Rural Mothers Claim They Are Being Bullied Into Having Caesarean Section

Rural mothers claimed that they have been bullied into having caesarean sections and experienced mistreatment, as they hold a rally outside a Queensland hospital.

Some women living in the rural areas came together last week for a small rally outside Emerald Hospital, located in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland, protesting the closure of a local maternity ward and to bring to light the mistreatment they feel they received.

Fiona Bailey, a mother and one of the protesters, told the ABC that she had planned to have a vaginal delivery for her second child after giving birth via caesarean section for her first child and was approved for this delivery plan early on.

However, two weeks before her due date, local doctors told her that her birthing plan was not possible and she would have to travel to Rockhampton, 270km west of Emerald, if she wanted to have a vaginal delivery.

Ms Bailey said that doctors had pressured her to change her birthing plan, as travelling to Rockhampton to deliver her baby wasn’t possible.

“I feel I was being bullied into having a caesarean here in Emerald,” she said. “The option to go away just wasn’t possible, it was over Christmas time it would’ve meant spending Christmas Day in a hotel room somewhere away from family, away from my friends just waiting to have a baby.”

Central Queensland Hospital Health Service (CQHHS) held a community forum in January where several women shared similar experiences of feeling bullied.

After the forum, CQHHS informed that the public that there would be a review of maternity services at the hospital, Central Queensland News reported.

Director of Nursing and Midwifery at CQHHS Sue Foyle, said that suggestions made by medical professionals at Emerald Hospital were for the safety of both the mother and child. “Ultimately it is a woman’s choice where she gives birth and it is important for us to provide as many services as close to home for Central Queenslanders, while always maintaining the safety and wellbeing of mothers and babies,” she told Central Queensland News.

Sources: News.com.au, Abc.net.au, and Cqnews.com.au