A midwife accused of professional misconduct after a baby died following a prolonged pregnancy was today asked about her "unique style of midwifery".
Monique Kapua is facing charges after a Northland mother, whose name is suppressed, delivered a stillborn son after her pregnancy went two to three weeks overdue.
The accusations include not providing adequate information to the mother about care options, particularly regarding induction in the event of prolonged pregnancy.
Ms Kapua was also alleged to have not documented her care adequately and to have taken leave about the time the woman was due to give birth, without making adequate alternative care arrangements.
Under cross examination Alison Mills at a Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal hearing in Auckland today, Ms Kapua was asked about her "unique style of midwifery".
Ms Mills asked Ms Kapua to explain what she meant when she described herself as an indigenous Maori midwife.
"It refers back to my birthing practices in terms of traditional birthing," Ms Kapua said.
She agreed that she consulted with the mother who agreed for Ms Kapua to be her traditional birth midwife.
Ms Mills asked Ms Kapua if she could identify anything specific in the mother's birth which was part of the traditional Maori practice.
Ms Kapua said any challenge to her midwifery skills was a challenge to her Ngati Apakura.
Ms Mills asked Ms Kapua if she did not encourage medical intervention during childbirth.
"A fundamental premise of my kaupapa is the importance of balancing both Maori and western medical systems in a way that does not diminish from traditional Maori practice," Ms Kapua replied.
She agreed that the mother wanted a home birth and did not want any medical intervention.
Ms Mills asked Ms Kapua if she felt strongly about those specific choices, and Ms Kapua agreed.
She was questioned about why she did not provide full details about communication between herself and the mother.
Ms Kapua said she was under a lot of stress at the time as she had just been dismissed by her employer and the Midwifery Council had suspended her registration.
"Also my sister was very ill and my focus was on her. I was trying to seek a lawyer but I wasn't able to afford one," Ms Kapua said.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
