The Ministry of Health has launched an investigation into the findings of a University of Otago study that showed midwife-led maternity care posed a greater risk of harm to babies.
The College of Midwives says the study highlights the need for more funding and more access to obstetricians.
Yesterday, Janine Bolton said she ''finally had a debrief'' this month on Daryl-Ann's birth at Queen Mary Maternity in 2006.
Ms Bolton did not complain to the Health and Disability Commissioner until last year. An early complaint would have been preferable, and she encouraged affected parents to lodge complaints as soon as possible.
The authority did not censure or find against Southern District Health Board, but told the parties to talk.
''We got some more answers ... we were able to fully understand what happened.''
Ms Bolton said Daryl-Ann's midwife called for an obstetrician, who was unavailable, but then no-one followed up to secure a specialist within the critical time period.
A claim for Daryl-Ann was accepted by ACC, which found inappropriate management of labour and newborn resuscitation caused her disability.
Daryl-Ann has severe cerebral palsy, cortical blindness, and epilepsy.
Ms Bolton said she supported midwife-centred maternity, but it had to involve a team with obstetricians as core members.
''A midwife-led idea is great, but the way it's set up is terrible.
''It needs to be built again from the start.''
Ms Bolton said community-based midwives are self-employed, meaning they are not supported by an organisation.
''What other self-employed person in New Zealand is in charge of a potentially life and death situation for at least two people at a time?''
Ms Bolton had two babies after Daryl-Ann with an obstetrician as lead maternity carer.
Ministry of Health principal adviser maternity, Bronwen Pelvin, said in a statement the study findings would be investigated.
''The Ministry of Health has referred the study to the national maternity monitoring group for advice on whether further research needs to be undertaken to help us better understand whether the findings reflect something about the way the study was done, differences in the maternity care provided by midwives and doctors, and whether there are things we can change to get better outcomes for women and their babies.
''The study looked at the lead maternity carer at the time of registration for maternity care, but it didn't look at who else was involved in providing care.
''This seems particularly important when trying to account for the differences between the two groups being compared in the study,'' Ms Pelvin said.
The group would investigate how quickly specialist services responded to complications in pregnancy, labour, and during birth.
The national maternity monitoring group comprises clinical sector experts covering areas such as midwifery, obstetrics, clinical research, primary care, obstetric radiology, neonatal paediatrics and a consumer representative.
