Sorry- you are right, Australian midwifery is improving towards a more midwife-led model- but knowing some of those who are working to implement better models for women, I know what it's been like traditionally for a long time. Essentially what we need to be moving towards is a culture where people actually recognise that for healthy, well women, birth is not inherently dangerous and that without interference, babies will be born safely. There are teams of midwives who take on clients from all medical backgrounds and still achieve over 50% homebirths, without emergencies or morbidity and mortality- because the conditions are right and the woman is comfortable and feels safe, a very basic need when in labour. Whether a woman is in hospital or not, if we are intent on interfering all the time without even realising it, we are scuppering women's chances at the outset.