Bathurst Base Hospital midwifery unit manager Leslie Mulligan said she personally would like to see a drop in the number of caesareans and an increase in normal deliveries. 

While there were times when an emergency caesarean was necessary, Ms Mulligan said it should not be a medico’s first choice. 

Ms Mulligan’s comments followed this week’s release of the National Core Maternity Indicators report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report includes data for 2004 through to 2009 across 10 clinical indicators, including rates of caesarean section, induction of labour and small babies born at or after term.

It will act as a baseline for measuring the effects of changes in the quality of maternity services across Australia.

A total of 604 babies were born in 2010 at Bathurst, 527 babies in 2011 and 565 babies in 2012.

Deliveries of babies fewer than 25 weeks are sent to either Orange or Sydney, unless it is too dangerous to do so, then they are delivered at Bathurst and airlifted out. 

Mothers with a high body mass index are also sent elsewhere to deliver their babies after being referred to an anaesthetics clinic. 

A total of 171 caesareans were performed at Bathurst Base Hospital in 2010 compared with 391 normal births; 131 caesareans were performed in 2011 along with 345 normal births; and in 2012 there were once again 171 caesareans and 384 normal births. 

Of these, there were 102 elective caesareans and 69 emergency caesareans in 2010, 67 elective and 64 emergency caesareans in 2011, and 79 elective caesarean sections and 92 emergency caesareans in 2012  at Bathurst Base Hospital.

Ms Mulligan said with a normal vaginal birth, women can get up and walk during the birth and afterwards, whereas with a caesarean the mother is in pain afterwards and in bed for at least six to eight hours, and even then they need assistance.

She said some women elect to have a caesarean because family members have recommended it, or it is the course of action their obstetrician prefers. 

“I feel it is important for all the medical staff present at the birth to watch how things are moving along and talk to the mum about the best course of action,” Ms Mulligan said.

“If everything is progressing well, sometimes intervention is unnecessary. However, if the baby is not coping well then the priority must be to get the baby out safely.”

Ms Mulligan said generally mothers fall into two age groups: the 16 to 19-year-olds and then the 28 to 40-year-olds. 

She said younger mothers generally birth beautifully, while older women sometimes face more difficulties. 

Ms Mulligan said she would really like to see a midwifery antenatal clinic up and running at Bathurst Base Hospital. 

“They are working towards it but progress has been very slow,” she said. 

“A lot of other centres already have them up and running.”