NSW Birth Trauma Report – next steps and policy responses

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The ANU Gender Institute and Maternal Health Matters Inc. invite you to join us online for the fifth in our seminar series that will explore the impact of maternity care on women’s wellbeing and the transition to parenting.

The health and wellbeing of mothers is critically connected to the best outcomes for infants and children and provides the basis for a healthy society.

Australia faces a challenge in achieving high quality maternity care in a safe, respectful environment so that women and birthing people emerge healthy and well. While Australia has a low maternal death rate and is therefore considered to be a safe place to have a baby; the NSW Report into Birth Trauma, does not paint a picture of safety. The reality is that women are suffering avoidable harm as a consequence of unsafe, disrespectful maternity care. The consequences are long term ill-health of women and their infants, a lack of financial security due to the ongoing costs of healthcare, plus an inability to work to full capacity, and a higher incidence of family breakup.

Themes presenters will speak to

The NSW report into Birth Trauma concluded that just over thirty thousand women potentially experience obstetric violence every year in NSW, this is: mistreatment and violence against women experienced during facility-based childbirth and in other reproductive health services. This includes physical violence, loss of autonomy; being subjected to any clinical intervention without appropriate informed consent; being shouted at, scolded, humiliated, or threatened; and being ignored, refused, or receiving no response to requests for help. It may also include non-evidence-based practice, such as routine episiotomy and lack of access to physiological birth.

Four priorities so as to reduce preventable birth trauma include: the provision of evidence-based trauma informed care training; the expansion and sustained midwifery Continuity of Care models across Australia; midwifery leadership at every level of health care, and the appointment of a Chief Midwife; along with the recognition and use of the notion of ‘obstetric violence’ to promote healing and action.

Society needs to provide maternity services that do no harm and honours the woman's human right to respect, autonomy, dignity and the attainment of the highest level of health.

Presenters

Dr. Hazel Keedle is a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery and Director of Academic Midwifery Programs at Western Sydney University. With clinical, education, and research experience, her focus areas include VBAC, birth trauma, and maternity experiences. She authored "Birth after Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth" for consumers and has a forthcoming "The Clinician's Guide to Better Birth After Caesarean." Dr. Hazel Keedle leads the large Australian Birth Experience Study (BESt) and its international collaboration.

Louise Thornton, RM, BN(Hons), GDipMidwifery, Cert IV Breastfeeding Counselling. Louise’s experience as a Registered Midwife over nineteen years, has been made rich through a variety of experiences attending women both in the hospital system and birthing at home. She has extensive experience providing antenatal care, education, and postpartum domiciliary. As a Matrescence Coach she supports women to reflect, resolve and move into motherhood feeling fully consolidated and positive and therefore able to engage fully with the experience.

Samantha Rasa is a mum of two who has birthed at a large tertiary metropolitan hospital through GP shared care and Wollongong Public hospital through MGP. Séamus is now 3 years old and Quinn is 7 months old. Sam works within the health care system and has supported children and their families as an OT for many years so when she didn’t feel listened to during her first birth, she hoped for a more positive experience during her second birth. As she received continuity of midwifery care, she got it.