My name is Sagal. I am originally from Somalia. I came to Australia in 1998 under the Refugee and Humanitarian Program. I got married in January 1999.
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My first contact with Australian health system was my attendance to the Royal Women's Hospital antenatal assessment clinic.
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In the clinic a very friendly midwife took my medical history with the use of proficianally qualified Somali interpreter. I was asked if I ever had genital surgery or traditional circumcision when I was young.
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When I responded yes to that question she told me that she would refer me to the FGM liaison officer and the FARREP worker.
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I was also informed about the different options of birth care available at the hospital; in which I chose the normal outpatient clinics, where interpreters are available.
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At the antenatal clinic I met with a very good female doctor which is very experienced with FGM issues.
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She assessed my FGM degree which was infibulation and developed birth plan for my safe delivery.
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She discussed deinfiulation process and gave me the option to get deinfibulated at 20 weeks of pregnancy or during delivery.
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I chose the latter, because if I had known that information through the FARREP workers I would have chosen to get deinfibulated before I got pregnant.
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For the rest of my pregnancy I used to come to the routine antenatal visits where I was given time to ask questions and discuss important issues for my pregnancy and delivery.
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At 28 weeks I was referred to the pre-admission clinic where I was discussed with my social situation, FGM status, admission and discharge procedures.
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My labour started spontaneously at home and my husband drove me to hospital. In the labour ward I showed the midwife in charge my birth plan and she called to assist me a midwife who is experienced deinfibulating FGM affected women. She negotiated with me to suture back half way the deinfibulation and sutured the episiotomy.
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I was transferred to the postnatal ward with my baby beside me.
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In the first hours after the delivery the midwife looking after me was constantly monitoring our health and was helping me with breastfeeding.
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Next day I was showed how to bath my baby and to clean the umbilical cord. The staff made every effort to make me ready to look after my baby independently when I go home. Because of the lack of both my immediate and extended family in Australia the postnatal staff referred me to post acute service so I can get home help the first week in home.
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I was allowed to have visitors and Somali interpreter was provided during my whole stay.
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The third day I was sent home. The domiciliary nurse visited me the next day. I was linked to the community midwife and Maternal and child health nurse and FARREP worker in my area.
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I feel positive about my experience of the hospital. I was given lots of information, different options of care were presented to me, so I was able to make good decisions about my care. I also felt treated with dignity and respect even though I know that some people are shocked by the practice of female circumcision.
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I had a baby daughter and someone in the postnatal ward spoke to me about the law in Australia on female circumcision. It is not my intention to perform that procedure on my daughter as I am now informed about both the long and short term harmful effects of the procedure."
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