Ele Ludemann: Getting it right from the start

It’s nearly 20 years since National Party members were asked to pitch policies at regional conferences. Those judged best went to the national conference and became policy.

Among those was my pitch to fund maternity services to allow women to stay in maternity hospitals until breast feeding was established should they choose to.

It received a standing ovation at the conference and when I got off the stage then-MP Nick Smith said, “There’s good policy that’s bad politics and bad policy that’s good politics. This is good policy that’s good politics.”

It was funded in the incoming National government’s first Budget but the funding didn’t continue after the GFC.

Now women and babies are usually discharged a very few hours after births if there are no complications and even new mothers who had caesareans rarely get more than a day or two hospital stay post-surgery.

That is about to change for the better:

National will provide greater choice and support for new mums and babies across New Zealand through a new Member’s Bill, which passed its first reading today, says Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd.

“Today is a significant day for mums and newborn babies across New Zealand as we work hard to provide more choice, support and protection for families.

“The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (3 Day Postnatal Stay) Amendment Bill, which will entitle women to 72 hours of funded inpatient postnatal care, received support from all parties when it was read in the House for the first time today,” says Ms Wedd.

Ms Wedd shared her own traumatic birth story, alongside other MPs, who discussed their experiences and acknowledged how important it is to support postnatal care in New Zealand.

“This Bill will ensure women can access essential postnatal care, whatever their situation.

“Those first few hours and days with your newborn baby are critical forming a strong bond, and mums should have that time if they need or want it.

“Currently, women are entitled to 48 hours of funded inpatient postnatal care, but many are unaware of this right and may feel pressured to leave early.

“My bill will extend this entitlement to 72 hours if needed. It will also introduce a mandatory requirement for lead maternity carers to inform mothers of their choices.

“This is a great day for mums and mums-to-be across New Zealand, who stand to receive better postnatal care.

“The bill will now go to Select Committee, where I encourage everyone to share their stories and make their voices heard so we can improve the system and provide better support for Kiwi mums.”

A transcript of the first reading is here.

One of the worst changes in health care has been the move to rush new mothers and their babies out of hospital.

Some women choose to leave birthing centres as soon as possible but many, and their babies would benefit from a few days with midwives on hand to advise and help them, to recuperate from the birth and to get breast feeding established.

This Bill will enable that, providing their are sufficient funding, staffing and beds to enable the longer post-natal stays, and the Bill expressly provides for that.

Giving mothers and babies a better start will improve the physical and mental health of both, one of the benefits from which will be helping prevent pots natal depression.

This is good politics and good policy.

You can make a submission here.

Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.