REVOLUTIONISING MATERNITY CARE IN THIS COUNTRY – HOW TO DO IT!

The revolution starts here. If women want better maternity care they must start demanding it and if midwives want to continue being seen as the ‘guardians of normal birth’ they had better start guarding it!

How do we do it?

By joining forces and refusing to let outdated and discredited systems dictate how healthy women have their babies:

• Spread the word: Take away the central message of this film and talk to anyone and everyone about the issues it raises.
• Make connections: Link up with other women, with local groups, write to local newspapers, meet with local midwives. Work out locally based strategies to increase awareness. Demand the best for yourselves, your daughters and all women having babies.
• Make a nuisance of yourself: Fill in the IMA postcards and send them to your local PCT. Get everyone you know to do the same. Don’t be fobbed off with empty rhetoric. Demand better care as a woman’s right in pregnancy. Insist that they contract in the services of self-employed, autonomous independent midwives.
• Join the IMA’s e-campaign: Go to our website www.saveindependentmidwifery.org and follow the links to ensure your MP is aware of the issues and demand that he / she asks questions at the highest levels as to why ‘one to one midwifery care’ is still not available to the majority of women.

If they are Labour MPs demand that they fulfil the promises of Maternity Matters, the Manifesto and the National Service Framework (NSF) Maternity Standard 11. If they are Opposition MPs get them to ask questions in Parliament as to why this Government has so far failed to implement their promises.

REFUSE TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. REFUSE TO ACCEPT EXCUSES. DEMAND BETTER CARE AS A WOMAN’S RIGHT!