Blogs

Why consent matters in maternity care   Consent is at the heart of safe, respectful and ethical healthcare and this is especially true during pregnancy and birth. Every woman has the right to make informed choices about her care. That means understanding what is being proposed and why, what the alternatives are and what might […]

Your body knows what it’s doing during birth. Mostly.   Then there’s amniotic fluid embolism. AFE. It strikes roughly 1 in 40,000 deliveries across Australia; you’re more likely to be struck by lightning. But when does it happen? Devastating. It’s the second leading direct cause of maternal death here, according to the Australian Institute of […]

  A Brisbane doctor is facing manslaughter charges after a homebirth ended in tragedy. Vicki Butler, 41, died from severe bleeding—a serious childbirth complication—shortly after delivering her sixth child at home. Her death left behind a newborn baby and five older children.   For families who have experienced birth trauma or injuries, this story may […]

Choosing to have a home birth can help a mother feel like she has more control when in a relaxed, familiar environment. But, it can also be dangerous if proper medical precautions are not taken. A tragic case in Karangi, New South Wales has raised some serious legal and medical concerns surrounding homebirths conducted by […]

Bringing a child into the world should be one of life’s most joyful experiences. However, for some families it can come with complications, medical errors or inadequate care, which can quickly turn what should be a moment of happiness into a traumatic and life-altering event.   Birth trauma can affect both the birthing parent and […]

While many associate having a baby with it being the greatest day of their lives, it is also a time when a woman is most vulnerable to developing or relapsing into a mental illness.   In Australia, perinatal depression and anxiety affect one in five mothers, making suicide the leading cause of maternal death.   […]