A study of the health related behaviours of 262 pregnant women for factors such as fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity and smoking levels was recently undertaken by the University of Queensland researchers.
The researchers found that:
"Few women met the guidelines for sufficient fruit (9.2%) or sufficient vegetable (2.7%) intake. On average, women consumed half the recommended serves of fruit (mean 2.2, SD 1.1; median 2.0, IQR1.0-2.0) and little more than one third of the recommended serves of vegetables (mean 2.0, SD 0.6; median 2.0, IQR 1.0-3.0) per day. Approximately one third (32.8%) of the population was undertaking sufficient physical activity (see Figure 1). Women undertook a median of 112.5 minutes of physical activity per week (IQR 43.8-240.0). A large proportion of women smoked prior to pregnancy (37.8%) and more than one quarter continued to smoke during pregnancy. Approximately 10% of women quit smoking when they became pregnant. On average, women smoked 15.9 cigarettes a day (SD 1.2, n=103) before becoming pregnant and smoked 13.4 cigarettes a day (SD 2.6, n=26) once becoming pregnant. Twenty-one per cent of women were overweight and 20.0% were obese before becoming pregnant"
This is where one to one midwifery care is so beneficial. When women and midwives work together in a primary health care way, issues such as the health related behaviours noted above can be explored and discussed in a safe and effective way. My guess is that the busy antenatal clinics where women wait for hours and see whoever is free, isn't the place where sensitive subjects such as eating habits, exercise activities and smoking are explored in effective ways, if at all.
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2009) 33(3): 228-33
The full text of the study can be read online at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122423650/HTMLSTART
Wednesday 5 August 2009
Melbourne Homebirth Rally Video
Melbourne Homebirth Rally Video Aug 4 2009
This message has been sent to everyone by Justine Caines, Birth activist extraordinaire!
"Forwarding on the excellent work of homebirth mum, journalist and editor extraordinaire Libby Chow and sending her enormous thanks for documenting this awesome community effort. In the name of choice, freedom and human rights - homebirth.
http://www.youtube.com/user/redmango1975
A fabulous heart warming day for us all. BRING ON CANBERRA!"
This message has been sent to everyone by Justine Caines, Birth activist extraordinaire!
"Forwarding on the excellent work of homebirth mum, journalist and editor extraordinaire Libby Chow and sending her enormous thanks for documenting this awesome community effort. In the name of choice, freedom and human rights - homebirth.
http://www.youtube.com/user/redmango1975
A fabulous heart warming day for us all. BRING ON CANBERRA!"
Sunday 2 August 2009
Language and Paradox in Childbearing
I was reading a piece of work which commented that a woman had an 'uneventful pregnancy'. That word 'uneventful' appears to be innocent at first glance. What 'uneventful' means in the context of maternity care is that there are no problems with the pregnancy. Labeling the life changing transformative experience of a normal healthy pregnancy as 'uneventful' belies the importance of a pregnancy to a woman, her family and society. That word 'uneventful'diminishes the power and magnificence of what is happening within a woman's body and psyche when she is pregnant.
Being pregnant would have to rate up there as one of the most momentous of events in a woman's life. I was thinking about language and words have so much power and convey so much meaning. The use of the word 'uneventful' together with healthy pregnancy creates a paradox. This paradox is not immediately recognised. The paradox may never actually be recognised by the speaker. With one word the wonder of pregnancy is relegated to the status of an unremarkable and therefore somehow meaningless reality. I wonder if the mindset that word 'uneventful' creates is one of the reasons why our maternity services make pregnant women wait for hours in cattleyard-like antenatal clinics?
Carmel Niland said in 1992 in her Anne Conlon Memorial Lecture “Women, Power and the Political Process” to the NSW Women’s Advisory Council “Words are seeds. Whole worlds lie curled in them. Three words like ‘women’, ‘power’ and ‘politics’ have a universe in ideas curled in them”.
The way we speak, what we say and how we say it is culturally and politically determined and reflects our belief structures, perspectives, values and biases. Language also defines structure, creates thought and gives thought form. It not only embodies our history and culture, it reinforces our values and beliefs in a self perpetuating system of meaning making. Words are carriers for cultural ideology. We see the world through the lenses of our values and belief systems. Spoken language is a major form of interpersonal communication. The words used in oral communication demonstrate power structures and positions of those communicating within those power structures. As Sheila Rowbotham (in Waring 1990:18) comments,
“language … is one of the instruments of domination... expresses a reality experienced by the oppressors. It speaks only for their world, their view.”
Changing our language to ensure what we say truly reflects the magnificence of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding is vital if we want to change maternity services and what happens to women.
Waring, M. If Women Counted: A new feminist economics Harper Collins New York.
Being pregnant would have to rate up there as one of the most momentous of events in a woman's life. I was thinking about language and words have so much power and convey so much meaning. The use of the word 'uneventful' together with healthy pregnancy creates a paradox. This paradox is not immediately recognised. The paradox may never actually be recognised by the speaker. With one word the wonder of pregnancy is relegated to the status of an unremarkable and therefore somehow meaningless reality. I wonder if the mindset that word 'uneventful' creates is one of the reasons why our maternity services make pregnant women wait for hours in cattleyard-like antenatal clinics?
Carmel Niland said in 1992 in her Anne Conlon Memorial Lecture “Women, Power and the Political Process” to the NSW Women’s Advisory Council “Words are seeds. Whole worlds lie curled in them. Three words like ‘women’, ‘power’ and ‘politics’ have a universe in ideas curled in them”.
The way we speak, what we say and how we say it is culturally and politically determined and reflects our belief structures, perspectives, values and biases. Language also defines structure, creates thought and gives thought form. It not only embodies our history and culture, it reinforces our values and beliefs in a self perpetuating system of meaning making. Words are carriers for cultural ideology. We see the world through the lenses of our values and belief systems. Spoken language is a major form of interpersonal communication. The words used in oral communication demonstrate power structures and positions of those communicating within those power structures. As Sheila Rowbotham (in Waring 1990:18) comments,
“language … is one of the instruments of domination... expresses a reality experienced by the oppressors. It speaks only for their world, their view.”
Changing our language to ensure what we say truly reflects the magnificence of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding is vital if we want to change maternity services and what happens to women.
Waring, M. If Women Counted: A new feminist economics Harper Collins New York.
Saturday 1 August 2009
Homebirth is back on the agenda for Labor
The political arena is hotting up regarding women's choice to birth at home with the midwife of her choice
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25865135-23289,00.html
If you haven't written a letter yet, now's the time - you can google any of the politicians and send a letter to that person.
All very exciting. Great for women, great for babies, great for families, great for midwifery, great for the future of our society.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25865135-23289,00.html
If you haven't written a letter yet, now's the time - you can google any of the politicians and send a letter to that person.
All very exciting. Great for women, great for babies, great for families, great for midwifery, great for the future of our society.
Sunday 26 July 2009
Pregnant women's rights US style
Three years ago, a pregnant woman who refused a continuous monitor when she was in labour and refused a caesarian section was given two psychiatrist consultations and found to be behaving 'erratically'. The woman gave birth normally to a healthy baby during the second psychiatric consultation. Because of her non-compliance, the woman was diagnosed as 'paranoid schizophrenic'.
The hospital in question has a caesarian section rate of nearly 50%. 'They' decided, because the woman was not 'cooperative' that the woman and her partner were not fit to care for their child and they took the baby away from her at birth.
Her baby was never returned to her.
That 'stolen child' situation has recently come to media attention
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/louise-marie-roth/is-a-woman-in-labor-a-per_b_242307.html
Some facts:
The baby was born normally and well
The woman had a history of abuse
The woman had a history of depression (pronounced well in 2005 and no longer requiring medication)
The hospital had a caesarean section rate of nearly 50%
The court decided the woman's refusal to have a caesarean indicated child abuse of an unborn child, even though the fetus has no legal rights
The court decided the woman did not have the right to make an informed choice
The court decision cites hospital records that describe the mother, V.M., as "combative," "uncooperative," "erratic," "noncompliant," "irrational" and "inappropriate."
Sounds like normal labour behaviour of many women to me, especially women who have been sexually abused as children and who have not had the opportunity to work things through with their midwife.
The judge was overheard telling V in one of her hearings that he felt she would be 'too argumentative and that would wind up hurting her child. For instance, she would argue with teachers and receptionists at the dentist office.'
Hmmm, anyone else ever argued with someone about something to do with your child? Anyone else ever argued with a teacher?
Henci Goer, the medical writer, joined several doctors and birth/women/rights related organisations and they together filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief to support the appeal that was filed by the parents.
They lost. A supreme court appeal is likely.
In Australia, we all have to be very clear that women are autononous; that women have the right to decide what they will do or not do; that women have sovereignty over their own selves and their pregnancies. Women have the right to give birth where and with whom they choose. Full stop.
The situation that has happened to V could happen here.
Come to Canberra 7th September 2009 and make your presence felt. Write letters, see your local member. Help them understand what normal labour is like and what women need. Our future as a sane and just society depends upon it.
The hospital in question has a caesarian section rate of nearly 50%. 'They' decided, because the woman was not 'cooperative' that the woman and her partner were not fit to care for their child and they took the baby away from her at birth.
Her baby was never returned to her.
That 'stolen child' situation has recently come to media attention
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/louise-marie-roth/is-a-woman-in-labor-a-per_b_242307.html
Some facts:
The baby was born normally and well
The woman had a history of abuse
The woman had a history of depression (pronounced well in 2005 and no longer requiring medication)
The hospital had a caesarean section rate of nearly 50%
The court decided the woman's refusal to have a caesarean indicated child abuse of an unborn child, even though the fetus has no legal rights
The court decided the woman did not have the right to make an informed choice
The court decision cites hospital records that describe the mother, V.M., as "combative," "uncooperative," "erratic," "noncompliant," "irrational" and "inappropriate."
Sounds like normal labour behaviour of many women to me, especially women who have been sexually abused as children and who have not had the opportunity to work things through with their midwife.
The judge was overheard telling V in one of her hearings that he felt she would be 'too argumentative and that would wind up hurting her child. For instance, she would argue with teachers and receptionists at the dentist office.'
Hmmm, anyone else ever argued with someone about something to do with your child? Anyone else ever argued with a teacher?
Henci Goer, the medical writer, joined several doctors and birth/women/rights related organisations and they together filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief to support the appeal that was filed by the parents.
They lost. A supreme court appeal is likely.
In Australia, we all have to be very clear that women are autononous; that women have the right to decide what they will do or not do; that women have sovereignty over their own selves and their pregnancies. Women have the right to give birth where and with whom they choose. Full stop.
The situation that has happened to V could happen here.
Come to Canberra 7th September 2009 and make your presence felt. Write letters, see your local member. Help them understand what normal labour is like and what women need. Our future as a sane and just society depends upon it.
Friday 26 June 2009
Thursday 25 June 2009
Nicola Roxon's bill to outlaw a woman's rights to choose to birth at home with the midwife of her choice
Can everyone please write to Nicola Roxon and tell her (politely, but strongly) what her bill has meant to you?
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
Australian Government
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Email: nicola.roxon.mp@aph.gov.au
and write to your local federal politician. Google his/her name and you will get their contact details.
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
Australian Government
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Email: nicola.roxon.mp@aph.gov.au
and write to your local federal politician. Google his/her name and you will get their contact details.
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Women's rights further eroded - Homebirth denied
Today our health minister, Nicola Roxon introduced two Bills to Parliament. One of these bills eroded women's rights to choose to birth at home with the midwife of her choice. This is unacceptable.
It is not acceptable to treat women this way. Every woman deserves to have the choice to employ her own midwife or to access the health service offerings, to choose her place of birth and to be supported in her choice.
Women are citizens of Australia. We are thinking, autonomous beings and want sovereignty over our bodies.
Who got to Nicola? Who over-rode her innate understanding of women's rights?
What do we need to do differently to get this to change?
It is not acceptable to treat women this way. Every woman deserves to have the choice to employ her own midwife or to access the health service offerings, to choose her place of birth and to be supported in her choice.
Women are citizens of Australia. We are thinking, autonomous beings and want sovereignty over our bodies.
Who got to Nicola? Who over-rode her innate understanding of women's rights?
What do we need to do differently to get this to change?
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Homebirth Rally at Parliament House Monday September 7th 1130am
Put this date in your diary and come with us! This is a critically important rally. The changes in Medicare rebates and the fine print is pointing to the demise of private midwifery and women's choices for birthing at home. For everyone who cares about women's rights to birth where they want and with whom they want, this rally is a must attend. We must show the politicians and the people of Australia that women matter, birth matters and choice is imperative.
The following message is from Justine Caines, an awesome woman and mother who has campaigned tirelessly for women's choices in birth.
HOME - EVERY WOMAN’S BIRTH RIGHT – RALLY FOR HOMEBIRTH – MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7 2009, PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA
Homebirth Australia is hosting a MAJOR rally in Canberra (outside Parliament House) on Monday September 7 from 11.30am.
There has been much discussion about the potential outlawing of homebirth and the continued lack of equity for women choosing homebirth.
We need this to be BIG. When I met with the federal department of Health they commented on the huge number of submissions (900 of which over half came from homebirth consumers). Sadly I said if you outlaw homebirth I will lead 9000 angry women and babies to Canberra!
Now 9000 may be a tall order but we need thousands.
For all the women and midwives that have contacted and said this issue matters please put it in your diary.
There is lots to organise and we look forward to many providing ideas and support.
The states close to Canberra will be called on to provide as many as possible to attend.
It would be great to have at least a few from every state and territory.
Please forward this meeting far and wide.
Details will soon be on the HBA website.
www.homebirthaustralia.org
For any other info please email justine.caines@bigpond.com
The following message is from Justine Caines, an awesome woman and mother who has campaigned tirelessly for women's choices in birth.
HOME - EVERY WOMAN’S BIRTH RIGHT – RALLY FOR HOMEBIRTH – MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7 2009, PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA
Homebirth Australia is hosting a MAJOR rally in Canberra (outside Parliament House) on Monday September 7 from 11.30am.
There has been much discussion about the potential outlawing of homebirth and the continued lack of equity for women choosing homebirth.
We need this to be BIG. When I met with the federal department of Health they commented on the huge number of submissions (900 of which over half came from homebirth consumers). Sadly I said if you outlaw homebirth I will lead 9000 angry women and babies to Canberra!
Now 9000 may be a tall order but we need thousands.
For all the women and midwives that have contacted and said this issue matters please put it in your diary.
There is lots to organise and we look forward to many providing ideas and support.
The states close to Canberra will be called on to provide as many as possible to attend.
It would be great to have at least a few from every state and territory.
Please forward this meeting far and wide.
Details will soon be on the HBA website.
www.homebirthaustralia.org
For any other info please email justine.caines@bigpond.com
Saturday 30 May 2009
Improving Maternity Services Package Budget 2009
Improving Maternity Services Package
The following paragraphs are from the federal budget released on the 12th May 09. I've been reading it, seeking to understand what it all really means. I'm not really any closer to finding out. What I do know is that the 'system' is not working well. Women centred care is still a pipe dream in many places. Stories student midwives tell are threaded with examples of bullying and coercion of women to fit in with the policy driven, factory style approach to the birthing process. There is still lots of work to do to create maternity services which are women centred, aware of women's individuality, private, kind and respectful. Is the budget offering a good move?
"The Government will provide $120.5 million over four years for the introduction of Medicare‑supported midwifery services to provide greater choice for women during pregnancy, birthing and postnatal maternity care. This measure includes $3.1 million in capital funding in 2009‑10 for Medicare Australia.
The new arrangements will allow midwives to work as private practitioners, provide services subsidised by the Medical Benefits Schedule and prescribe medications subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule. The Government will also provide subsidised medical indemnity for eligible midwives working in collaborative arrangements in hospitals and healthcare settings. To ensure that Australia maintains its strong record of safety and quality in maternity care, a safety and quality framework, including professional guidance and an advanced midwifery credentialing framework, will be developed. A new 24‑hour, seven‑days‑a‑week helpline will also be established to provide antenatal, birthing and postnatal maternity advice and information to women, partners and families during the ante‑natal period and up to 12 months following the birth of a child.
The measure will also assist women in rural and remote areas by expanding the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program to provide integrated outreach maternity service teams for women in under serviced areas. The expanded teams will include midwives, obstetricians, general practitioners and other health professionals, such as paediatricians and Aboriginal health workers. Additionally, funding will be provided for the professional development of midwives and for general practitioners to undertake additional training to become GP obstetricians or GP anaesthetists. The package will be implemented progressively from 1 July 2009".
The following paragraphs are from the federal budget released on the 12th May 09. I've been reading it, seeking to understand what it all really means. I'm not really any closer to finding out. What I do know is that the 'system' is not working well. Women centred care is still a pipe dream in many places. Stories student midwives tell are threaded with examples of bullying and coercion of women to fit in with the policy driven, factory style approach to the birthing process. There is still lots of work to do to create maternity services which are women centred, aware of women's individuality, private, kind and respectful. Is the budget offering a good move?
"The Government will provide $120.5 million over four years for the introduction of Medicare‑supported midwifery services to provide greater choice for women during pregnancy, birthing and postnatal maternity care. This measure includes $3.1 million in capital funding in 2009‑10 for Medicare Australia.
The new arrangements will allow midwives to work as private practitioners, provide services subsidised by the Medical Benefits Schedule and prescribe medications subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule. The Government will also provide subsidised medical indemnity for eligible midwives working in collaborative arrangements in hospitals and healthcare settings. To ensure that Australia maintains its strong record of safety and quality in maternity care, a safety and quality framework, including professional guidance and an advanced midwifery credentialing framework, will be developed. A new 24‑hour, seven‑days‑a‑week helpline will also be established to provide antenatal, birthing and postnatal maternity advice and information to women, partners and families during the ante‑natal period and up to 12 months following the birth of a child.
The measure will also assist women in rural and remote areas by expanding the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program to provide integrated outreach maternity service teams for women in under serviced areas. The expanded teams will include midwives, obstetricians, general practitioners and other health professionals, such as paediatricians and Aboriginal health workers. Additionally, funding will be provided for the professional development of midwives and for general practitioners to undertake additional training to become GP obstetricians or GP anaesthetists. The package will be implemented progressively from 1 July 2009".
Friday 13 February 2009
'Seeing the baby': pleasures and dilemmas of ultrasound technologies for primiparous Australian women
'Seeing the baby': pleasures and dilemmas of ultrasound technologies for primiparous Australian women
An interesting report of a study into the pleasures and dilemmas associated with the way that ultrasound has become a part of the embodied experiences of pregnant women. The paper reminds us that women are increasingly taking responsibility for a successful outcome for their pregnancies in a gendered experience which has been socially constructed as inherently 'risky' in contemporary Australian society.
http://ogma.newcastle.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1913
My personal view is that women are under enormous pressure to produce the 'perfect' baby.
The tension that women feel as they wait to 'pass' the various tests, including ultrasound, has made pregnancy into an increasingly stress filled time.
The burgeoning list of 'tests' provide a series of challenges for women, the essence of which remind me of the trials and tribulations the heroes of ancient Greek and Roman mythology had to endure, to 'prove' they were capable and worthy of living. For childbearing women, the successful negotiation of the labyrinth or the attainment of the golden fleece means worthy for motherhood.
An interesting report of a study into the pleasures and dilemmas associated with the way that ultrasound has become a part of the embodied experiences of pregnant women. The paper reminds us that women are increasingly taking responsibility for a successful outcome for their pregnancies in a gendered experience which has been socially constructed as inherently 'risky' in contemporary Australian society.
http://ogma.newcastle.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1913
My personal view is that women are under enormous pressure to produce the 'perfect' baby.
The tension that women feel as they wait to 'pass' the various tests, including ultrasound, has made pregnancy into an increasingly stress filled time.
The burgeoning list of 'tests' provide a series of challenges for women, the essence of which remind me of the trials and tribulations the heroes of ancient Greek and Roman mythology had to endure, to 'prove' they were capable and worthy of living. For childbearing women, the successful negotiation of the labyrinth or the attainment of the golden fleece means worthy for motherhood.
Friday 16 January 2009
When you think you can't, watch this
In life, we often get challenges which test us to the depths of our courage and self belief. This is true whether the context is personal, professional or global. These challenges can include everything from becoming a parent, going through the birthing process, finishing a degree, some global emergency, dealing with personal loss or issues with difficult people. I'm going through one of those times right now. Someone sent me this video and watching this man has transformed my thinking about my situation and capabilities.
Copy and paste this in your browser to view it
http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html
Isn't he amazing and what a blessing for all of us who get to experience his strength, courage, determination and generosity.
Copy and paste this in your browser to view it
http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html
Isn't he amazing and what a blessing for all of us who get to experience his strength, courage, determination and generosity.
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