Nam,

Don't worry we still have our battles here in Australia. Independent midwives can practice anywhere here in Aus but they cannot get indemnity insurance and they are not always welcome. New Zealand has their s@*t in one sock. You are assigned a midwife, as part of the public healthcare system at the beginning of your pregnancy journey. All research shows (across the world) that one on one midwifery care results in better outcomes for mums and bubs, reduces the caesarian rate (currently 1 in 3 in Aus) and is cheaper!! Still the governments, obviously run by the species that has never given birth, opt for the more expensive, more invasive options. The sad part about it is women in this country (and I dare say across the world) are ending up with PTSD from what should, in most cases be a natural process. After all we don't have ob's in the bedroom when we create the little critters!