We are often asked why cultural safety is an important part of respectful maternity care. Cultural safety incorporates physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being. A commonly used definition of cultural safety is that of Williams (1999) who defined cultural safe

President Report  It has been a busy year.  We are pleased with out progress, though there is still much to do. Presentation on the results of the Women’s Experience of Birth in Australia – The Birth Dignity Survey Report 2017 – Listening to Women – at the 9th Annual Obstetric M

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December The maternity care that women receive intersects with her human rights to physical integrity, self-determination, privacy, family life, and spiritual freedom. In applying and advancing scientific knowledge, medical practice and as

Maternity care in Australia includes antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care for women and their babies. A Birth Plan is a documented record of you preferences for your maternity care.   A health professional for maternity care may be a Midwife, General Practitioner or Obstetric

Once you have found out you are pregnant, one thing to do is to decide who you would like to support you during pregnancy, provide your maternity care and where you would like to give birth.   There are lots of resources about pregnancy and what to ask your health professional, h

Maternity care should be evidence-based and woman-centred, and acknowledge pregnancy, birth and parenting as significant life events for women. Woman-centred maternity care is responsive to women’s needs and preferences, and enables them to access objective, evidence-based information

What is continuity of care? The National Maternity Service Plan defines ‘Continuity of Care’ as: “the practice of ensuring that a woman knows her maternity care provider(s) and receives care from the same provider, or small group of providers, throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and t

Safe Motherhood for All is helping to coordinate the What Women Want campaign’s online presence. We are hoping that in the next two weeks to rally our community and get colleagues excited to participate in the campaign It’s super easy to participate. Visit https://www.whatwomenwant.or

Comment:  Australia faces a challenge in achieving high quality, woman-centred maternity care. Firstly, in providing maternity services that honour the childbearing woman’s human right to respect, autonomy, dignity and the attainment of the highest level of health. Secondly, achieving

The National Strategic Approach to Maternity Services (NSAMS) is currently being developed and lead by the Federal Government. The NSAMS will impact on maternity services now and into the future. Safe Motherhood for All Inc. sits on the Advisory Group and we want to see change. In Aus