The Malta Independent on Sunday carried a report entitled “Coleiro Preca emphasises importance of natural birth”. Congratulations to the Midwives' Association for organising the conference “Transforming the Culture of Maternity Services towards Physiology of Birth”. 

Speaking at the conference, the Minister for Social Solidarity Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca suggested that pregnant mothers should be encouraged to make choices when giving birth. And rightly so! Many studies show the short term and long term benefits on the mother and on her family when a mother is in control of her birth experience. The greater emotional bond quoted by the Minister is just one benefit among many. 

Most mothers today read and follow what is happening abroad. Pregnant couples are encouraged to make birth plans, make choices as to how and where they want to have their babies. They have teams of midwives to look after them, whom they meet and get to know well before the birth. In other words, the whole maternity service is highly family-friendly, with the trend moving more towards emotional and physiological birth rather than a birth managed and controlled with unnecessary medication.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the service provided in Malta. Choices apart, the fact that 35 per cent of births are Caesarean sections when the World Health Organisation specify the rate should be 15 per cent or lower, should switch on a red light and raise a few pertinent questions. Why do babies and mothers in Malta need to be saved at such an alarming rate? What is going wrong with our birthing system?

It is high time that the midwifery profession is strengthened, as it will benefit the Maltese family in many ways. Considering that the pregnant couple is highly vulnerable when using the maternity service, it is also time that parents are given a say and heard, and most of all, adequately supported. This means that the present maternity system needs to be reviewed so that the family, for whom the service is intended, comes out an overall winner. Here is hoping that the conference brings about the necessary changes that will give midwives the job satisfaction they deserve and new parents the confidence they need to make a sound start on their parenting journey.

Marianne Theuma

Director

In the Family Way, School for Parents