Celebrity midwife Cath Curtin to Rebecca Judd, Brooke Cotchin ordered to undergo mentoring
She’s a celebrity midwife who delivered the babies of Melbourne WAGs and TV stars — including Rebecca Judd, Brooke Cotchin and Rebecca Maddern. But an Instagram post saw her put “on notice” with the nursing watchdog. READ THE POST
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TV personality Rebecca Maddern has defended celebrity midwife Cath Curtin after she was put on notice by Australia’s nursing watchdog.
The best-selling author has delivered more than 10,000 babies, and was on hand to help Rebecca Judd, Brooke Cotchin, Tiffiny Hall and Rebecca Maddern with their pregnancies.
The Herald Sun today revealed that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia had ordered Ms Curtin undergo mentoring on “contemporary best evidence” for infant feeding, safe sleeping and advertising responsibility.
Last month the Board ordered she must undergo at least six one-hour mentoring sessions with a “skilled registered midwife”.
It has since emerged that the conditions were slapped on Ms Curtin’s registration after five women complained about an Instagram post in which she discussed breastfeeding.
The Instagram post included a picture of milk spouting from a woman’s breast.
Ms Curtin declared in the caption that feeding a baby was “not a competition”.
“Some women have fountains of milk,” she posted.
“Others not so much.
“Rather than babies going hungry or sitting on a pumping machine (which doesn’t increase your milk supply by the way) remember that #fedisbest.”
She also added #breastfeeding and #formulafeeding.
Ms Curtin initially declined to comment to the Herald Sun but later vowed in a press release to “embrace” the mentoring sessions and continue dishing out advice to new parents.
Ms Curtin said she promoted “breast feeding and other options if required”.
“My aim is to have happy mothers, happy partners and well fed babies,” she said.
Television presenter Rebecca Maddern defended Ms Curtin, saying “tall poppy syndrome strikes again”.
“How disappointing a minority group with an agenda to push can tarnish the reputation of an exemplary midwife,” she said.
“It’s disgraceful.
“I followed Midwife Cath’s guidelines which look after mum, bub as well as dad and I had a next to perfect start to motherhood with the happiest baby in the world.”
Ms Curtin has also been ordered to file a report that proves she has “reflected on the issues that gave rise to the condition requiring they attend for mentoring”.
Earlier, Ms Curtin refused to discuss the conditions when approached by the Herald Sun.
“No comment,” she said, before ending the call.
The conditions were imposed on Ms Curtin’s registration just three days before the birth of AFL glamour couple Trent and Brooke Cotchin’s third child, Parker.
Ms Cotchin later labelled Ms Curtin the queen of babies, and thanked her for “constantly answering my phone calls at all hours”.
“Your constant support is something we will never forget,” she said in an emotional Instagram post.
Influencer Rebecca Judd said the midwife was “a guardian angel” while endorsing Ms Curtin’s first book, with TV identity Rebecca Maddern saying the second instalment was “all I need for the wonderful journey of motherhood”.
Emma Hawkins, wife of Cats forward Tom, also promoted Ms Curtin’s second book online.
“I have been so lucky to have Cath in my life with the girls,” she said.
“She was with me in the room for Belle’s delivery and is number two in my phone favourites.
“I have turned to Cath for everything throughout my pregnancies and when bubs are born.”
The midwifery board would not comment specifically on Ms Curtin’s case but said it imposed conditions on a practitioner’s registration “to restrict their practice in some way, to protect the public”.
WHY MIDWIFE-LED CARE COULD BE BEST OPTION
VIRTUAL MIDWIFE A LIFELINE FOR NEW PARENTS
MIDWIFE RECORDS FINAL MOMENTS OF A HOME WATER BIRTH
“Mentoring is one example of a condition that may be imposed on a health practitioner’s registration,” a spokeswoman said.
The board’s code of conduct for midwives also addresses conflict of interest, which “arises when a midwife has financial, professional or personal interests or relationships and/or personal beliefs that may affect the care they provide or result in personal gain”.
Ms Curtin has previously plugged a Perth psychology service, a breast pump and a feeding pillow on her Instagram, although it is not clear whether these were paid endorsements.