The Birth Project - Our ABC

 Our ABC is investigating giving birth in Australia!

Despite Australia having one of the lowest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world, too many women are emerging from the birth system feeling hurt and damaged. Induction and caesarean section rates are soaring but there is no change in key indicators such as stillbirth. Meanwhile, physiological birth and breastfeeding rates plummet. 

Please share this request for birth stories with all your friends and neighbours!

 

 

Here is more information and the links:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2022-11-03/birth-project-australia-abc-investigation/101574750 

Use this form to send the ABC your story about birth.

They want to hear about your experiences of pregnancy and birth – and from those of you who provide maternity care.

What's working? What's not? And what can we do better?

The Birth Project is running from late 2022 into 2023. Here are some of the stories they've told so far:

• Birthing a better way: Statistically, Australia is a very safe place to give birth, but the care families receive is a lottery. Three women who live less than 90 minutes apart had very different experiences, by choice, chance and necessity. Their stories reveal a complicated system crying out for change.
• Revealing the impacts of birth trauma: While she was pregnant, Amy dreamed about the time she'd spend with her first son Bobby. She didn't imagine incontinence, therapy and surgery — and Amy's experience is all too common, according to the results of a new survey.

Looking forward to ABC being provided with many stories explaining what happened, what worked for you and what didn't work for you.  

Would love to read your thoughts.

 

What is birth trauma?

 Professor Hannah Dahlen writes:

Birth trauma week starts on the 6th and goes until the 12th September and I will be focusing on this a lot in the coming week. 

There is a common myth out there that is also often politically hijacked that birth trauma is just physical trauma and hence the focus ends up on the pelvic floor and manifests as anti-normal birth. 

As over a decade of ours and others’ research has shown this is just the tip of the iceberg. 

Birth trauma is so often about not being listened to, disrespected and losing control. It often leaves no physical scars and so is dismissed as something women should just get over and be glad they had a healthy baby. I have heard leading health professional and others say no one is ever traumatised by Caesarean section. This reveals the reductionist, narrow thinking on this issue. We must work to reduce all kinds of trauma whatever the woman or her partner says that trauma is. 

                                                              Amanda Greavette Art
 

Our book this year, ‘Birthing outside the system: the canary in the coal mine’, showed clearly that trauma is so often deeply psychological and also can be physical and we must work to reduce both. 

The safest birth is one that is supported by a respectful, competent and known midwifery care provider backed by an equally respectful and component obstetric provider. Doulas also play a critical role in reducing birth trauma. I have become a great advocate of these amazing people. This kind of supported birth has been shown to be both physically and psychologically safe. 

Do not let the agendas of some people derail the reality thousands of women attest to. Stay tuned as there is about to be announcement of a free, first ever fabulous event next week with a line up of speakers (consumers, obstetricians, lawyers and midwives) like you have never seen before. 

Announcement coming soon

 

Hannah Dahlen is Professor of Midwifery at Western Sydney University 

The book "Birthing outside the system: the canary in the coal mine" is reviewed at All4Maternity