From:
Michael Campbell
Date:
Nov 01 00:50 UTC
Short link
Last week the Press had a sensational story about midwives on Page 1
Today there are two stories in the Press which I think we need to focus on -
the first is on Page 15 section A and the second on Page 16
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4745792a6530.html
The page 16 story tells of the protest against the Press yesterday -
interesting that it wasn't on page 1?????
If you believe the Press has an agenda or has been unfair in its coverage -
cancel your subscription or stop buying the Press and if you are an
advertiser - place your ads elsewhere - only then can we show the media that
they cannot undertake this kind of gutter journalism.
Since there is an election next week make sure your local MP knows that you
are offering your vote on the basis that you support a midwifery-led
maternity system
Ensure the person you are voting for supports the same philosophy - if not
don't give him or her your vote
The page 15 story is much more important - here's the main headlines from it
- you can read the whole story at
http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4745838a24035.html
1. Women cared for by a midwife are less likely to lose their baby in
the first 24 weeks and are more likely to breastfeed, a review of
international studies shows.
2. The Midwife-Led Versus Other Models of Care For Childbearing Women
review, published last month in the international Cochrane Library,
recommends every woman be offered a midwife as their lead carer through
pregnancy. The study analysed 11 trials comparing medical-led care and
midwife-led care involving more than 12,000 women from England, Ireland and
Canada.
3. It found midwife-led care was associated with several benefits for
mothers and babies, and no adverse effects.
4. Women cared for by midwives were less likely to have an instrument
birth and less likely to need pain relief.
5. Care Activities and Outcomes Report of 10,000 New Zealand births in
2004 co-produced by the University of Canterbury Health Sciences Centre,
showed 75 per cent of women had a midwife as their lead maternity carer.
6. Associate Health Minister Steve Chadwick, who is in charge of
maternity issues, said the Cochrane research was highly regarded by health
professionals. It was pleasing to hear its findings supported the
midwife-led, women-centred model of care New Zealand has, she said.
Most importantly and unfortunate for the doctor's campaign to have GPs
supervise midwives: "A picture is emerging of a higher percentage of normal
births, a lower elective caesarean section rate, fewer assisted births for
women, less episiotomies, less haemorrhage and more likely to give up
smoking when attended by a ... midwife. Most importantly, it reinforces the
safety of midwifery care in New Zealand," said Norma Campbell, a midwifery
college adviser.
The Midwifery College report showed 72% of babies in 2004 were born by a
normal vaginal birth, and almost 20% of babies were born by caesarean.
Nearly 80% of women were breastfeeding at two weeks.
Michael Campbell