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The Belmont Birthing Service

Following from my previous Diary entry, here is some more information about the Belmont Birthing Service near Newcastle, NSW. This is taken from an email written by Carolyn Hastie, the Manager of the Unit. I will post the statistical outcomes when they are available.

”The midwives have provided comprehensive 1-2-1 care for 187 women since we started a year ago. We also have over a 100 women who are currently booked with our service.

Many of the women who book with us were/are considered 'unsuitable' (ACMI Guidelines for referral and consultation) for birthing at Belmont, which is completely 'stand alone' in that there are no doctors on site and no core staff. If, according to the ACMI guidelines, the women are considered safer at the tertiary referral hospital for birth, the midwives provide all antenatal care with appropriate referral and consultation with the obstetricians at John Hunter and then accompany the women in labour to birth at JHH. The midwives then followed up those women at home for three weeks, just the same as if the birth had occured at Belmont.

Education and information sharing is ongoing. Births through water are popular as the women love our big baths! All babies and mothers for both groups of women are well and healthy. Breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates are high. Skin to Skin for mothers and babies at birth and beyond is explained, promoted and encouraged. We have a weekly discussion group, weekly lullaby group, weekly parenting education sessions and breastfeeding information and education sessions every two months. The midwives don't see the third day blues (which is also really interesting), women are happy and babies are calm. Women are very satisfied with their experience and their care. We will release a full year of stats and information as soon as the year is up.

In the interim, you may like to know that the stats are wonderful for both 'low risk' and 'high risk' women. Low low caesarian and instrumental delivery rate (<10%), low low PPH rate (< 5%); three premature babies; one person with antenatal preeclampsia (which I think is really interesting).

Testimony to women, birth and great midwives - the power of love. The team is fantastic. The families are wonderful too, very supportive.

The fact that BBS exists is very much due to the power of Maternity Coaltion and the absolutely indefatigable efforts and energy of Carol Chapman and Justine Caines without whom none of this would have happened.”

This wonderful service is certainly testament to the power of women when they get organised as a group and keep lobbying/ fighting. I look forward to seeing pictures of their first birthday party with the Minister for Health being feted once again by mothers and babies.

Posted by andrea at June 29, 2006 05:38 AM