Janice Butt

TL;DR: Although initiation rates including “any” breast milk are meeting NHMRC dietary guidelines of 90%, the 60% target of exclusive breastfeeding is not being achieved for 3 months or in fact at 9 weeks, targeted support for at risk groups such as younger, less well-educated, primiparous women must continue.

TL;DR: The childbirth expectations of a cohort of Western Australian women were determined and factors that influenced these expectations were ascertained to investigate the influence of childbirth expectations on women's perception of their birthing experience and expectations for subsequent births.

TL;DR: The findings of the study challenge the anecdotal evidence that many contemporary western women willingly and knowingly choose or expect birth to be a medicalised event and confirm that some women are anxious, scared and frightened of the childbirth experience.

TL;DR: Although the majority of women in this study were satisfied with the components of physical care and information and assistance with infant feeding and sleep and settling provided in the short-term, there was less satisfaction with emotional care and preparation for life at home with a new baby.

TL;DR: The findings suggest that the midwife participants in this small study were totally unprepared and ill equipped, both personally and professionally, to deal with the consequences of working within an environment that was the centre of a number of high profile legal proceedings and an extensive external review of obstetric services.