Maternity Choices Australia Ltd

Overview

Maternity Choices Australia Ltd, formerly known as Maternity Coalition, is a nonprofit organisation committed to the advancement of best-practice maternity care in Australia. The organisation has been advocating for improved maternity services since its inception, focusing on the well-being of mothers and their families.

Purpose and Goals

Maternity Choices Australia aims to promote women's human rights in maternity services, advocating for universal access to evidence-based maternity care. Key goals include:

• Advocacy for Autonomous Midwifery Care: Promoting primary prevention through autonomous midwifery care to ensure mothers receive the best possible support.
• Protection of Pregnancy and Childbirth as a Normal Process: Ensuring that pregnancy and childbirth are treated as normal physiological processes rather than medical emergencies unless necessary.
• Promoting Consumer Awareness and Participation: Educating consumers about their options during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period, and facilitating their participation in policy planning and decision-making.
• Support and Lobbying: Bringing together groups and individuals for effective lobbying, information sharing, networking, and support.

Activities

The organisation works to address avoidable perinatal stress by advocating for evidence-based care. It supports women in navigating maternal mental health challenges, such as antenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Maternity Choices Australia also provides resources, workshops, and peer support sessions to empower mothers and families throughout their journey.

Impact

Maternity Choices Australia's efforts contribute to several positive outcomes:

• Improved Birth Satisfaction: By advocating for consumer-led care, the organisation aims to enhance the birth experience for mothers and their partners.
• Safer Birth Outcomes: Promoting evidence-based practices helps reduce risks such as stillbirths.
• Better Breastfeeding Outcomes: Supporting maternal health leads to improved breastfeeding rates.

In summary, Maternity Choices Australia plays a crucial role in shaping Australia's maternity care landscape by advocating for evidence-based practices and consumer-centered services.

[1] https://www.maternitychoices.org [2] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/0d1cfe2c-38af-e811-a962-000d3ad24a0d [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/0d1cfe2c-38af-e811-a962-000d3ad24a0d/documents/d1f0af79-c490-e911-a984-000d3ad02a61 [4] https://www.changepath.com.au/maternity-choices-australia-ltd [5] https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=77651ad7-d8c4-4a6d-95fb-4d8c461c50b7&subId=734267