Why Aboriginal women want to avoid the biomedical system: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's stories

In this chapter, four Aboriginal women tell stories about their births, their choices and the racism and abuse they received. They discuss the importance of culturally sensitive care and how this keeps women both culturally and physically safe. Some made choices (such as to homebirth) to protect themselves and their babies, and to ensure they received the care they needed. Some were failed badly by the system and tell a story of trauma and pain. Others are driving forces behind setting up services to help Aboriginal women reclaim their cultural rights in maternity care. Birthing on Country is one way this is happening in Australia. In some ways, birthing in the biomedical model for Aboriginal women is, as Dea states above, birthing outside the system. Birthing on Country is a way to place birth within the Aboriginal system again, combining cultural safety as a central principle with the added support of the medical care when needed.