Report Broken Link

Midwifery Data/Consumer Survey: Dunedin Domiciliary Midwives Collective Report 1/9/1988 to 31/8/1989

Abstract:

The collective DMC was formed in August of 1988 following the departure from Dunedin on the only domiciliary midwife, Adrienne Mulqueen in the preceding July. Several local women wished to have a homebirth; the Collective formed in response. The Collective format developed as those midwives interested in participating all had other commitments, so sharing client care was the only feasible way of providing a homebirth service for the Dunedin community. The Collective also provided a continuity of service for women who choose to have hospital births. This was possible because at the outset three of the five midwives involved in the Collective worked in the Delivery Area of the local maternity hospital, Queen Mary. This service operated like a domino with the woman usually returning to her home within a short time after the birth. When the Collective began Dunedin homebirths were very rare events, averaging only one per month. The income generated from this or rather the lack of it was another reason to opt for the collective style of service. All the women who wished a homebirth were visited by all Collective members. Decisions whether to accept or decline the care were made by consensus. Thereafter each of the three midwives involved in the homebirth aspect of the Collective's work would visit the woman and her family in an attempt to establish the necessary level of rapport and understanding that is essential for homebirth... Over the Collective's first year of practice the midwives involved have found that their individual levels of confidence in their own skills and practical midwifery ability grew significantly. Each midwife became more grounded in normal community midwifery.

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community midwifery practice, Dunedin, home birth