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Political comment: Midwifery independence?

Abstract:

The passage of the Nurses Amendment Act in August 1990, giving NZ midwives independence in practice as well as principle, was a great victory! However, it didn't just "happen". It was part of a protracted struggle over many years as women resisted the medical model of childbirth, of the politicisation and eventual unity of midwives culminating in the formation of the College, of the reclamation of the training of midwives as independent practitioners, of learning lobbying skills, and finally of having a visionary Minister of Health who clearly understood the issues. Now, a year down the track, how many midwives are actually practising independently? Most of the midwives known as "domiciliary midwives" (DMs) are doing so. Although this number is small and growing only slowly, they are recognised as a threat to obstetric control of childbirth. Therefore, a number of tactics are being used in an attempt to undermine midwifery independence.

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autonomous practice, medicalisation, midwifery independence, Nurses Amendment Act 1990