This article comes at a very important time and in my view is very welcome.

Its reporting back 'the other side' there is all too often stories in the press about how midwives have 'failed' clients when infact it was often circumstance or other matters that had nothing to do with the midwives. The rise of the freebirthers movement is not doing the profession any favours either - the programme last night made me so cross at points it was seemingly anti midwifery. How can you have a programme like that on and not interview a midwife?

The message has to be that something HAS to be done, Id like to see what steps the Govt have taken to secure 4000 RMs by 2012, all Ive seen recently is units closing/amalgamating and many midwives are fearful for their jobs. They are working in high pressured conditions, with unsocial hours and often with limited/faulty equipment but because of this current climate they are saying 'Im lucky to have a job'. How has it come to this? pregnancy and birth are the basics of life, I cant even face calling them a 'basic right' they are fundamental - why are we as human beings treating our women and their professional carers like this? yes women will always have babies but is that any reason to reduce or pull resources - just think if all women went on strike? no more babies? yes I jest but in all seriousness just because most women will have babies, because they can and so the human race continues why does that mean they are not valued and respected for doing so with the basics like decent access to services, 121 care and professional carers who are well nourished, not frazzled and fully 'equipped' for the job?

I am delighted to see this article out there, the only way to see change is to keep talking about these matters.

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StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?
(George Eliot, 1860)