Critically analyse the factors involved in the evolution of Twenty-first century midwifery in Victoria, Australia

Midwifery, being with woman however, the profession has been continouosly shaped by historical, friendly and political events. The following essay is a critical epitome of the factors involved in the evolution of 21st one C obstetrics in Victoria, Australia. In Australia until the early 19th century, midwives were the main carers during a womans labouring until the intervention of medical exam dominance. Medical dominance and its conquest of midwifery will be analysed followed by the model of care. shape up factors such as continuity of care, birth centres, education, midwifery legislation, sociology, query and reflection are discussed as contributing to the evolution of twenty-first century midwifery in Victoria.

Medical Dominance and the oppression of midwifery by obstetrics

Medical dominance and the oppression of midwifery shake up been significant factors in the evolution of midwifery. During the first half of the 19th century traditional midwives carried out two thirds of all births in sunrise(prenominal) South Wales. However, towards the end of the 19th century midwives influence have began to lessen and were oppressed by the male dominated medical profession.

By the 1930s traditional midwives had almost disappeared in Australia. In institutionalise of midwives emerged midwifery nurses who worked under the direction of the medical profession (Purcal, 2000). This had a detrimental effect for midwifery profession.



The medical model of vaginal birth has blurred the line between midwifery and obstetric practice, so that midwives came to be seen as an obstetric nurse, the doctors assistant. As a result, the office staff of midwives was eroded and their professional independence removed (Bates, 1997). It has been argued that midwifery in the health care system have come to

reflect the familiar division in society. For example, Oakley cited in Bates (1997) described the obstetrician as the father/husband figure and the midwife as the aim/ wife and the childbearing woman as...

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