Mums bear brunt of care argument

QUEENSLAND mums are being left “damaged and traumatised” by the state’s ailing birthing system as doctors and midwives face off over who provides the best care.

Midwives Australia says maternity services need an urgent shake-up due to over-medicalisation and a high level of often unnecessary interventions, including labour inductions, Csections, episiotomies and ultrasounds.

“We are in a situation where we have high levels of mor- bidity, trauma and women damaged by a system.

“There is a perception this is a great place to have a baby, but on closer examination a different picture evolves,” Midwives Australia spokeswoman and midwife Liz Wilkes said.

Ms Wilkes says continued midwifery care has been proven to be the best for women, but doctors insist research actually proves obstetrician-led care leads to better health outcomes.

As the clinicians debate research findings, the Australian Medical Association of Queensland is set to release findings of a maternity sector review in a bid to improve services and boost confidence.

The AMAQ’s suggestions will be submitted to Health Minister Cameron Dick within two weeks.

“We have seen a slow transi- tion to midwifery-led practice in our public hospital system during recent years.

“While the role of nurses and midwives is important in providing safe, quality care, we know that health outcomes improve markedly when maternity services are led by obstetricians – especially when complications arise,” obstetrician and past AMAQ president Dr Gino Pecoraro said.

A New Zealand study into 244,047 pregnancies from 2008 to 2012 found medical-led births were associated with a lower risk of stillbirth, neonatal mortality and intra-uterine hypoxia.

AMAQ president Chris Zappala spoke out against obstetricians being sidelined by midwives after the death of a baby and injury to three others in a Rockhampton maternity unit.

Ms Wilkes said: “It is a shame that we are at odds over what is best for mum and baby.

“Cochrane 2016 research into 17,674 births, both high and low risk, makes it very clear that with midwife-led continuity of care, mothers were less likely to lose their baby.”

WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF MORBIDITY, TRAUMA AND WOMEN DAMAGED BY A SYSTEM LIZ WILKES