One of the most natural events in life - is life, or at least the start of life - the birth. At least, for thousands of years it was natural, then doctors became involved and took the natural to the un-natural. Doctors have already taken a normal event and turned it into a major surgical experience when it suits them, or the mother - when in doubt, order a C section - that's the doctors mantra!

Now throw in a bunch of politician whose only medical experience comes from their visits to their family doctor and the decision has been made - let's get rid of home births. And how are they going to do it - they won't be upfront and make a home birth illegal - no, they have decided to attack the practitioners that make home births possible - midwives.

The Australian government has decided that midwives that supervise home deliveries need to be registered and part of the registration process is to have indemnity insurance. One problem, insurance companies won't offer indemnity insurance to midwives for home deliveries. The end result is that midwives, the very people who know the most about home deliveries, are going to be caught in a catch-22 situation. They cannot work as midwives supervising home births without registration, yet they cannot get registration because they cannot meet the conditions.

Here in Australia there is chronic shortage of hospital beds, nursing staff and money to run our hospitals. There are many conditions that could be treated at home for a fraction of the cost compared to in hospital treatment. Rather than putting obstacles up to prevent home treatments, the government should be doing everything possible to support them and make things easier - home births included.

It seems strange to me that many countries, the UK included, have a high proportion of births delivered at home, not in a hospital. The mortality rate in these countries cannot be that high, if it was the practice would be limited by government intervention.

I don't know where the government is coming from with its new legislation. They should be doing everything possible to assist more midwives into the system. Australia has a very low incidence of home birthing - in fact there are only 200 midwives currently registered (under the current system) to supervise home births. This number needs to be lifted to at least 2-3000 with home births encouraged where ever it is feasible.

Kevin Rudd - open your eyes, think a little more laterally and let's encourage home births rather discourage the practice. Sure, it's not for every expectant mother, but if just 10% of all deliveries where done at home, that would be a significant saving on our hospital costs.

The Melbourne Herald-Sun has an interesting article on the subject that is worth a read if you're interested. If you're from the UK and another area that supports home births, I would be interested in knowing how successful they are.

Home births - let's support the practice - not condemn it and possibly force it underground!

photo credit: foundphotoslj