We have reached 10,000 signatures. An exciting milestone. Thanks to all of you for your signature and support for #QualifyOurBabies. If you can continue to share the message we will increase our platform and our voice to make the Minister for Health take notice. I have loved all of the messages of support and have found some interesting perspectives which are worth sharing and thinking about some more. Decades ago, babies were born then washed and wrapped, cuddled by Mum then off they went to the nursery to be cared for by mothercraft nurses and midwives. No-one doubts that keeping mothers and babies together and the practice of "rooming in" has been beneficial to Mum's and babies for many reasons. But the change meant that the care given in the nursery transferred to the postnatal ward. Of course mothers are the primary carer of their newborn: love, safety, feeding, bathing, dressing, settling and bonding with them. Mothers, however, are not the providers of clinical care. Nor are all mothers able to immediately provide the aforementioned cares after the birth, they are supported and assisted by Midwives. It's a ridiculous concept that tertiary educated professionals provide evidence-based clinical care without the baby being acknowledged either in their workload allocation or hospital funding. It's doubly frustrating for Midwives because we have a passion for caring for mothers and babies and want to provide great care all the time, and because with our expertise and training we recognise the importance of the ever-evolving range of new observations, treatments and investigations which we are tasked with providing. We have a push-pull dynamic every shift - legal and clinical requirements vs traditional support and education of babies and their new parents. Neither should be compromised. Please continue to check back for updates, and if you haven't yet (or you can again) tweet, instagram, facebook or email everyone you know to help us, help you. That's good for everyone :) #QualifyOurBabies Thanks again!!! Kelly