call easy in the big scheme of things. Warm regards, Robyn -Original Message- From: owner-ozmid[EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-ozmid[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Carol Van Lochem Sent: Sunday, 12 June 2005 5:39 PM To: ozmid[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models Hi all, I have posted here from time to time, but mostly I'm a lurker. I work in a team midwifery model at Warragul, where we have lots of midwives who believe in continuity of care, support the women as central to the whole prossess and have a supportive obstetrician to back us up. Our problem is in recruiting midwives to work in our model. Nobody wants to do all that on call.They want to have a life. After all these years of fighting for this type of thing it seems there are not enough of us around to fill this role. Many support the model in principal, but don't see how they can fit it into their own lives. Our team started just 12 months ago. It is a modified case load, with 1 night per week on call, and 1 weekend a month. We are available for our own women during the day. We provide midwife led care for up to 60 low risk women per year, and shared care for up to a further 60 high risk women who benefit most from having a known midwife with them in labour. We are meant to be 5, but have recently lost one, who would have rather worked as a team only, with no case load. To my knowledge there have been no applications for this position from with in existing staff, nor has there been a response to newspaper ads. It saddens me to think that this type of model will not be sustainable in the long term. Here we are in the position of having active finacial support from DHS after many years of lobbying for it, only to risk losing it all through lack of willing staff. This problem must be coming up for others in Victoria as caseload models are put forward in other regions. Any thoughts, suggestions, simmilar experiences? I am truely at my wits end. Sigh :( Thanks for listening Carol -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] Success!!!
Denise, It was 11/6/2005, Page 9, Cairns Post. Mareeba toget birthing service back. If you want a copy I could scan and send? CheersJudy [EMAIL PROTECTED] 06/12/05 10:31am Dear Judy Can you please send the date and article title this was announced in the Cairns Post??THank you Denise Hynd "Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone, our bodies will be handled." Linda Hes - Original Message - From: Maternity Ward Mareeba Hospital To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 8:52 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Success!!! It is now official as it is in todays Cairns Post and no doubt it will be on the news sometime. MAREEBA MATERNITY IS NOW TO BE A PILOT SITE IN QLD FOR A LOW RISK FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTRE. Thanks to the brilliant work done by the staff, the women, the community and MC, ACMI etc. Apparantly we can start 1 July. Policies are being madly written and all sort of paperwork produced as we will be under a microscope for a long time. Apart from that we have had 3 babies this week, multis who were in too good a labour to risk transferring, 3 very happy mums to birth in their own community. Cheers Judy***This email, including any attachments sent with it, is confidential and for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). This confidentiality is not waived or lost, if you receive it and you are not the intended recipient(s), or if it is transmitted/received in error.Any unauthorised use, alteration, disclosure, distribution or review of this email is prohibited. It may be subject to a statutory duty of confidentiality if it relates to health service matters.If you are not the intended recipient(s), or if you have received this email in error, you are asked to immediately notify the sender by telephone or by return email. You should also delete this email and destroy any hard copies produced.*** No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.6 - Release Date: 8/06/2005
RE: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models
As you would guess, I am totally supportive of what Robyn says. Cheers, Mary Murphy From: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of Robyn Thompson Sent: Sunday, 12 June 2005 4:11 PM To: 'Kim Stead' Cc: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: FW: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models Hi Kim We havent spoken for a while, when I read this message from Carol, I immediately thought of you. Are you interested? Carol it really is sad that midwives see being on-call a problem. Being on-call is much better than continuous shift work any time. I want to allay midwives fears of being on-call. Many Australian midwives like me are on call 24 hours, 7 days a week. We are not called out all the time, we enjoy our lives and still manage to provide a wonderful service for women. It wasnt until I took a break for 3 months in USA, after 18 years of being readily available for women, that I realised how much I did need a break. My problem was that I made such a commitment that I forgot to plan regular breaks. 3 months away gave me time to clear my head and from that I learnt to reduce my workload and plan some breaks. I am still on-call and enjoy the challenge of being there for women when they need my services. Now I have more time to be proactive with midwifery issues, have some time to travel, spend time with my grandchildren and enjoy life in general. For those who feel concerned about the on-call hours, let me reassure you it is much better when you are in a team or group practice, you can really get yourselves well established with on-call work and still manage to have a full life. A good cohesive team can work wonders together and women enjoy the warmth of good team spirit. This note is to encourage midwives to have a go at being with women in one-to-one or small team relationships, the personal and professional rewards are amazing. I am at the far end of my wonderful career now, as I look back I feel extremely happy and satisfied with the fact that I have been on-call for hundreds of women over 20 years of service in the home, and shift work in the hospital system 10 years prior to that. The world, the planet and the universe is better off by far, for the personalised care midwives provide women. My professional and life experience is overwhelmingly wonderful because of these mothers, babies and families, number 5 and 6 babies in some families, this makes on-call easy in the big scheme of things. Warm regards, Robyn -Original Message- From: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of Carol Van Lochem Sent: Sunday, 12 June 2005 5:39 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models Hi all, I have posted here from time to time, but mostly I'm a lurker. I work in a team midwifery model at Warragul, where we have lots of midwives who believe in continuity of care, support the women as central to the whole prossess and have a supportive obstetrician to back us up. Our problem is in recruiting midwives to work in our model. Nobody wants to do all that on call.They want to have a life. After all these years of fighting for this type of thing it seems there are not enough of us around to fill this role. Many support the model in principal, but don't see how they can fit it into their own lives. Our team started just 12 months ago. It is a modified case load, with 1 night per week on call, and 1 weekend a month. We are available for our own women during the day. We provide midwife led care for up to 60 low risk women per year, and shared care for up to a further 60 high risk women who benefit most from having a known midwife with them in labour. We are meant to be 5, but have recently lost one, who would have rather worked as a team only, with no case load. To my knowledge there have been no applications for this position from with in existing staff, nor has there been a response to newspaper ads. It saddens me to think that this type of model will not be sustainable in the long term. Here we are in the position of having active finacial support from DHS after many years of lobbying for it, only to risk losing it all through lack of willing staff. This problem must be coming up for others in Victoria as caseload models are put forward in other regions. Any thoughts, suggestions, simmilar experiences? I am truely at my wits end. Sigh :( Thanks for listening Carol -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit to subscribe or unsubscribe.
RE: FW: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models
Hello Robyn Mary, Thanks for your responses. Prior to working on the team I provided one-to-one care for vbac women for a couple of years. I went on-call from 38 weeks until whenever they gave birth. At first I found it hard to relax when I knew someone was due soon. However I was fortunate in having friends who insisted on dragging me out to a movie or dinner regardless.and the phone didn't ring.Many a night's sleep was had without being woken in the wee hours and gradually I got used to it and forgot about it most of the time...until of course you did get called and had to quickly change your plans for THAT day. I learnt to just get on with things and actually expect NOT to get called in, although you know it could happen at any time. Working with a team is less demanding in comparison. Apart from being available during the day Monday-Friday, you have most weekends and evenings free of call.Some of the girls in the team are finding it hard to relax get on with thier time when they are on call and don't sleep well at night waiting for the phone to ring. As a result they are exhuasted even if they haven't been called out. I guess it's like is the glass half empty or half full...it depends on how you look at it. I don't know how you change people's perception though. I thought that given time they would get used to it in the same way that I did. However so far this has not been the case. I feel it is something that needs to be dealt with if we want these models of care to succeed. Regards CarolFrom: "Robyn Thompson" [EMAIL PROTECTED]Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auTo: "'Kim Stead'" [EMAIL PROTECTED]CC: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auSubject: FW: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new ModelsDate: Sun, 12 Jun 2005 18:11:11 +1000Hi KimWe haven't spoken for a while, when I read this message from Carol, Iimmediately thought of you.Are you interested?Carol it really is sad that midwives see being "on-call" a problem.Beingon-call is much better than continuous shift work any time.I want to allaymidwives fears of being on-call.Many Australian midwives like me are oncall 24 hours, 7 days a week.We are not called out all the time, we enjoyour lives and still manage to provide a wonderful service for women.Itwasn't until I took a break for 3 months in USA, after 18 years of beingreadily available for women, that I realised how much I did need a break.My problem was that I made such a commitment that I forgot to plan regularbreaks.3 months away gave me time to clear my head and from that I learntto reduce my workload and plan some breaks. I am still on-call and enjoy thechallenge of being there for women when they need my services.Now I havemore time to be proactive with midwifery issues, have some time to travel,spend time with my grandchildren and enjoy life in general.For those who feel concerned about the on-call hours, let me reassure you itis much betterwhen you are in a team or group practice, you can really getyourselves well established with on-call work and still manage to have afull life.A good cohesive team can work wonders together and women enjoythe warmth of good team spirit.This note is to encourage midwives to have a go at 'being with women' inone-to-one or small team relationships, the personal and professionalrewards are amazing.I am at the far end of my wonderful career now, as Ilook back I feel extremely happy and satisfied with the fact that I havebeen "on-call" for hundreds of women over 20 years of service in the home,and shift work in the hospital system 10 years prior to that.The world,the planet and the universe is better off by far, for the personalised caremidwives provide women.My professional and life experience isoverwhelmingly wonderful because of these mothers, babies and families,number 5 and 6 babies in some families, this makes on-call easy in the bigscheme of things.Warm regards, Robyn-Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED][mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Carol Van LochemSent: Sunday, 12 June 2005 5:39 PMTo: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auSubject: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new ModelsHi all, I have posted here from time to time, but mostly I'm a lurker.I work in a team midwifery model at Warragul, where we have lots ofmidwives who believe in continuity of care, support the women as central tothe whole prossess and have a supportive obstetrician to back us up. Ourproblem is in recruiting midwives to work in our model. Nobody wants to do"all that on call".They "want to have a life". After all these years offighting for this type of thing it seems there are not enough of us aroundto fill this role. Many support the model in principal, but don't see howthey can fit it into their own lives.Our team started just 12 months ago. It is a modified case load, with 1night per week on call, and 1 weekend a month. We are "available" for our"own" women during the day. We provide midwife led care for up to 60 lowrisk women per year, and shared care for up to a further
Re: [ozmidwifery] Success!!!
Judy That would be helpful as the Cairns Post does not have a website!! you can send as an attachment off list to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Denise Hynd "Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone, our bodies will be handled." Linda Hes - Original Message - From: Maternity Ward Mareeba Hospital To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 4:32 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Success!!! Denise, It was 11/6/2005, Page 9, Cairns Post. Mareeba toget birthing service back. If you want a copy I could scan and send? CheersJudy [EMAIL PROTECTED] 06/12/05 10:31am Dear Judy Can you please send the date and article title this was announced in the Cairns Post??THank you Denise Hynd "Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone, our bodies will be handled." Linda Hes - Original Message - From: Maternity Ward Mareeba Hospital To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 8:52 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Success!!! It is now official as it is in todays Cairns Post and no doubt it will be on the news sometime. MAREEBA MATERNITY IS NOW TO BE A PILOT SITE IN QLD FOR A LOW RISK FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTRE. Thanks to the brilliant work done by the staff, the women, the community and MC, ACMI etc. Apparantly we can start 1 July. Policies are being madly written and all sort of paperwork produced as we will be under a microscope for a long time. Apart from that we have had 3 babies this week, multis who were in too good a labour to risk transferring, 3 very happy mums to birth in their own community. Cheers Judy***This email, including any attachments sent with it, is confidential and for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). This confidentiality is not waived or lost, if you receive it and you are not the intended recipient(s), or if it is transmitted/received in error.Any unauthorised use, alteration, disclosure, distribution or review of this email is prohibited. It may be subject to a statutory duty of confidentiality if it relates to health service matters.If you are not the intended recipient(s), or if you have received this email in error, you are asked to immediately notify the sender by telephone or by return email. You should also delete this email and destroy any hard copies produced.*** No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.6 - Release Date: 8/06/2005 No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.6 - Release Date: 8/06/2005
Re: [ozmidwifery] Problems With new Models
Maybe you need to re look at your definition of continuity, It appears to me that what you are trying to sell to people is a type of team midwifery that you have modified to your own needs and as you are finding out team midwifery is not as easy to sell. The best part about true caseloading is that you are on call for women that you know and therefore are prepared to do it because you have developed a relationship with the woman and want to be there. Being on call for an organisation / hospital is a drag as anyone who had done it knows. You try to carry on your life but in the back of your mind is this thing that looms over you. On the other hand being on call for 'your' women is completely the opposite. They know me. The know what committments I have that are important to me (because I tell them) and together we seem to manage to co ordinate the whole thing without me or my family feeling like it is infringing on our lives. The other big advantage of changing to true caseloading is that you can sell midwives the idea of trying it in a proportion that suits their lives. Some midwives could take on a smaller number of women that would limit the number of times they will be called in. For example if you only have two women a month and partner with someone else who has two women a month then worse case scenario you will be called in four times in the month(if your partner was unavailable when both her women were in labour) but more likely only twice (for your own women). All you other work will be on days and times you decide to do it. Trying a small number is less scary and the satisfaction is such that they will soon be asking for more women each month. Ask someone who is doing it already to come and have a social interaction with the group and sell it for you. Would be worth the trouble as an situation they can think of will have been encountered and handled before. Andrea Quanchi On 12/06/2005, at 5:39 PM, Carol Van Lochem wrote: Hi all, I have posted here from time to time, but mostly I'm a lurker. I work in a team midwifery model at Warragul, where we have lots of midwives who believe in continuity of care, support the women as central to the whole prossess and have a supportive obstetrician to back us up. Our problem is in recruiting midwives to work in our model. Nobody wants to do all that on call.They want to have a life. After all these years of fighting for this type of thing it seems there are not enough of us around to fill this role. Many support the model in principal, but don't see how they can fit it into their own lives. Our team started just 12 months ago. It is a modified case load, with 1 night per week on call, and 1 weekend a month. We are available for our own women during the day. We provide midwife led care for up to 60 low risk women per year, and shared care for up to a further 60 high risk women who benefit most from having a known midwife with them in labour. We are meant to be 5, but have recently lost one, who would have rather worked as a team only, with no case load. To my knowledge there have been no applications for this position from with in existing staff, nor has there been a response to newspaper ads. It saddens me to think that this type of model will not be sustainable in the long term. Here we are in the position of having active finacial support from DHS after many years of lobbying for it, only to risk losing it all through lack of willing staff. This problem must be coming up for others in Victoria as caseload models are put forward in other regions. Any thoughts, suggestions, simmilar experiences? I am truely at my wits end. Sigh :( Thanks for listening Carol -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
[ozmidwifery] News article, woman refused care for being overweight.
Title: News article, woman refused care for being overweight. Woman 'too fat' for birth June 13, 2005 From: AAP A PREGNANT woman says she has been told she cannot have her baby in a Victorian hospital because she is too fat. The woman, only identified as Lisa, was told she would not be admitted to Werribee Mercy Hospital, in Melbourne's outer south-west, because her Body Mass Index (BMI) was 41. A healthy BMI - a measure of body fat based on height and weight - is between 20 and 25 in men and women, and under 40 in pregnant women. A figure above that indicates a person may be overweight. Lisa, who is 31 weeks into her third pregnancy, weighs 110 kilograms. She told Southern Cross radio today that she had already filled out the paperwork and participated in a hospital survey before she was taken by a hospital staff member to a room to be weighed and have her height checked. She weighed and measured me, then sat down with her calculator and worked it out and just told me sorry you're 41, Lisa said. She said she was told by the staff member she would have to lose 8kg if she wanted to have her baby delivered at Werribee Mercy hospital. I've only got nine or 10 weeks left in my pregnancy, basically that's drop a kilo a week. Lisa told the staff member she could not do it and that she did not believe she had put on too much weight during the pregnancy. She asked what would happen as she had already filled out the paperwork and alleged the staff member then told her they would tear it up. Director of medical services at Werribee Mercy Hospital, Dr Peter Longmore, today confirmed the hospital did have a policy of not accepting pregnant women who had a BMI over 40. Dr Longmore said the risks during delivery were significantly higher for women who were overweight. Women who have a high BMI usually have larger babies and that causes difficulty during delivery, Dr Longmore said. He said the hospital did not have intensive care or neo-natal facilities if the baby or mother needed emergency treatment. The only hospitals which provide neo-natal facilities are the Royal Women's hospital, Monash Medical Centre and the Mercy Women's hospital, which are all in Melbourne. Dr Longmore said pregnant women with a BMI over 40 also had an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems. Lisa said no-one from the hospital explained the risks to her. Had I been sat down and said look Lisa you've got high blood pressure or you've had an emergency cesarean before or you're overweight, we don't want to risk you being here, lets send you to the women's (Royal Women's hospital) that's fair enough ... instead of turning me away. Dr Longmore said he was not personally involved in Lisa's case so he could not comment on whether or not the hospital had explained the reasons for her being turned away. If the communication was lacking when she turned up then we need to look at that, Dr Longmore said. Obesity is a problem, it is important that patients need to know about the risks, he said.
RE: [ozmidwifery] News article, woman refused care for being overweight.
Title: News article, woman refused care for being overweight. This smack in the face of DISCRIMINATION!!! I have provided birthing services for another Werribee mother her home some years ago, because she was fearful of the repercussions she had experienced with her pregnancy and birth of her first born in the Melbourne hospital system. I have just recently consulted with a woman from the same region, referred to me by her Chiropractor because of a constantly crying baby. She weaned her baby at 2 weeks according to her story she was told her breasts were so big she would smother her baby and the midwives called [her] my baby a TURD. How on earth do we as a profession accept this, deal with it and better still prevent this type of appalling unprofessional behaviour. The mother who was told she is to fat needs to know her rights and take these up with the appropriate authorities. Robyn -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Megan Larry Sent: Monday, 13 June 2005 1:30 PM To: ozmidwifery Subject: [ozmidwifery] News article, woman refused care for being overweight. Woman 'too fat' for birth June 13, 2005 From: AAP A PREGNANT woman says she has been told she cannot have her baby in a Victorian hospital because she is too fat. The woman, only identified as Lisa, was told she would not be admitted to Werribee Mercy Hospital, in Melbourne's outer south-west, because her Body Mass Index (BMI) was 41. A healthy BMI - a measure of body fat based on height and weight - is between 20 and 25 in men and women, and under 40 in pregnant women. A figure above that indicates a person may be overweight. Lisa, who is 31 weeks into her third pregnancy, weighs 110 kilograms. She told Southern Cross radio today that she had already filled out the paperwork and participated in a hospital survey before she was taken by a hospital staff member to a room to be weighed and have her height checked. She weighed and measured me, then sat down with her calculator and worked it out and just told me sorry you're 41, Lisa said. She said she was told by the staff member she would have to lose 8kg if she wanted to have her baby delivered at Werribee Mercy hospital. I've only got nine or 10 weeks left in my pregnancy, basically that's drop a kilo a week. Lisa told the staff member she could not do it and that she did not believe she had put on too much weight during the pregnancy. She asked what would happen as she had already filled out the paperwork and alleged the staff member then told her they would tear it up. Director of medical services at Werribee Mercy Hospital, Dr Peter Longmore, today confirmed the hospital did have a policy of not accepting pregnant women who had a BMI over 40. Dr Longmore said the risks during delivery were significantly higher for women who were overweight. Women who have a high BMI usually have larger babies and that causes difficulty during delivery, Dr Longmore said. He said the hospital did not have intensive care or neo-natal facilities if the baby or mother needed emergency treatment. The only hospitals which provide neo-natal facilities are the Royal Women's hospital, Monash Medical Centre and the Mercy Women's hospital, which are all in Melbourne. Dr Longmore said pregnant women with a BMI over 40 also had an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems. Lisa said no-one from the hospital explained the risks to her. Had I been sat down and said look Lisa you've got high blood pressure or you've had an emergency cesarean before or you're overweight, we don't want to risk you being here, lets send you to the women's (Royal Women's hospital) that's fair enough ... instead of turning me away. Dr Longmore said he was not personally involved in Lisa's case so he could not comment on whether or not the hospital had explained the reasons for her being turned away. If the communication was lacking when she turned up then we need to look at that, Dr Longmore said. Obesity is a problem, it is important that patients need to know about the risks, he said.
Re: [ozmidwifery] News article, woman refused care for being overweight.
This is not that uncommon. BUT it is not exclusive to pregnancy. Here all patients undergoing surgery must have a BMI below a certain level or are considered not suitable for our Operating theatre and for anaesthesia by GP anaesthetists. Andrea Q Woman 'too fat' for birth June 13, 2005 From: AAP A PREGNANT woman says she has been told she cannot have her baby in a Victorian hospital because she is too fat. The woman, only identified as Lisa, was told she would not be admitted to Werribee Mercy Hospital, in Melbourne's outer south-west, because her Body Mass Index (BMI) was 41. A healthy BMI - a measure of body fat based on height and weight - is between 20 and 25 in men and women, and under 40 in pregnant women. A figure above that indicates a person may be overweight. Lisa, who is 31 weeks into her third pregnancy, weighs 110 kilograms. She told Southern Cross radio today that she had already filled out the paperwork and participated in a hospital survey before she was taken by a hospital staff member to a room to be weighed and have her height checked. She weighed and measured me, then sat down with her calculator and worked it out and just told me sorry you're 41, Lisa said. She said she was told by the staff member she would have to lose 8kg if she wanted to have her baby delivered at Werribee Mercy hospital. I've only got nine or 10 weeks left in my pregnancy, basically that's drop a kilo a week. Lisa told the staff member she could not do it and that she did not believe she had put on too much weight during the pregnancy. She asked what would happen as she had already filled out the paperwork and alleged the staff member then told her they would tear it up. Director of medical services at Werribee Mercy Hospital, Dr Peter Longmore, today confirmed the hospital did have a policy of not accepting pregnant women who had a BMI over 40. Dr Longmore said the risks during delivery were significantly higher for women who were overweight. Women who have a high BMI usually have larger babies and that causes difficulty during delivery, Dr Longmore said. He said the hospital did not have intensive care or neo-natal facilities if the baby or mother needed emergency treatment. The only hospitals which provide neo-natal facilities are the Royal Women's hospital, Monash Medical Centre and the Mercy Women's hospital, which are all in Melbourne. Dr Longmore said pregnant women with a BMI over 40 also had an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems. Lisa said no-one from the hospital explained the risks to her. Had I been sat down and said look Lisa you've got high blood pressure or you've had an emergency cesarean before or you're overweight, we don't want to risk you being here, lets send you to the women's (Royal Women's hospital) that's fair enough ... instead of turning me away. Dr Longmore said he was not personally involved in Lisa's case so he could not comment on whether or not the hospital had explained the reasons for her being turned away. If the communication was lacking when she turned up then we need to look at that, Dr Longmore said. Obesity is a problem, it is important that patients need to know about the risks, he said.
RE: [ozmidwifery] News article, woman refused care for being overweight.
We have had a similar thing here in WA but not BMI driven. If you are over 100kg then some hospitals will not allow women to birth in their facility. Sally
