Investigation after 'dangerous' advice given to pregnant women

Brochures were handed out advising women to avoid medical intervention. Photo / iStock

An Auckland district health board is investigating how unsanctioned and "dangerous" advice was given to expectant mothers at an antenatal class.

Waitemata DHB is in the process of tracking down parents who attended the publicly-funded classes at Waitakere Hospital, Fairfax reported, which were slammed as "one woman's opinions" and not based on sound medical advice.

Brochures advising women to avoid medical intervention - including pain relief during labour and monitoring the baby's heartbeat - and recommending castor oil or acupuncture to bring on labour were given out at the classes. The pamphlet compared medical induction of labour to forcing a butterfly out of its cocoon early, adding: "A 'helped out' butterfly may never fly."

It listed only two benefits to induction - that it brought on labour, and that it enabled women to plan their labour around their social calendar. But reportedly failed to mention any health and safety benefits to the mother or baby of induction.

Expectant mother and Fairfax journalist Shabnam Dastgheib told the media organisation she dropped out of the classes after finding it offered "no useful, practical information that would help a new mum".

"The content was very emotional as opposed to research-based or informative," she said.

"The instructor spoke at great length about the drawbacks of medical intervention, the negative effects of having doctors involved in the birthing process, and the importance of not taking drugs for pain relief."

She added: "I was surprised to hear the teacher say that medically monitoring the foetal heartbeat during birth was harmful. I was also surprised to see taking castor oil recommended as a method of induction as I thought there were quite a few side effects and dangers to this old wives' tale. And to hear a number of statistics thrown about with no indication of the research behind them."

She described the class as "mostly one woman's opinions being pushed of a group of pregnant women".

Waitemata DHB's hospital services director Cath Cronin said the handouts given out at the class were not approved by the DHB and did not meet its standards. They had been produced by an individual staff member, and had not gone through the required approval process, she said.

"We are investigating how this occurred, as a matter of urgency," she told Fairfax.

Parents and expectant mothers who attended the course would be contacted, she said, and staff had been ordered to immediately remove any unsanctioned material.

The classes messages were condemned by a number of maternity and health groups, who said it contained "dangerous, frightening and scare-mongering advice about life-saving interventions".