Today Martina had her Immediate Action Committee Hearing. Around 50 of us, including the surprise twin mum herself, met outside the building to show our support, hoping for justice to prevail.

Devastatingly, this was not to be. Martina is suspended until AHPRA has finished their investigations, which could be weeks or months or even years.

AHPRA have not contacted the family involved in the notifications to interview them for their account, and any grounds for this decision could only have come from hearsay from the hospital. How is this even procedural fairness??

This decision today is a death toll to midwife-supported homebirth for families who choose to make informed choices about their care, an example being having no scans during pregnancy. What private midwife will be able to agree to support such homebirths now, knowing it may cost her career? What happened to woman centered care?

AHPRA has made it clear: if you want to birth at home and make informed choices about your care, you may have to do so without being able to access medical support. This is an attack on our birthing rights, as well as an attack on Martina.

Tonight a hundred women in Melbourne are crying over their babies, grateful they're already born. But a dozen women are crying over their belly babies, asking "what will we do now that the midwife of our choice is suspended??" You can help these women, and help Martina.

We will be updating you again shortly, but for now you can keep sharing the petition, and send a complaint to AHPRA about the investigation process. Ask them:

• When a decision will be made on Martina's suspension - what time limit have they set themselves with the investigation as birthing women want their midwife of choice back?
• When or even if they intend to contact the family involved in the notifications?
• Whether they care that they will be increasing the rate of freebirth by this decision, putting women and babies at risk?

AHPRA's email is: AHPRAFeedback@ahpra.gov.au

This will not end here, with your help.