RE: Negative Effects of Being a Caseload Midwife

[CATHY AND NIGEL BOCK AND DUNCAN]

Dear Kathleen,

One practical thing! Use phone or pages that have silent ring,
vibration alert and caller ID.  They manage to reduce contact
annoyances yet still allow for important access.

Nigel

--- Kathleen Fahy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Dear Cathy,
> 
> 
> Thank you for your thoughtful comments; they are
> exactly the kind of
> comments the midwives at TBH were looking for.  The
> midwives at the hospital
> are currently deciding whether to put their support
> behind a proposal to
> executive to introduce a MMC.  The discussions I
> have had with the executive
> are very promising but the MMC will need the support
> of the majority of
> midwives otherwise it will not work.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Kathleen 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CATHY AND NIGEL BOCK AND DUNCAN
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Friday, August 13, 1999 7:35
> To: Kathleen Fahy; oz midwifery
> Subject: Re: Negative Effects of Being a Caseload
> Midwife
> 
> 
> Dear Kathleen,
> 
> Working in a team that migrated to a caseload with
> two other midwives,
> in the UK.  I don't know that my experience has any
> particular
> validity.
> 
> Overall the experience of working in a caseload was
> far more rewarding
> etc than the confining community midwives role,
> however since you
> specifically requested some of the negative
> aspect......
> 
> The on call structure was such that it did have a
> detrimental effect at
> first until familiarity with constrictions upon
> personal activity. 
> This was somewhat lessened by good liasing with your
> caseload peers. 
> It can't have been too bad as I am on call now
> almost continously, it
> was more to do with the mental preperation and
> change for this role.
> 
> We also in the transitional period ensured we had
> meetings frequently
> to express personal needs and other identifications
> of concerns or any
> problem recognition etc.
> 
> Family life can suffer unless good preparatory
> communication is laid
> down, but this would go without saying.
> 
> I must add that the caseloads were rewarding and one
> came close to
> giving unique and individual care akin to a private
> one on one midwife
> relationship, but not really.  However the promblems
> you will encounter
> will be different as are the individual midwives who
> will be embarking
> on the journey.  They will be rewarded beyond
> measure.  Pass on my
> congratulations at the establishment of such a
> rewarding and worthwhile
> system of care.
> 
> --- Kathleen Fahy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Here in Toowoomba we are working towards a
> > submission for caseload midwifery
> > within the mainstream health services. 
> > 
> > We expect about 10% of women to take up the offer
> of
> > MMC (I know, we are
> > still going to move ahead in spite of what has
> > happened at John Hunter).
> > 
> > The midwives on the unit have asked me to ask
> > midwives who have made the
> > switch from traditional shift work to caseload to
> > describe what the
> > transition was like and particularly focus on the
> > perceived negatives of
> > being on-call and maybe spending long hours at
> some
> > labours.  
> > 
> > I would appreciate your responses which I will
> then
> > share with interested
> > midwives.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > Kathleen
> > 
> > Dr. Kathleen Fahy
> > Associate Professor
> > Midwifery Co-ordinator
> > University Southern Queensland
> > 07 46312377
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > 
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> > 
> 
> ===
> From Cathy Bock and Nigel Duncan.
>             at
> BIRTHING HANDS (Homebirth, ante/post natal care and
> hospital support)
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 0414 886827 or 0414 554840
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===
>From Cathy Bock and Nigel Duncan.
            at
BIRTHING HANDS (Homebirth, ante/post natal care and hospital support)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
0414 886827 or 0414 554840
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